The Tigers announced Friday that they’ve claimed infielder Brandon Dixon off waivers from the Reds and left-handed reliever Jose Fernandez off waivers from the Blue Jays.
It stands to reason that the Detroit organization will continue to look for ways to find value from roster castaways from other organizations. In this case, they’ll take a look at a pair of players who earned first-time MLB promotions in 2018 but failed to impress at the game’s highest level.
Dixon, 26, raked in his second attempt at Triple-A but racked up 43 strikeouts and limped to a .574 OPS in his first 124 plate appearances in the big leagues. The former third-rounder is capable of playing the corners in both the infield and outfield but also has experience at second base, potentially making him a versatile piece if he can earn a shot with the Tigers.
As for Fernandez, he’ll turn 26 right as camp opens, just in time to push for a job in the Detroit pen. He’s exclusively a reliever and occasionally threw multiple innings in the upper minors last year, working to a 2.97 in 60 2/3 frames over 44 appearances. Though he has allowed a few too many free passes in recent years, Fernandez gets some swings and misses. He also showed a 94+ mph heater from the left side.
Yawn.
Toronto tried to outright Fernandez when he threw just 10 innings yet Biagini stays, makes sense.
I’d like to see them give Biagini one more chance out of the bullpen. No tinkering or moving back and forth between starting and relieving. Maybe he can find his 2016 form, and if not, then I’d cut him loose.
Biagini is actually solid as a reliever
It is nice to know that this Jose Fernandez is not dead.
Ouch!
Cocaine is a helluva drug
Cross him off then!
Haha! Lou Brown