The Tigers have claimed catcher Michael Papierski off waivers from the Reds. In a corresponding roster move, Detroit designated catcher Ali Sanchez for assignment.
With Tucker Barnhart heading into free agency, Papierski’s addition gives the Tigers some extra depth behind the plate beyond Eric Haase. Jake Rogers is expected to compete for playing time in Spring Training after missing 2022 due to recovery from Tommy John surgery, and prospect Dillon Dingler (who played all of last season at Double-A) might be in line for a late-season debut in the majors.
The waiver claim doesn’t preclude Detroit from making further or larger moves at catcher as the offseason rolls on, yet Papierski is a known quantity to new Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris. Formerly the Giants’ GM for the last three seasons, Harris oversaw the trade that sent Papierski from the Astros to San Francisco last May, which opened the door for Papierski to make his MLB debut. Papierski’s tenure with the Giants last just over a month before he went to Cincinnati on another claim.
An LSU product, Papierski was a ninth-round pick for the Astros in the 2017 draft. Over 1606 career plate appearances in the minors, the backstop has a .222/.356/.337 slash line and 30 home runs. Papierski couldn’t match this modest slash line in his first exposure to Major League pitching, as he hit .143/.228/.187 over 103 combined PA with the Giants and Reds last season.
Sanchez was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals back in June, but the 25-year-old didn’t see any MLB action with either St. Louis or Detroit in 2022. Receiving cups of coffee in both 2020 with the Mets and in 2021 with the Cardinals, Sanchez’s MLB resume consists of seven total games. Known more than his defense than his bat during his time in New York’s farm system, Sanchez has a career .262/.323/.343 slash line over 2045 PA, with six of his eight seasons coming in the Mets organization. Given the constant need for catching depth around the big leagues, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another club claim Sanchez off the DFA wire, but if he clears, he’ll get attention for minor league contracts this winter.
Second pick up of a waiver wire guy by Harris. Seems like he is going to remake this roster even if some moves seem lateral, and this move and picking up Jermaine Palacios certainly seem lateral.
Don’t understand this one. No power, no defense, sub .700 ops in minors. Sanchez has same OPS or better, and is better defensively.
I couldn’t agree more. Ali is also two years younger. Maybe this is more of a Hinch move when considering the Houston ties
Yep
Gonna be honest never liked Papierski because he came back in the Dubon trade, but he is still….
FOREVER GIANT
Confused by the way the new staff picks catchers for the Giants. The days of 250 lb unathletic Catchers are over…..Joey Bart and Papierski…Thats 1980s-90s esque. Tigers did that too with another unathletic LSU C in Kade Scivique and Greyson Greiner not that long ago. Those types don’t make it. Giants were on cutting edge with Posey in that regard but have taken a step back with the new front office there i feel like.
Idk, I think Joey Bart is in a whole different class- than the others mentioned. I would gladly take him in DET
Bart is terrible at the plate and defensively. He can’t move or Catch. Tigers have Rogers who is elite Defensively and also puts up better numbers offensively than Bart. Rogers had over .800 OPS last yr in MLB before his injury. Thats a top 5 mark of all C in the MLB.
I’m not sure what you classify as athletic except smallish. Also, the current front office didn’t draft Joey Bart.
No….A Catcher that can play 3rd, SS, or OF. Like Posey coming out of college.
Ali did a fine job this year. Another enigma, I truly do not understand this team.
Agree. Aside from the new president’s familiarity with him, he doesn’t seem to offer anything more than what Sanchez does.
The Mets should consider a reunion.
This is a downgrade. There were worse players than Ali Sanchez. If the Tigers sign Brandon Belt, I’m tuning out.
So quick to judge. It could be an atmosphere change. Language barriers? Give it a chance.
I’m through with Illich incompetence.
Well, his batting average fits right in !
Interesting move, “fits right in” indeed, right along with Scott Harris publicly boosting Miguel Cabrera as an important cog for the Tigers in 2023.
It strikes one as Al Avilaesque.
Strike two, Scott Harris.
Tigers beware. Harris learned the art of dumpster diving from Zaidi. Papierski didn’t make it long with Giants and short term fix for Tigers.
I agree. I’m just no sure how Ali wasn’t a better short term fix. With that being said, never would I thought Red Sox and Giants would go the dumpster route
I’ll be ready for the real moves to start in a few weeks. Then we will see where Scott’s coming from and going too.
Scott Harris is a tourist. It’s up to him to prove otherwise and so far he’s a joke!!!