Writer suggests Tigers trade J.D. Martinez, V-Mart

Jim Bowden says he has a six-point plan to reboot the Detroit Tigers, to make them contenders again and quickly.

And unlike politicians, he gets down to specifics. (Hint: It involves trading any players named Martinez. And maybe Avila.)

Bowden — the former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals GM who now does his general managing at espn.com — says the Tigers' Al Avila should make these six moves:

• Trade J.D. Martinez, Shane Greene and prospect Joe Jimenez to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Julio Teheran.

Says Bowden: "The Braves need another impact bat to put between Freddie Freeman and Hector Olivera in the middle of their lineup, and Martinez would be a perfect fit both baseball-wise and in their payroll structure. ...

"Meanwhile, Teheran gives the Tigers an affordable yet bona fide impact starter to put with Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez at the top of their rotation."

Teheran has been solid for three years, but this season he's 8-6 with a 4.44 ERA.

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• Sign St. Louis Cardinals rightfielder Jason Heyward as a free agent.

"And here's your replacement for Martinez in right," Bowden says. "Heyward is the best defensive rightfielder in baseball, and he'd give the Tigers a much-needed left-handed bat to balance the lineup."

He also currently has 11 homers, 20 behind Martinez.

• Sign Hisashi Iwakuma as a free agent.

Iwakuma's in the third tier of free agents, Bowden says, which includes Doug Fister and Yovani Gallardo, and "should fit in their budget and work well in their rotation, along with newly acquired lefty Daniel Norris. A starting rotation of Verlander, Sanchez, Teheran, Iwakuma and Norris should allow the Tigers to contend next season."

Iwakuma, whose season was cut short by injury, is 5-2 with 3.74 ERA for the Seattle Mariners.

• Revamp the bullpen via free agency by signing Tyler Clippard, Darren O'Day and Tony Sipp.

Bowden: "That would create a bullpen with better righty/lefty balance, as well as different arm angles and deliveries to go along with their young power arms such as Alex Wilson, Al Alburquerque and Bruce Rondon. The Tigers need more variation, specialists and strike-throwers."

Hey, the Tigers revamp the bullpen every year. Why stop now?

• Now Bowden says he'd ask the Ilitches "if they want to spend the money to get one more player who could put them over the top."

Bet they've heard that before.

But Bowden says "persuading Alex Gordon to leave Kansas City and take over leftfield at Comerica Park would give the Tigers the best defensive outfield in baseball, not to mention complete a strong lineup anchored by the game's best hitter (Miguel Cabrera). The Tigers could also make a play for Cespedes or Justin Upton, though I don't see them allocating the years and dollars needed to sign those players."

And it would be a minus for the Royals.

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• Now, Bowden says, "The Tigers should look into trading Victor Martinez. ...

"They don't have to get a big-named player in return — perhaps Preston Tucker from the Houston Astros or C.J. Cron from the Los Angeles Angels — but trading Martinez would save money and allow the team to get younger.

"It's a proven bat for a developing one. ... It's a move that could put them over the top. It's doubtful either team would make that type of trade, but it's at least worth exploring."

That's the problem with a plan, any plan, in baseball. There's no guarantee that you can even make the moves you want or that they'll work out the way they're supposed to.

"Would these six moves assure the Tigers of returning to the playoffs in 2016?" Bowden says. "Of course not, but they would put the team in a strong position to be relevant again in October."

And while it's not part of the official plan, Bowden says there's "one other thing I should address: The Tigers' GM should make the difficult decision of letting his son, Alex Avila, leave via free agency.

"Both father and son will be better off without having to deal with nepotism issues, and Tigers catcher James McCann has the potential to be an All-Star-caliber backstop; he needs to play every day. Avila would be a good fit with the Mariners, sharing duties with Mike Zunino."

That one might be met with less fan resistance the trading the Martinez bats.

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Contact Steve Schrader: sschrader@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @schradz.