Granderson Deal Benefits Tigers Most

On Wednesday night the three-team deal between the Yankees, Diamondbacks, and Tigers was finalized at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. All three teams will improve from the trade, the Yankees get a proven outfielder in Curtis Granderson and the D-Backs get two young starters in Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, but the Tigers are getting away with a big steal in the four players that they received in the deal. The Tigers will definitely challenge the Twins for the AL Central this season again and could possibly be the front runners after picking up these four star prospects.
Austin Jackson, OF, Acquired from Yankees
Jackson was the Yankees' highest rated prospect and has been lighting up the minors for the past two years. Jackson will no doubt take Granderson's spot in the outfield. Although Jackson will not immediately replace the power of Granderson, Jackson's range defensively and speed on the basepaths will more than makeup for his lack of power.
Phil Coke, LHP, Acquired from Yankees
Coke broke out this season in New York becoming the main southpaw in the bullpen for most of the season. The only flaw in Coke's game this season was that he struggled in the postseason. Now with a ring and more experience, if the Tigers make the playoffs in 2010, they can count on Coke to be one of their top lefties.
Max Scherzer, RHP, Acquired from Arizona
Scherzer should take Edwin Jackson's vacated rotation spot. Scherzer has struggled with injuries a little but last season he proved to be a stable part of Arizona's rotation. He went 9-11 with a 4.12 ERA in 30 starts on a losing D-Backs team. Expect Scherzer's win total to go up and the fact that he won't feel pressured at the bottom of the rotation should lead to a breakout season.
Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Acquired from Arizona
The son of former NFL lineman Mark Schlereth, Daniel, like Coke, broke on the major league scene as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. Like Scherzer, Schlereth's numbers will improve greatly in Detroit this season. Last year in 21 games, he went 1-4 with a 5.89 ERA. Between Schlereth and Coke, the Tigers' southpaw situation in the bullpen in solved.

When analysts look back in five years on this trade, the Tigers will be the clear winners. Three of the four players have major league experience and Jackson should adjust fine to playing the outfield every day at Comerica Field in 2010.