Bless You Boys - Tigers trade for Blue Jays outfielder Anthony GoseA detailed list of nope about the Detroit Tigershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47585/default.png2014-11-15T09:33:22-05:00http://www.blessyouboys.com/rss/stream/69892202014-11-15T09:33:22-05:002014-11-15T09:33:22-05:00Scouting Anthony Gose with Bluebird Banter
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Tom Dakers of Bluebird Banter was kind enough to provide us with a scouting report of the former Blue Jays outfielder.</p> <p>After the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a> traded second base prospect <span>Devon Travis</span> to the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> for center fielder <span>Anthony Gose</span>, Tom Dakers of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Bluebird Banter</a> -- SB Nation's Toronto Blue Jays blog -- reached out to us for a breakdown of Travis' skill set and future potential. Naturally, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2014/11/14/7220523/scouting-report-from-rob-rogacki-of-bless-you-boys">we obliged</a>. In this exchange, Tom was also kind enough to provide us with a scouting report on Gose, who spent parts of three seasons in a Blue Jays uniform.</p>
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<p>When the Blue Jays traded for Anthony Gose, he was one of those toolsy types that the Jays really like. We traded <span>Brett Wallace</span> -- who was sold to us as the first baseman of the future -- to get Gose, who became the center fielder of the future. The Jays have spent the last 4 years trying to make that happen. He really hasn’t progressed much in those 4 years.</p>
<p>Until this year, Gose was still looked at as the center fielder of the future. Prospect <span>Dalton Pompey</span> had a very good year, starting the season in A-ball and finishing it as a September call-up and passed by Gose in the eyes of the Jays office.</p>
<p>You get a lot of good and bad with Gose.</p>
<h5>The good:</h5>
<ul>
<li>He has a ton of range in center field. He will make some of the nicest catches you’ll ever see.</li>
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<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=36348151&topic_id=8877962&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<ul>
<li>A former pitcher, he does have a great arm, we didn’t see it as much as I hoped and when we did see it, he didn’t always hit the target. He’ll occasionally drive you crazy by throwing to the wrong base, trying to impress you with his arm strength.</li>
<li>He is a very good base runner. He does have some work to do on getting a good jump on pitchers and he gets picked off at the worst moments, but he can go from first to home as fast as anyone you’ll ever see.</li>
<li>He can bunt for a base hit, which, if your TV commentators are as bad as ours, will get them talking about how he could bunt for a .350 average. He can’t.</li>
</ul>
<p>And, of course, he is a terrific athlete.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, he didn’t learn to turn that athleticism into offensive ability. All the speed in the world doesn’t matter if you can’t get on base. As a Blue Jay, he hit .234/.301/.332 in 202 games scattered over 3 seasons between trips back and forth to the minors. His biggest problem has been his 27.6 percent strikeout rate. All the speed in the world won’t help you if you strikeout.</p>
<p>Why hasn’t he been able to use that athleticism to become the offensive player we thought he would be? Maybe because baseball is harder than we think. There are reports that he is a little headstrong. He has hated it each time he has been sent back down to the minors. He thinks he is a major leaguer and he sulked when he was send down to the minors, leading to run-ins with his minor league managers. A lot of people felt he played better in the majors than he did in the minors.</p>
<p>In a scouting report Rob wrote for us about Devon Travis, the ‘high baseball IQ’ came up a few times. You will never talk about Anthony Gose using that term. Gose is likely the anti-Travis: he has made it to the majors because of his athletic abilities, but he hasn’t figured out how to use those abilities to turn him into a baseball player.</p>
<p>What should you expect from Anthony Gose? If you can get past the idea that he isn’t going to be a star, I think you’ll be happy with him. If the rest of your offense is good, you can live with him batting 9th and catching everything hit into the air.</p>
<p>I’d find him a right-handed hitting platoon partner (you already have <span>Rajai Davis</span>, he’d be a good choice) and enjoy watching him play defense and be happy with whatever offense you can get from him. Let him get 400 MLB at-bats and see what happens. I think you’ll have a 2 WAR player (mostly on his defense), which you can live with until someone better comes along.</p>
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<p>Once again, a huge thank you to Tom and the rest of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Bluebird Banter</a> crew for giving us the inside scoop on our new center fielder. Be sure to check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Bluebird Banter</a> for all things Blue Jays (including to see if Travis makes the team next spring!).</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/11/15/7225129/anthony-gose-scouting-report-blue-jaysRob Rogacki2014-11-14T07:00:06-05:002014-11-14T07:00:06-05:00Tigers still need another bat after Gose trade
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<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers may have upgraded their defense in center field, but the outfield construction is far from finished. </p> <p>Signing Victor Martinez to a four year contract extension solves one problem for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> -- and maybe their biggest concern going into the offseason. Losing Martinez could have been a devastating blow to the offense. But there are still other holes to be plugged.</p>
<p>The acquisition of outfielder <span>Anthony Gose</span> gives the Tigers a legitimate center fielder who can run and play solid defense. But Gose should not be expected to fill the Tigers' needs as an everyday center fielder. However, Dave Dombrowski hinted at the idea of using Gose in this manner after the trade was finalized.</p>
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<p><span>"We feel comfortable right now where we are," Dombrowski said of the makeup of the outfield. "We do have J.D. and Rajai out there in two of the spots. Gose gives us a legitimate center fielder. We also think a young guy like (Tyler) Collins is ready to play and I guess it's to be determined on (Steven) Moya to see how he continues to develop, but he's had a real good Arizona Fall League."</span></p>
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<p>Dombrowski is being a bit cryptic, but this quote and <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/beckjason/status/532910855449743360">another tweeted by Jason Beck</a> indicate that he sees the Tigers' outfield as a finished product. This is not good.</p>
<p>Let's look at the Tigers outfield in 2014 and where Gose fits in.</p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Player</td>
<td>PA</td>
<td>AVG</td>
<td>OBP</td>
<td>SLG</td>
<td>OPS</td>
<td>wOBA</td>
<td>HR</td>
<td>RBI</td>
<td>SB</td>
<td>DRS</td>
<td>fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Martinez</td>
<td>480</td>
<td>.315</td>
<td>.358</td>
<td>.553</td>
<td>.912</td>
<td>.391</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>76</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>-1</td>
<td>3.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Davis</td>
<td>494</td>
<td>.282</td>
<td>.320</td>
<td>.401</td>
<td>.765</td>
<td>.319</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>51</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>-11</td>
<td>1.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jackson</td>
<td>420</td>
<td>.273</td>
<td>.332</td>
<td>.398</td>
<td>.730</td>
<td>.322</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>-4</td>
<td>1.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hunter</td>
<td>586</td>
<td>.286</td>
<td>.319</td>
<td>.446</td>
<td>.721</td>
<td>.335</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>83</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>-18</td>
<td>0.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dirks*</td>
<td>484</td>
<td>.256</td>
<td>.323</td>
<td>.363</td>
<td>.686</td>
<td>.306</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>+8</td>
<td>1.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gose</td>
<td>274</td>
<td>.226</td>
<td>.311</td>
<td>.293</td>
<td>.604</td>
<td>.279</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>31</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>+3</td>
<td>1.3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The numbers used for <span>Andy Dirks</span> are from 2013 since he did not play in 2014. That was a down year for him offensively, but his second half was enough to make the team look forward to his return to the lineup all season in 2014. It never happened.</p>
<p>What do you have when you remove Hunter, Jackson, and Dirks from the picture? You have a very mediocre outfield. Gose can replace the defense of Andy Dirks, but doesn't replace his offensive production -- even in a down year for Dirks. And Gose does not begin to replace the lost offensive production of Hunter or Jackson in the lineup.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Rajai Davis' platoon splits are staggering. Davis hit .356/.382/.557 for a .939 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2014. That justifies his presence in the lineup, regardless of his defense. Conversely, Gose is a career .208/.246/.267 hitter against left-handers and .238/.329/.312 against right handers.</p>
<p>Against right-handers, Davis hit just .247/.290/.327. That's a problem for a corner outfielder, especially one who plays sub-par defense. It was a problem for the Tigers last year, and it needs to be addressed before 2015. Keeping Davis in a full-time role would be a big detriment.</p>
<p>The Tigers needed to upgrade their defense, and they have done that in center field. Up the middle, the Tigers now have Gold Glove nominees in Kinsler and Avila, the returning <span>Jose Iglesias</span>, and now a plus defender in Gose. That's a pretty solid group.</p>
<p>However, the Tigers need to address the loss of <span>Torii Hunter's</span> production in the lineup. Hunter should no be brought back to play in the outfield at this stage of his career, but his departure leaves the Tigers with a big hole in the lineup. The Tigers also lost <span>Austin Jackson</span>, their starting center fielder the past five seasons, and Andy Dirks, a left-handed outfielder who would be an ideal platoon partner for Davis in left field. Gose and Davis combined can replace one of them, but not both. And they don't replace the lost production of Hunter who hit .286/.319/.446 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI in 2014.</p>
<p>There is some reason to believe that Dombrowski is not done fixing the outfield, though. After the trade, Dombrowski released a statement about Gose's potential.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We believe he has the chance to be an everyday center fielder," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said by phone late Wednesday night. "Now, he'll have to earn that type of spot. He's not going to be anointed that, but he gives us another guy to choose from and a guy we think highly of. ...</p>
<p>"Time will tell on that, but he does have a chance to do it."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A chance? Okay. We can live with that observation. Gose has a chance to be an adequate center fielder. Rajai Davis has to start against lefties, even if it's in center field, but in no reality does <span>Rajai Davis</span> have a chance to be an adequate outfielder against right-handed pitching.</p>
<p>What the Tigers still lack is a second corner outfielder who can hit right-handed pitching. They also need a replacement for Hunter near the top of the lineup. Dombrowski said at the beginning of the offseason that the team needed another left-handed bat, and someone to pair with Davis. That is still a huge need.</p>
<p><span>Tyler Collins</span> projects to be a fourth outfielder. He can be solid defensively in the corners and has some upside at the plate. <span>Steven Moya</span> is a work in progress, and could continue to benefit from everyday plate appearances in the minor leagues. He has a chance to be a good player one day, but 2015 seems too early.</p>
<p>At this stage of the game, the Tigers need more than just a chance. They need a high probability that the players they put on the field can catch the ball and hit. Chances are that Gose will not hit, although he brings enough to the table with his speed and defense to give him the chance to play.</p>
<p>Rajai Davis was a fine addition to the Tigers last year. His overall production at the plate was solid, and he filled in for Austin Jackson after the trade for David Price. Against right handed pitchers -- roughly 70 percent of the plate appearances in a given season -- Davis is not adequate. He is what we thought he was: an ideal platoon player and pinch runner. The Tigers outfield still needs some work.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/11/14/7214373/anthony-gose-trade-analysis-detroit-tigers-outfieldPatrick OKennedy2014-11-13T16:16:03-05:002014-11-13T16:16:03-05:00Media reaction to Gose trade: defense is important
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<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers traded away their No. 1 prospect for a "true center fielder" from the Blue Jays. While the move was sudden it was largely well received.</p> <p>Wednesday the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> answered both questions at the designated hitter and center field positions in one day. <span>Victor Martinez</span> is staying with the team when the Tigers bit the four-year bullet, but only hours later President and GM, Dave Dombrowski, traded away the team's top prospect. <span>Devon Travis</span>. A second baseman in the middle of being converted to the outfield by the Tigers, Travis had been working out for a month after recovering from <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/9/3/6103541/devon-travis-core-muscle-surgery" target="_blank">core muscle surgery</a> in September. Travis was sent to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> in exchange for center fielder, <span>Anthony Gose</span>.</p>
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<p>Devon Travis' reign as Baseball America's top Tigers prospect lasted less than 24 hours. That has to be a record.</p>
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) <a href="https://twitter.com/beckjason/status/532765635760386048">November 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>With Travis no longer atop the Tigers' prospect list, right fielder <span>Steven Moya</span> takes over as the Tigers' No. 1 prospect in the system. In Detroit, the Tigers' outfield defense has been a traipsing wonderland of adventure since former Tiger <span>Austin Jackson</span> was traded away this year for <span>David Price</span> (and before that, to be honest). And no, that's not a good thing. It's been a glaring hole that the Tigers knew they needed to fix.</p>
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<p>Goose can go and get it in the outfield. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> did a lot of that in the postseason.</p>
— Mario Impemba (@mario_impemba) <a href="https://twitter.com/mario_impemba/status/532757678255116288">November 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Tigers were very high on Devon Travis but saw this as a chance to add a true CF and get more left-handed.</p>
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/532754998070112259">November 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Just don't expect Gose to be hitting above .250, he can't hit for power to save his life and his OPS was only .609 in 2014. However, he can play defense and he has speed, and that's what the Tigers were after. If you don't like this deal, remember that the Tigers do need to play solid defense, something they've been in short supply of.</p>
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<p>I like the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> trade for Anthony Gose. Dude can absolutely fly, and pick it. Devon Travis isn't much of a loss. Really.</p>
— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/532768321666838528">November 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Gose can't hit but he can really pick it in CF. Great athlete. Can run. 4th OF, but can handle CF defensively, worst case.</p>
— TigersProspectReport (@TigersProspects) <a href="https://twitter.com/TigersProspects/status/532750043267493888">November 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Real talk: I'll miss Travis, but there is a ton to like about this trade.</p>
— PhilaeCokesBrain (@PhilCokesBrain) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilCokesBrain/status/532763409251442688">November 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Not everyone's entirely happy with the trade. The Tigers needed to pay a pretty penny on more than one occasion to solve various issues in 2014. The Tigers' "win now" mentality hasn't worked out so far, even with large trades during the season, but much of that is because there were still large holes and erasing the stability they had with Jackson certainly didn't help.</p>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Sounds like there's your Tigers CFer for 2015: Anthony Gose. Fast, young, not much of a stick. Devon Travis is another heavy price to pay.</p>
— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynn_Henning/status/532751201587036160">November 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>This makes it Austin Jackson, <span>Drew Smyly</span>, Willy Adames, and Devon Travis for short-term David Price and Anthony Gose. Costly deals.</p>
— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynn_Henning/status/532751798302703616">November 13, 2014</a>
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<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>So we just traded our top prospect for <span>Ezequiel Carrera</span></p>
— Rob Rogacki (@BYBRob) <a href="https://twitter.com/BYBRob/status/532756792816967680">November 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Seriously though, the move should work well for the Tigers. As much of a promising prospect Travis was for the Tigers — and someone Dombrowski admitted they didn't want to let go — the team needed to fix the defensive outfield issues as soon as possible. Not every player on the team is going to be able to hit .300 or slug 30 home runs in a season, there needs to be some give and take in certain positions.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Ok, real talk: love this deal. Travis can hit but he's already scraping his ceiling. Gose fills a hole right now. Not great, but he plays D.</p>
— Rob Rogacki (@BYBRob) <a href="https://twitter.com/BYBRob/status/532759305679044608">November 13, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Folks in Toronto tell me Anthony Gose doesn't open up to many people, but might be willing to with Miguel and Victor -- like J.D. did.</p>
— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/532960113259479040">November 13, 2014</a>
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<p>When the trade happened, the main question was who should be the Tigers' primary center fielder. Later in the day Dombrowski said they acquired Gose in the hopes he'll be the primary player, so barring anything odd in Spring Training next season, expect to see Gose in center field on Opening Day 2015.</p>
<p>With Gose's numbers being identical to Davis' against right-handed pitchers, he may sit out on occasion. While Davis didn't hit overwhelmingly well against righties in 2014, he still did a better job of it than Gose. At some point he's going to need to hit better than he did last season if he's going to be the Tigers' primary centerfielder.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Gose hit .238/.329/.312 against RHP. Rajai hit .247/.290/.327 against them, so it's not a huge short-term gain. Gose needs a step forward.</p>
— Dave Hogg (@Stareagle) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stareagle/status/532757604532236288">November 13, 2014</a>
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https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/11/13/7215345/media-reaction-tigers-anthony-gose-trade-defenseCatherine Slonksnis2014-11-13T08:00:06-05:002014-11-13T08:00:06-05:00Who is Anthony Gose?
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<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers have traded prospect Devon Travis to the Toronto Blue Jays for center fielder Anthony Gose. Here's a look at the newest Tiger. </p> <p><span>Anthony Gose</span> is a speedy, 24 year old left-handed hitting center fielder who was drafted in the second round of the 2008 amateur player draft by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> out of Bellflower High School, in Bellflower, California. Gose is known for his speed and his defense much more than for his bat.</p>
<p>In parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues, Gose hit .259/.334/.381 with 37 home runs and 271 stolen bases. He stole 76 bases in his first full season at Single-A Lakewood. The Phillies traded Gose to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> at the trade deadline in 2010, but he was quickly flipped to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Toronto Blue Jays</a>. The series of deals sent <span>J.A. Happ</span> to the Astros with <span>Roy Oswalt</span> going to the Phillies. Gose hit 16 home runs and stole 70 bases at Double-A New Hampshire in 2011.</p>
<p>Gose made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in July 2012. In parts of three seasons with Toronto, he has hit .234/.301/.332 with 34 stolen bases in 616 plate appearances. He has been up and down between the major leagues and Triple A. <i>Beyond the Box Score</i> <a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/1/2/2675990/anthony-gose-scouting-report" style="background-color: #ffffff;">had this report on him</a> before the 2012 season.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There are few prospects in baseball who are as athletic and talented as Anthony Gose. Gose is a plus-runner and defender with all of the skills to become a plus-hitter too. He's a strong and physical athlete who has shown glimpses of superstardom in the past, but he hasn't yet put everything together. Gose has been very inconsistent at the plate since he's been in pro ball but really tightened things up in 2011.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Just over six months later, John Sickels of <i>Minor League Ball</i> <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/7/18/3166048/prospect-anthony-gose--toronto-blue-jays-promoted-scouting-report" target="_blank">added a bit more</a> on Gose's defensive abilities.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Despite the mixed results from his bat, Gose can still be a valuable player due to his outstanding outfield defense. His range and arm strength are top-notch, and he has superior instincts to put an exclamation mark behind the pure tools. His makeup is well-regarded, and at age 21 he still has a huge amount of development time left on the clock.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>Jays Journal</i> <a target="_blank" href="http://jaysjournal.com/2012/03/09/the-upside-and-downside-of-anthony-gose/">continued the praise</a> with another glowing review of Gose's glove.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The scouting report on Gose is an interesting one, and makes the wide array of opinions understandable. One thing everyone can agree on, however, is that Gose is a special defender. In addition to roaming the outfield for his Bellflower, California high school, Gose worked off the mound, where he sat between 92 and 96 mph with his fastball. That arm has translated extremely well to professional baseball, as it serves as an 80-grade tool in center field, and he has recorded 13, 16, and 14 outfield assists in his last three seasons.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Gose was considered a consensus top 100 prospect after his solid 2011 season. Baseball Prospectus ranked him 68th, MLB.com had him at #57, and Baseball America put him just inside the top 40 at #39.</p>
<p>The downside of Gose is that he doesn't make contact that often. He struck out 27 percent of the time last season and has fanned at a 27.6 clip throughout his MLB career. His hitting goes from weak (.234 average overall) to extremely weak (.208 average, .513 OPS) when he faces left-handed pitchers.</p>
<p>The fact that he bats left-handed leads one to believe that he could platoon with <span>Rajai Davis</span> in the outfield for Detroit. He has played all three outfield positions for the Blue Jays, but the vast majority of those have been in center field. Gose has been a plus defender in the outfield, posting a UZR of 9.2 last season with +2 defensive runs saved (DRS). He has a strong arm, being a former high school pitcher who featured a fastball in the low 90s.</p>
<p>Gose posted an fWAR of 1.3 for the 2014 season in just 274 plate appearances. By comparison, his teammate, <span>Colby Rasmus</span>, posted just 0.6 WAR. Austin Jackson was worth 1.0 WAR, <span>Torii Hunter</span> 0.3, and Rajai Davis 1.4 in almost 500 plate appearances. By that measure, the Tigers have already upgraded one position in their outfield.</p>
<p>Dave Dombrowski referred to Gose as a "true center fielder" in his press release about the trade. Gose is also going to be earning the major league minimum for another two seasons. With the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Tigers</a>' payroll creeping up, that's a welcome addition to the roster.</p>
<p>Dombrowski was <a href="http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/11/dave_dombrowski_on_anthony_gos.html" style="background-color: #ffffff;">quoted by Mlive.com's Chris Iott</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We believe he has the chance to be an everyday center fielder," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said by phone late Wednesday night. "Now, he'll have to earn that type of spot. He's not going to be anointed that, but he gives us another guy to choose from and a guy we think highly of. ...</p>
<p>"Time will tell on that, but he does have a chance to do it."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Assuming that Gose is to platoon with Davis in center field, that leaves one corner outfield spot to be filled. But is that the plan? According to Dombrowski, maybe not.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We feel comfortable right now where we are," Dombrowski said of the makeup of the outfield. "We do have J.D. and Rajai out there in two of the spots. Gose gives us a legitimate center fielder. We also think a young guy like (Tyler) Collins is ready to play and I guess it's to be determined on (Steven) Moya to see how he continues to develop, but he's had a real good Arizona Fall League."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Sorry, Dave. That ain't gonna cut it. Not even close.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/11/13/7213057/who-is-anthony-gosePatrick OKennedyRob Rogacki2014-11-12T23:43:43-05:002014-11-12T23:43:43-05:00Tigers trade for Blue Jays CF Anthony Gose
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gZ-0McNVrxL0N56A42ZFqImo-EY=/0x320:3081x2374/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44065678/20140729_ajl_ad7_211.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers addressed their center field needs via trade, as expected.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a> did not rest on just re-signing <span>Victor Martinez</span> today. Hours after they announced the four year extension, the club traded prospect <span>Devon Travis</span> to the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> for outfielder <span>Anthony Gose</span>.</p>
<p>Gose is a 24 year old outfielder from California who has spent the last three seasons on the Blue Jays' bench. He is a career .234/.301/.332 hitter, but is better known for his defense and speed. Gose only has 616 career plate appearances under his belt, but is 34 for 45 in stolen base chances. Advanced defensive metrics agree with the assessment that Gose is an above average fielder.</p>
<p>Travis, who was rated as the Tigers' top prospect by Baseball America earlier today, hit .323/.388/.487 in three seasons in the Tigers' farm system. He initially struggled at Double-A Erie in 2014, but ended the season with an .817 OPS in 441 plate appearances. A second baseman by trade, Travis was working on transitioning to center field before an injury ended his season prematurely. Travis underwent core muscle repair surgery -- the same procedure that <span>Miguel Cabrera</span> and <span>Justin Verlander</span> had last year -- in September.</p>
<p>Dave Dombrowski addressed the trade via a press release.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Anthony is a true center fielder than can provide us with above average defense in center field with a good arm. He possesses above average speed and can steal bases at the major league level. He swings the bat from the left side and we feel that he will continue to improve his offensive game. We are very happy to welcome him to the Club."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With payroll concerns abound after re-signing Victor Martinez earlier today, the Tigers were able to land a cost-controlled center fielder with a solid glove at a relatively low price. Gose has just over a year's worth of MLB service time under his belt and will not be a free agent until after the 2019 season. He will make the league minimum salary in 2015.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/11/12/7213015/anthony-gose-devon-travis-trade-blue-jays-tigersRob Rogacki