Tigers Trade for RHP Shane Greene in Three-Team Deal

The Detroit Tigers made the first of what is sure to be many moves in the 2014-15 offseason.

The Tigers acquired starting pitcher Shane Greene from the New York Yankees in a three-team deal that sent starting pitcher Robbie Ray and minor-league infielder Domingo Leyba to the Arizona Diamondbacks, as they sent shortstop Didi Gregorious to the Yankees.

While at first glance this may worry some Tigers fans because Robbie Ray was the best prospect in the Doug Fister trade of 2013, Greene appears to have just as much promise.

Greene was a relative out of no where, being drafted in the 15th round by the Yankees in 2007. Greene finally broke into the league last year and had a very respectable season.

He started 14 games last year for the Yankees, posting an impressive 5-4 record with a 3.78 ERA inside one of the smallest home ballparks in the major leagues.

Greene was able to post a 2.79 K/BB ratio, striking out 81 batters in less than 79 innings of work, while walking just 29.

Greene led the majors in percentage of pitches in the lower-third of the strike zone, with 61 percent. Greene is much like Rick Porcello in that he won’t overpower you, but will make you hit ground balls, as Greene induced eight double plays last season.

The most likely plan of action is that Greene will compete for the fifth spot of the rotation and this does not affect the likelihood of whether or not Max Scherzer will return.


Tony Garcia is the host of Tiger Talk for Impact Sports.