:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15712671/171680563.0.jpg)
Glen Perkins has enjoyed a breakout season in 2013. He's striking out 12.6 batters per nine innings and walking just 2.1 per nine. That production, combined with a team-friendly contract, makes it very unlikely that the Twins will deal their homegrown closer who's 20 for 22 in save chances in his eighth year in the big leagues.
Stats
| YEAR | ERA | SIERA | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | BABIP |
| 2013 | 2.05 | 1.69 | 37.1% | 6.0% | 8.0% | .254 |
| CAREER | 3.98 | 3.94 | 17.5% | 6.3% | 10.0% | .303 |
(SIERA: Skills Interactive Earned Run Average; BABIP: Batting Average on Balls in Play.)
Contract
Perkins is in the first year of a three-year, $10.3 million contract that contains a $4.5 million club option.
Background
Perkins is from Minnesota and went to the University of Minnesota. He was drafted by Minnesota in the first round of the 2004 Draft, and was once ranked 66 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects. He was a starter through the 2010 season, but he was unable to consistently find success.
Why he fits the Tigers
Assuming the Phillies don't make Papelbon available, Perkins may be the best reliever on the market. Even if Papelbon is available, once their respective contracts are considered, Perkins is likely the preferred target. The Tigers need a closer, and Perkins showed why he was such a highly regarded prospect after he moved to the bullpen in 2011. After two years with ERAs close to 2.50 in 2011 and 2012, he's been even better in 2013.
Why he doesn't fit the Tigers
The sole drawback to Glen Perkins is his price in prospects, assuming the Twins are even entertaining offers on him. The Twins can expect a major return according to mlbtraderumors.com, and the Tigers need some prospects to become cost-controlled everyday players if they are going to be able to afford extensions for Cabrera, Jackson, and Scherzer while still paying Fielder and Verlander.
How likely is a trade?
Very unlikely. Buster Olney reports that the Twins have consistently stated that they will not trade Perkins. The Twins could conceivably keep Perkins for two more years and they deal him for a similar package to what they could ask for now. They would have to be overwhelmed to deal him, and with the Tigers' weak farm system, they might not be able to afford to overwhelm Minnesota.
What the Tigers should give up
Perkins will be expensive. I doubt Minnesota thinks they could get Castellanos for a reliever, but I'm sure they would at least ask for Garcia. Dombrowski didn't deal Castellanos this offseason when stars such as Justin Upton were available, so I doubt he'll trade Castellanos for a reliever after he's done nothing but improve his stock his season in Toledo. If Dombrowski could get Perkins in a deal surrounding Rondon and another piece he should pull the trigger. I doubt the Twins will let Perkins go for anything less than Garcia, and it's certainly possible that Dombrowski concludes that that is a fair price for the last piece to a championship-caliber team.
An additional anecdote
Perkins owns a house for Spring Training in Fort Myers across the street from a family friend. My grandpa, having no clue Perkins played baseball, walked over and started talking to him about the late-1950s Chevy pickup he was working on in his garage. He was very friendly, and it seems like he would have no trouble finding his way in the Motor City.