The Tigers have released right-hander Bobby Parnell and infielder Casey McGehee, the club announced. Both players were in Detroit’s camp on minor league contracts. As Article XX(B) players, Parnell and McGehee would’ve each been owed $100K bonuses if the Tigers wanted to keep them in the minors rather than put them on the Opening Day roster.
Parnell missed virtually all of 2014 and a good chunk of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery, as he pitched just 24 innings out of the Mets bullpen last season. The former closer was looking for a new opportunity in Detroit, and while he hadn’t pitched well this spring, it’s a bit surprising to see the Tigers cut ties with Parnell given all the question marks (both performance-wise and injury-wise) in their bullpen. It could be that Detroit tries to re-sign Parnell to a new minor league deal once the Article XX(B) deadline passes.
Prior to his Tommy John surgery, Parnell put up strong numbers with New York, posting a 2.79 ERA, 8.5 K/9 and 3.01 K/BB rate over 213 innings from 2010-13, including a stint as the Mets’ closer in 2013.
McGehee signed with Detroit last month looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 season that saw him hit .198/.264/.274 with two homers over 258 plate appearances with the Giants and Marlins. The 33-year-old has a career .259/.319/.389 slash line over 2990 PA since 2008, and he also spent the 2013 season in Japan with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
nooooooooo!
I want my Mets to try to sign both players to minor league deals.
I hope not because then my phillies couldn’t sign them both
Perhaps they come back. Perhaps not. $100K is a $100K.
Might be time to think about going back to Japan, Casey. Play over there for a couple more years and call it a career.
With the early question marks around the M’s bullpen and health, they may want to take a stab at Parnell for a minor league deal. Maybe the same for the Brewers
With both the Mariners and Brewers injury problems in camp, Parnell may be a worthwhile look at a minor league deal
I feel bad for Parnell– he had a difficult season last year as he came back from not only T.J., but from neck surgery as well, and now he’s been released. I imagine that he’ll get an opportunity somewhere else, though.