The Detroit Tigers should promote Steven Moya immediately

Trivia Tuesday: Without looking, which team has absolutely dominated the AL Central for the past four seasons? It’s an easy question that should roll off your lips rather quickly. The Detroit Tigers have been the annual division winners and playoff representative in the playoffs every one of the past four seasons.

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This year, they sit in third place behind a Kansas City Royals team many were hoping would crash back to earth this year after their miracle 2014 run. They also trail behind the upstart Minnesota Twins, a team making huge strides behind their youth and will only get better with some of baseball’s best prospects on the pipeline. It’s time the Tigers make a change.

It took him a little bit, but Tigers top prospect Steven Moya is looking like himself again. The 23-year old slugger is coming off a huge 2014 that raised the bar on expectations for him, and a slow start raised some concerns. However, after blasting four home runs over his last three games, Moya is showing he has still got that monster power.

Moya was signed out of Puerto Rico in 2009. His young career was derailed temporarily when he needed Tommy John surgery in 2012. While he struggled finding his groove in 2013, it all came together in 2014.

He was the Eastern League Most Valuable Player, leading the EL in home runs with 35, fourth best in all of the Minor Leagues. It was his first full season of his career, and he really came through slashing .276/.305/.555. It merited him a cup of tea in the Major Leagues, where he would go 3-for-8 (.375) while scoring two runs and only striking out twice.

The only thing that has been holding Moya back is his plate discipline. Take a look at his swing:

Look how long it is, yet how smooth and quickly it comes through the zone. Moya has some of the best power in the Minors, and despite his strikeout struggles, his recent home run surge during his Triple-A debut may be showing it is big leagues or bust right now for Moya.

Why not? It is the Year of the Prospect. Sure he is striking out 33-percent of the time, but is that going to change staying in the Minors? Moya has a tremendous frame standing at 6 foot 7 and 260 pounds that not only is he ready to be a feared power hitter, but has potential to grow into more power.

Miguel Cabrera is on the DL. Victor Martinez is struggling at DH primarily because he is a 36-year old with bad knees. He has looked like his old self since returning from the DL in mid-June (.338 with two home runs), but how long can the Tigers rely on him?

Alex Avila is playing some first base in Miggy’s stead ever since he was supplanted by Tigers rookie catching phenomenon James McCann. For those keeping track, Avila hasn’t batted over .230 since 2012. He has struck out 39-percent (2014) and 34-percent (2013) of the time over that span. High strikeout rates don’t seem to bother the Tigers.

The Tigers blundered this offseason in thinking that Shane Greene — who was never able to consistently back up his strong outings in the Yankees system — and Alfredo Simon — who had a breakout season as a starter at age 33 and has a 10.18 ERA over his last four games — would be able to replace Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer and even Drew Smyly. 

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Promoting Moya could help the Tigers get some pitching. They already have expendable pieces in centerfield as Anthony Gose and Rajai Davis share the platoon. Yoenis Cespedes is used to being traded by now and J.D. Martinez is the budding star of that outfield now.

I’m not insinuating the Tigers need to trade someone as special as Cespedes to improve, I am simply showing the promotion of Moya provides opportunities for the Tigers to go out and get a top notch pitcher at the deadline. As their rotation stands now, it does not look like one that can propel them forward to October.

At the very least, a Moya promotion gives them options for trading. At the very best, they unleash baseball’s newest power beast at the Major League level. Seems like a win-win to me.

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