The Tigers have designated right-hander Reed Garrett for assignment, the team announced. Righty Sandy Baez is on the way up from Triple-A to take the open spot on Detroit’s 25-man roster prior to Friday’s game.
Garrett was selected out of the Rangers’ organization during last December’s Rule 5 Draft, and would be offered back to Texas (for $50K) if no other organization claims him off waivers during the DFA period. As per Rule 5 regulations, a claiming team would also have to keep Garrett on their 25-man roster for the remainder of the 2019 season in order to fully take over his rights from the Rangers.
Originally a 16th-round pick for Texas in the 2014 draft, Garrett struggled to keep runs off the board as a starting pitcher in the Rangers’ farm system, but 2018 was a breakout season for him as a reliever. Garrett posted a combined 2.04 ERA, 3.05 K/BB rate, and 8.9 K/9 over 61 2/3 innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels last year, making him an intriguing selection for a rebuilding Detroit team that really had nothing to lose in taking a flier on a bullpen arm.
Unfortunately for both Garrett and the Tigers, his success in 2018 didn’t carry over to the Major Leagues. The 26-year-old struggled to a 6.28 ERA over 14 1/3 innings out of the Tigers’ bullpen, with more walks (12) than strikeouts (nine) recorded.
This needed to be done. But it really stings that the best option we have to call up is Sandy Baez. Walking 6 per 9 and an ERA of 8 in AAA
I know the family of John Schreiber…he will get a turn very soon, I’m sure. This kid has produced at every level he’s played at, despite not being highly regarded by most. Can’t wait to see him perform at the MLB level. My gut tells me he’ll deliver there too!
I think you’re right on your John Schreiber prediction. I like his 4:1 K:BB rate.
Even thought they weren’t hitting, The Tigers were respectable. Since, the defense has collapsed and its ugly. They need to shore up their OF defense or every pitcher will just be serving as batting practice for opposing batters.
Don’t they have to return him to the Rangers?
If nobody else claims him
I didn’t think he was eligible for waivers being a Rule 5.
The rest of the league has the option to pick him up. I doubt anyone will. Tigers could try and trade for him, but most likely just be sent back to Texas.
They have to do that first before they give him back.
It’s not like they’re going anywhere this yr
The tigers would get better pitching if they just swapped the entire pitching staff with the AA Erie pitching staff
That’s pretty accurate
Going back to the Dombo days and ever since then, the Tigers continue to ignore the bullpen in an alarming manner. With an adequate bullpen, I believe the Tigers would have won a WS or two, when they had JV/Scherzer etc… Avila appears to be just as negligent as Dombo in regards to the bullpen. Every year, I see RP’s that can be had for less than 2M, but we never seem to pursue any of them. I realize that this team is rebuilding and that the SP’s have been ravaged with injuries, but the rest of the year is beginning to look beyond ridiculous. Even KC went out and spent 5M for Boxberger and Diekman…how are you going to foster young players in an environment where you’re losing (so many) games like 11-4 or 17-3 ??? Maybe we should hire people like the Marlins management, who are always rebuilding, yet putting competitive teams on the field.
And, by the way, I realize that Miami has only won 10 so far this year. However, over the last 20 years, with very low salaries, they have fostered many exciting players (who were eventually traded) and won far more games than they had any business winning.
Look thru the league at those bargain relievers. Most have not been worth that bargain salary. While Garrett was getting bombed by Oakland, Boxberger was being shelled by Texas. Addison Reed just got cut by the Twins.
One thing being overlooked is that Jim Leyland was notorious mis-manager of pitching staffs. The Tiger bullpens weren’t as bad as he made them look because of the way he used them.
Compare Jim Leyland’s 1996 PIT pitching staff with Gene Lamont’s 1997 PIT pitching staff.
A’s should do the same to Aaron Brooks, make that the last game for them in that uniform for the both of them.
The tigers would gladly take him