Tigers get Erick Aybar from Braves for Aviles, Scivicque
By Ted Fleming
In his first season in Atlanta the 32-year old middle infielder hasn’t exactly lit it up, but he has been hot of late.
The Detroit Tigers announced late this afternoon that they have acquired switch-hitting infielder Erick Aybar from the Atlanta Braves for infielder Mike Aviles and catcher Kade Scivicque. The 11-year big league veteran goes from a last place club to the middle of a heated pennant race.
The 32-year old native of the Dominican Republic has not had a great season in his first year in Atlanta, with .242/.293/.313 splits to go with just two homers and 26 RBI in 97 games. However, he has been on a roll since the All Star break, hitting .313 (31-99) with nine runs scored, four doubles, two triples, one home run and 12 RBI in 27 games.
Aybar give the Tigers some much needed depth as shortstop Jose Iglesias is still nursing a hamstring injury, and while he is progressing, he is not scheduled to come off the disabled list until a week from Saturday.
A former Gold Glove winner in 2011, Aybar spent a decade with the Angels with a .276/.315/.378 slashline. He was acquired as part of a five player trade that sent Jose Briceno and Andrelton Simmons to Atlanta. The Angels received Chris Ellis, Sean Newcomb and cash.
Aybar is in the final year of a five-year, $40.08 million contract.
The Braves received 35-year old Mike Aviles, but the key to the trade was 23-year old catcher Kade Scivicque, the organization’s No. 20 prospect according to the MLB Pipeline.
Scivicque, 23, was a fourth round pick in the 2012 draft and was playing at High-A Lakeland. He was hitting .282/.325/.380 with six home runs and 41 RBI in 105 games with 19 doubles and two triples. He was also throwing out 25-percent of attempted base stealers (26-77) this season.