2 Mud Hens dealt in blockbuster trade
Tigers land Iglesias from Red Sox
7/31/2013The Detroit Tigers traded two players on the Mud Hens roster, outfielder Avisail Garcia and pitcher Brayan Villarreal, as part of a three-team deal to acquire shortstop Jose Iglesias.
Detroit sends Garcia and Villarreal to Boston for Iglesias. The Red Sox then traded Garcia and three other minor leaguers — pitchers J.B. Wendelken and Francelis Montas along with infielder Cleuluis Rondon — to the Chicago White Sox for Jake Peavy.
Iglesias is a 23-year-old native of Cuba who has hit .330 with a home run and 19 RBIs in 63 games for the Red Sox this season. Considered a fine defensive shortstop, Iglesias has split time between shortstop (29 games) and third base (34) this season.
Iglesias would provide insurance for the Tigers should Jhonny Peralta, Detroit’s every-day shortstop, be suspended in the Biogenesis scandal, and he also could play third base if ailing Miguel Cabrera is sent to the disabled list.
Garcia played in 33 games for the Mud Hens this season, and the 22-year-old hit .374 with five home runs and 23 RBIs.
Villarreal pitched in 28 games for Toledo in 2013 and was 2-2 with one save and a 3.15 ERA. He is currently on the Hens’ disabled list with a thumb injury.