SUNDAY: The Tigers will recall Rodriguez to replace Mercer, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
SATURDAY: The Tigers will place shortstop Jordy Mercer on the 10-day injured list because of a right quad strain, the team announced. They’ll make a corresponding move Sunday, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News tweets.
This injury continues a rough start to the season for Mercer, a longtime Pirate who joined the Tigers for a guaranteed $5.25MM in free agency. While the 32-year-old has never posed much of a threat with the bat, Mercer’s .233/.298/.326 line in 47 plate appearances this season looks underwhelming even by his standards. Offensive shortcomings aside, Mercer has managed to carve out a useful major league career, having totaled anywhere from 1.0 to 2.0 fWAR in five different seasons.
With Mercer heading to the shelf, it’s unclear which Tiger will receive the bulk of the work at shortstop in his absence. Gordon Beckham replaced him in Saturday’s game, though he’s not the most confidence-inspiring option. The team also has utilityman Niko Goodrum, who started 10 games at short in 2018, with 40-man middle infield possibilities Ronny Rodriguez, Dawel Lugo and Willi Castro in Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers do have a 40-man opening, though, leading McCosky to note that they could select veteran Pete Kozma from their top minor league affiliate.
Welp….There goes the Wild Card.
Mercer has A+ attitude every day for baseball. His spirit makes me feel we are always in games. I hope this isn’t for lingering.
In meantime, some youngster might just get a great short audition.
It would be dang suprising if a wildcard comes out of the AL Central. Here’s hoping!
I assume that Ronny Rodriguez will be called up. I hope the Tigers give Willi Castro or Sergio Alcantaro a shot but they’re slated as the possible IF of the future and would be more inclined to bing them up later in the season. Dawel Lugo is playing 3B in Toledo but didn’t do so well last season. Oh please no Pete Kozma. What’s the benefit of using him?
I agree with the “no Pete Kozma” vote! Give us a look at some young guys!
This is where having a decent farm system other than pitching prospects would come in handy. Please no Kozma or Lugo, bring up someone new.
The point of kozma would be to not hurt the younger guys development by a early call up and hurt to their confidence
The Tigers have several position players targeted for full time play. They will arrive the same time their pitchers do. Next season they will start to fill the field. The only positions they don’t have target players for are 1B and DH but Miggy is here until 2023
Bring up daz Cameron and have goodrum play short
I like it. Daz is coming sooner or later.
The Orioles let that rule V guy go… Jackson? He plays short. Give him a shot. He’s better than Koma.
Ronny Rodriguez was pulled from the starting lineup in AAA Toledo tonight….. so looks like he is getting the call
The Tigers seriously gave this guy $5mI’ll guaranteed instead of Jose Iglesias??
OT Where can you find a list of options available for ‘every’ mlb team? I’m just curious to see who is eligible to be DFA’d.
Seen Kozma play the past couple days and he is on fire. Rodney was a mess the other day but better then Lugo who believes in airmail across the diamond. Good news the farm team is looking good.
They can grab Brad Miller and slide Harrison to short.