The Detroit Tigers made a huge gamble when they called up Kevin McGonigle from AA to the majors, and so far, it’s paid off. However, he’s starting at third, and the person currently in his natural position, Javier Baez, is not off to a good start.
FanSided’s Austin Owens proposes that if Baez continues to struggle by the trade deadline, Detroit needs to find a replacement. An easy solution is to reunite with former Tiger and current Houston Astros two-time All-Star Isaac Paredes.
“After a surprise playoff run a season ago, the Detroit Tigers need to be focused on going all-in on a magical 2026 campaign. It seems inevitable at this point that they will not be able to retain ace Tarik Skubal past this year, and the front office made the decision to hang on to the lefty anyway in search of one final World Series run…Paredes could add to an already dangerous Tigers lineup by stabilizing third base, offering another power bat with strong on-base skills. Pitching would have to exceed expectations when it mattered most but this lineup could take the Tigers to the next level,” Owens wrote.
So far this season, Paredes is slashing .227/.346/.409/.755 with four doubles and five RBI in six games. However, last season when he was an All-Star, he hit .254/.352/.458/.809 with 15 doubles, 20 home runs, and 53 RBI in 103 games.
As for his contract, it would be very doable for a team like Detroit. Paredes is set to make $9.4 million this year, and if they want him for another year, he has a club option for $13.4 million next season.
This move would be pretty funny, trading for someone they traded away five years ago. However, he would be an upgrade over Baez in the lineup. And give McGonigle his natural position back. If the Tigers are smart, they’ll make this move earlier than the deadline.
MORE MLB NEWS