The Detroit Tigers trade RHP Joe Jimenez to Atlanta for two players with upside
Scott Harris made headlines tonight on the final day of the winter meetings. The Detroit Tigers trade Joe Jimenez and cash considerations to the Braves for 3B/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy and LHP Jake Higginbotham. Jimenez, who is heading into the final year of his contract, will help the Braves contend for another division title.
Henry-Malloy is the prize of this trade. He hit 289/.408/.454 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs and 81 RBI across three levels last season. Malloy is ranked as the top position player prospect in the Braves organization (No. 6 overall) by Baseball America and was on the AFL All-Star team. His wRC+ was all over 100 at each stop and walked around an impressive 18.1% at Double-A Mississippi.
Justyn-Henry Malloy was very good between A+/AA/AAA. .289/.408/.454 with 17 HR. He has a .531 OBP and more BB than Ks in the AFL. 3 BBE over 98 MPH last night. Malloy does a lot well, he’s just a ball player. Reminds me of Grissom’s ascent.
🎥 @jnorris427 pic.twitter.com/umniVisRJ9— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) October 13, 2022
Sam Dykysta of MLB.com tweeted that he would be the 7th ranked prospects in the Detroit Tigers system. LHP Higginbotham, 26, spent the entire 2022 season with Double A Mississippi, appearing in 48 games and posting a 2-5 record with three saves, a 4.73 ERA (51.1IP/27ER) and 48 strikeouts. His delivery provides some deception. He throws a fastball, slider, and a curve.
Jake Higginbotham (@jake_higg) Ks Johnston with a nasty slider to retire the side!! Final frame, Braves down by one!! pic.twitter.com/KDSCGg6X8Z
— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) July 10, 2022
When speaking to the media after the trade, Scott Harris discussed his player profile, which was Harris has been speaking about since he arrived in Detroit.
Scott Harris on the trade: "Justyn-Henry Malloy is the type of hitter that can help us reshape our offensive identity."https://t.co/jeePbinAtp pic.twitter.com/ZZCfqsYChr
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) December 8, 2022
Does this mean the Detroit Tigers are rebuilding again?
Looking at this move on the surface, one might conclude that the Detroit Tigers are tearing down the roster. If anything, Harris saw a glaring weakness in the organization. He got players who are fitting the vision he wants. The free agent market has seen a lot of money thrown out during the winter meetings. A rumored Tigers target, Willson Contreras, got five years and $85 million dollars from the Cardinals. He was able to get one of the best positional prospects in a Braves system that produces talent on a yearly basis by reading the market. Relievers were going off the board quickly off the market, and it seems like Harris capitalized on the moment.
