After splitting today’s doubleheader with the Astros, the Tigers announced that they are keeping 27th man Zack Short on the active roster and optioning Isaac Paredes to Triple-A. Paredes, 22, was given an opportunity to fill in for Niko Goodrum when the latter was placed on the injured list.
With a 17.1 percent walk rate and 14.3 percent strikeout rate in a small sample of 35 plate appearances, Paredes has shown a solid, contact-first approach. The bottom line results haven’t been there yet, however, as he slashed .143/.286/.321 in that time. His .130 BABIP suggests some poor luck, and his batted ball numbers (such as exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, and barrel rate) are a touch below average. Paredes will head back to the minors with hopes of producing more solid contact in regular playing time at Toledo.
Short, 26, is having a stellar season at the plate, both in Triple-A (.132 wRC+ in 124 plate appearances) and with the parent club (143 wRC+ in 16 plate appearances). The former Cubs’ farmhand can play all over the infield while filling Paredes’ role as a right-handed complement to switch-hitting infielders Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro. Short may not have the long-term promise that Paredes does, but he has impressed in short-run samples this season, earning himself an opportunity.
Moving to the outfield, the Tigers have another roster decision coming soon, writes Evan Woodbery of Mlive.com. With Derek Hill and Victor Reyes close to returning from the injured list, the Tigers will have a surplus of outfielders. The most obvious move would be to activate Hill and option Reyes back to Triple-A, but Woodbery wonders whether Detroit might find this the right time to cut ties with Nomar Mazara.
Though still just 26, Mazara is seemingly running out of chances to prove himself a Major League hitter. After struggling through the shortened season with the White Sox, Mazara has put up similar production this year. Slashing .201/.273/.317 through 154 plate appearances, Mazara doesn’t have any trade value, and on a one-year, $1.75MM contract, he can be cut loose without significant financial consequence.
If the Tigers don’t see Mazara as a part of their future, there’s certainly some logic to allocating his playing time elsewhere. The Tigers can pull from a pool of outfielders that includes Robbie Grossman, Akil Baddoo, Daz Cameron, Hill, Reyes, JaCoby Jones, Christin Stewart, Jacob Robson. Infielders Castro and Goodrum (when he returns from the injured list) are also capable of playing the outfield.
Time to say by to Mazara
*Bye
Mazara, Castro & Castro. Enough!!
Gross man has played well; hopefully they can flip him for another major league ready player….with Baddoo, Reyes, Cameron, Hill, they can afford to flip him in a year they are not gonna contend
He still has another year on his contract though. He’s a good guy to keep around
Cutting Mazara who is on a one year $1.75MM deal is not a significant financial consequence. Maybe not in MLB terms, but that’s a lot of moolah to this old country boy.
It’s a sunk cost. They have to pay him regardless of whether they keep him or not. He’s not helping them win this year, and he’s not part of their future so why keep him? If you have milk in the refrigerator that is spoiled you’re not going to drink it just because you paid for it.
The answer to the question is obvious; the hope all along was he’d recapture some of his earlier career success, and then his value would go up, allowing the Tigers to get *something* of value in return. That unsurprisingly hasn’t manifested as of yet (and won’t).
They are going to pass that spoiled milk off as yogurt and ruin everything.
He is helping them to get the first overall draft pick again:)
He is helping them to get the first overall draft pick again:)
Better check the standings, they’re currently drafting 9th.
I believe it is time to say goodby to Goodrum. His fielding lately has been bad and his hitting has been worst.
I think after the trading deadline, the Tigers will be bringing up a few guys for their cup of coffee. Erie is probably going to have playoffs so they will keep those guys winning and feeling good. Once that ends, we could see Torkelson & Greene.
Glad Zack is staying, I would think Mazara, Reyes, little Castro and even Goodrum will eventually be gone.. perhaps a catcher too.
The only guys on this roster who will still be around in two years are W Castro, Badoo, Rogers as a backup catcher, not counting pitchers.
Candelario? Cameron? H. Castro?
Candelario does not compare well to other 3B offensively. He’s not a building block. Cameron and Hill have yet to prove themselves, though its promising. Hector can play everywhere, but his lack of power keeps him a bench player. Goodrum’s tools, speed , power, and ability to play everywhere will keep him in the majors. If only he could make contact. Jury is out on Willie Castro until he becomes consistent.
I will give Avila and the scouts their due for picking Badoo in the rule 5. Another outfielder with little power? Why would they pick him? The real question is why did Minnesota not protect him. If he was picked as the Tigers All Star, it would be deserving.
If not for Schoop’s power display, Baddoo would be the team’s All Star.
Can’t fault Minn. An A ball player coming off of TJ surgery is not a candidate to be protected & it was lucky as heck he worked out. 99 out 100 this type of pick is horrible. Minn did the right thing. It was luck not bad strategy.
Maybe not luck, maybe just good scouting by the tigers
Weird…. Borderline, not mlb ready = All Star for the Detroit Tigers under BigAl Avila and Little Chris pizza.
Ok… so that’s Mr. Little Chris to you , buddy…..
Wishful thinking on Willie Castro. He’s awful & isn’t hitting.
To me, Harold is the better of the 2 Castros.
I’d be working overtime trying to move Grossman, Goodrum, Castro, actually anyone on the roster besides the 3 rookie pitchers. This isn’t the finished product so trades make sense
BigAl and Little Chris need to hire someone who actually is aware of what is going on around the league with other teams.
I count at least 6 giant missed opportunities to improve the future of the Detroit Tigers.
Bet BigAl has no clue about what I am even talking about!
Holy Toledo!
Do something!
Ok, so that’s, Mister Little Chris to you, buddy.