Tigers reliever Drew Carlton has cleared waivers and been outrighted off the 40-man roster, relays Evan Woodbery of MLive (Twitter link). Detroit’s 40-man roster tally now sits at 39.
Carlton was selected to make his big league debut in September. The 26-year-old made four appearances down the stretch, allowing a pair of runs on six hits and four walks with a strikeout over his first 3 2/3 MLB innings. That brief stint wasn’t great, but Carlton had a far more impressive showing throughout the year with the Mud Hens. He frequently worked multiple frames of relief in Triple-A, compiling 52 1/3 innings over 33 outings. In that time, Carlton posted an impressive 2.92 ERA with a fine 23.6% strikeout percentage and a stellar 4.8% walk rate.
The righty doesn’t have the requisite service time to refuse an outright assignment, so he’ll remain in the organization. Assuming he’s not selected in the upcoming Rule 5 draft, Carlton figures to get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot next Spring Training.
Verlander incoming.
I really don’t think Avila, given his past performance in free agent acquisitions, he is in the type of position to take a chance spending $60 million+ on a player who has pitched fewer innings over the last 2 years than I fingers and toes. Can’t see it.
JV has probably a zero chance of winding up in Detroit. They’re trying to win, not taking a chance on a guy not even recovered from TJ, which realistically is a full two years before a guy can throw quality pitches. I think JV is shot personally.
His showcase went very well, throwing mid-90’s. I doubt JV is done, but I don’t think he’ll really be JV until the All-Star break. Usually, it takes a half a season to really get back to normal.
Plus, some believe TJS prolongs a career. Some come back throwing harder.
Finally, JV is going to get paid. I’m guessing a big market like the Yankees or maybe even the Dodgers since they might possibly be losing Kershaw and (less likely) Scherzer.
So, all the teams that have an interest in signing him aren’t trying to win? Literally every pitcher in baseball is at risk of both injury or an ineffective season but the risk of a SP on the back end of TJ recovery who has a 97mph #1 with Verlander’s skills is a risk that any sane GM would be delighted to take. He doesn’t have to pitch like the ace he was in ’19 to be worth what he’s likely to get.
Drew’s more famous father is, of course, Ritz Carlton.
Steve
I wonder if his nickname is Righty.
Nicely done.
MLB GMs should be clamoring to have a Righty Carlton on their roster.
This guy has done surprisingly well in the minors. He had a cup of coffee with the big club that didn’t go real well this past season, but he’s been consistently great in the minors.
Verlander is a done deal to be announced tomorrow at 11 AM press conference
Right. And, Barry Sanders is the Lions new wide receiver.
He has a very impressive minor league track record to have just passes through waivers. Especially if he has options remaining. He doesn’t seem to have huge K stuff… but he has more or less dominated at every level ERA wise in relief. You’d think someone would claim him and outright him to the minors if he has options… seeing as they didn’t there should be no chance he’s taken in rule-5 because then he has to stay on roster whole time whereas you could have just claimed him here and still been able to send him to AAA.
I made a mistake that I deleted.
But, I agree with you. How he wasn’t claimed, since he could have been sent to the minors, is a bit of a mystery.
I agree 100%, Jeff. A lot of fringe players have been claimed off of waivers recently and Carlton certainly seems to have better stats/upside than a lot of these other options. I’m really surprised he slipped through waivers. If he was passed over by all 29 teams then I highly doubt he’ll be claimed in the Rule V draft. He still has minor league options available so any team could have had him for ‘free’, by simply claiming him and putting him on their 40 man roster. A Rule V selection would require him to be paid a MLB salary and remain in MLB (or on the IR) for the full season. I just don’t see that happening. Detroit has to be thrilled that he went unclaimed.
Lol
It’s too bad that the Eule 5 wasn’t modified or canceled this year. With the lost development due to the canceled 2020 MiLB season, there should be a lot of good players available who aren’t on the 40 man rosters due to that canceled season.
I think what you are seeing is that all of the MLB teams are in the same situation as us. Trying to squeeze worthwhile players onto the 40 man. Not many teams have room for an extra reliever that has no track record on their 40 man. I mean, if he was a starter, we wouldn’t be having this conversation as he would have never been outrighted.
Al has no umpah.
That’s right, umpah.
All he to do is have a mechanical stuffed animal Tiger, with weird eyes (you know, the color scheme, make it a cutsie- I already have one) made….offer Scherzer a percentage from now until the end of time on the sales.
Can we absorb 4 year of V?
Offer both LT contracts with opt outs on both sides…let them BOTH retire Tigers.
Hey Mr. ILLICH, that’s two Tiger caps in the HoF. That’s worth buying.
And guess who just STUMPED BORAS?
If you ever bother to come down for those shots, I would have showed you the one I have. They are irresistible. Put one in Mr.Scherzers’ wife’s hands…..They are irresistible.
Irresistible.
And…you can have them made in Detroit!
If we win the WS, they could be the next Cabbage Patch kid.
Christmas frenzy. Maximilian, the white Tiger, with two different colored eyes.
Make Max white and we could also sell a standard Bengal Tiger as well.
You guys didn’t know I knew Korean, did you? Metaphysically, it’s the same as the German. Esp. in between shots!
I’ve been a fan of Carlton since I saw him finish off a Casey Mize victory for AA Erie 2-3 years ago. A lead off dribbler, error ended up with a guy on 3rd with no outs to start his frame. 2 quick K’s and a ground out ended the threat. For a 32nd round draftee pitching in AA in his 2nd year I thought that was impressive.
Carlton throws strikes, but….he barely breaks 90 mph on the gun. While he still got AAA hitters out regularly, ML hitters OTOH, hit strikes. From my limited view of his ML innings, he wasn’t getting guys to chase outside the zone….and I think that’s because his velocity gives hitters a fraction of a second longer to lay off. I hope he stays on the Tiger farm. Maybe he can get that “it” pitch he needs to stick in the majors.