The Tigers announced that right-hander Seth Elledge has cleared waivers and elected free agency. He was designated for assignment earlier in the week when the club claimed left-hander Anthony Misiewicz off waivers from the Diamondbacks.
Elledge, 27, has filled up the transaction logs in the past few months. Atlanta added him to their roster in November but then designated him for assignment in April. He then went to the Mets and Tigers on subsequent waivers claims before getting the DFA treatment again a few days ago. Amid all those transactions, he’s managed to throw 28 2/3 Triple-A innings this year with a 5.34 ERA, striking out 21.9% of hitters but walking 13.3%.
The righty has a bit of major league experience, getting into 23 games for the Cardinals over 2020 and 2021. He had a 4.63 ERA in 23 1/3 innings in that time with a strong 24% strikeout rate but 14.4% walk rate. He was outrighted off the Cards’ roster after the 2021 season and signed a minor league deal with Atlanta for 2022. He tossed 46 1/3 Triple-A innings that year with a 3.88 ERA, 33.7% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate. That dip in walk rate is perhaps what got him a roster spot from Atlanta less than a year ago but the control problems seem to have returned here in 2023.
Since Elledge had that previous career outright in 2021, he had the right to reject another such assignment. He has now exercised that right and is free to sign with any club. Despite the problems with the free passes, he’s continued to rack up strikeouts and could market that to potential employers. With so many clubs around the league dealing with injuries, he’ll likely be able to find offers for minor league deals.
He’s an Elledged pitcher.
Look at his stats…a model of consistency.