The Tigers announced Monday that catcher Grayson Greiner went unclaimed on outright waivers and has declined an outright assignment in favor of free agency. Greiner had the right to do so, as a player with more than three years of Major League service time.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had projected a modest raise to $800K for Greiner, but the Tigers have ample depth at catcher and effectively non-tendered Greiner with today’s move. Detroit already acquired Tucker Barnhart to serve as their starting catcher on day one of the offseason, and the Tigers also have Jake Rogers and Eric Haase on the roster — to say nothing of 2020 second-rounder Dillon Dingler, who clobbered Class-A pitching in 2021 before struggling upon a promotion to Double-A.
Greiner, 29, was the Tigers’ third-round pick back in 2014 but hasn’t hit much in parts of four big league seasons. From 2018-21, Greiner received 477 Major League plate appearances but posted just a .201/.274/.309 batting line with a 32.1% strikeout rate. He’s been a bit better in Triple-A, where he’s a .233/.314/.347 hitter in 388 plate appearances. Behind the plate, Greiner has been a bit below average, but passable, in terms of framing and also boasts a strong 31% caught-stealing rate in his career. He’ll likely get some opportunities to join a club as upper-level depth with a fair bit of MLB experience.
Detroit’s 40-man roster is now at 38 players.
He’s pretty much a minimally qualified pro back-up with no upside.
This actually surprises me. His arb number was reasonable and he had an option left. He could have burned that option this year in Toledo as system depth. Both Haase and Garneau are out of options and it seems unlikely the Tigers will keep 3 catchers on the 26 man roster.
If Detroit non tenders another 35 Grayson Greiner’s, they can afford a SS.
Rogers won’t be back till after the All Star break. Burkhart & Haase will be the tandem.
He’ll probably sign with the Reds. Poetic justice.
Sign with Yankees please
Good for Garneau, greiner was the most likely to go..
Double periods at the end for emphasis, I like that.
Garneau cannot be optioned to AAA anymore. I cannot imagine that the Tigers will have three catchers on their MLB roster.
Could Greiner be a #2C candidate for Pittsburgh? They are rather bare at C now.
Gruß,
BSHH
dude swings like helen keller at a pinata party. bye bye.
Haase can play some OF, DH and might hang a little around 1B.
Barnhardt and Garneau can handle the catching. I think Garneau is better defensively than Haase too.
garneau has no business on the roster and will be an emergency option in toledo. barnhart and haase will man the dish.
Tigers have 38 on their 40 man roster now… wonder if they are about to make a signing.
LOL
Best part about this is that the Tigers have 2 open spots on the 40-man!! Wonder who those will go to!?