The Tigers announced a pair of forthcoming promotions with active rosters expanding tomorrow. Detroit will select right-hander Miguel Díaz onto the 40-man roster and recall infielder Andre Lipcius from Triple-A Toledo. The 40-man roster remains at capacity after José Cisnero went unclaimed on waivers. As a result, they’ll need to make a corresponding move when selecting Díaz’s contract.
Díaz is up for the first time this season and his sixth MLB campaign overall. The 28-year-old reliever pitched in three contests for Detroit last season. He was non-tendered at year’s end but returned on a minor league pact. Díaz has pitched 57 innings with Toledo on the year, working to a 5.05 ERA. That’s largely because of an abnormally low 59.6% strand rate, as his underlying marks are better than the run prevention would suggest.
In addition to picking up 14 saves for the Mud Hens, Díaz is striking hitters out at a quality 28.6% clip. He has kept the ball on the ground on nearly half the batted balls against him. He’s issuing a few more walks than ideal, but the combination of whiffs and grounders will get him a middle innings spot in A.J. Hinch’s bullpen.
Now that he’s back on the MLB roster, Díaz will be eligible for arbitration next offseason. The Tigers could keep him around beyond this year if they’d like, though it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s again non-tendered after logging a few innings down the stretch.
It’s the first career promotion for Lipcius, who was initially added to the 40-man roster last winter. The right-handed hitter was a third-round pick out of Tennessee back in 2019. He has never been an elite prospect but has a solid minor league track record. Lipcius placed among the organizational top 30 prospects at Baseball America in each of the past two offseasons, though he wasn’t on the outlet’s midseason update of the farm system.
Lipcius has bounced around the diamond this year. He’s suited up at each of first, second and third base and in left field. He’s not regarded as a particularly good defender at any spot but has the ability to move around the diamond to keep his bat in the lineup. The 25-year-old is hitting .272/.363/.412 with 10 homers through 416 Triple-A plate appearances. While that’s roughly average overall production given the very hitter-friendly nature of the top minor league level, Lipcius has shown strong strike zone awareness. He’s walking at a 12.5% clip while striking out just 17.5% of the time.
Welcome to the show, Andre. Felt this one coming for a while.
Lipcius is way overdue.
Diaz should’ve been here since Spring Training – some people regress if not properly challenged.
I like Lupcius. He served his time and deserves a call up. Just like when they called up Jacob Robson a couple years ago.
Robson is in the Independent league and slashing .257/ .407/ .491 with 22 steals. 10 homers… he was never known for power, but he’s accidentally hit a few this year.
Jacob is destined to be a big league batting coach. He’ll be a good one. Only a matter of time before someone offers him a job in their MiLB system.
Two guys that won’t be with the Tigers in 2024… Just a nice thank you call up…
How they play will determine that.
Why do they keep balking on calling up Justin Henry-Malloy? He’s fit the mold that Harris has been preaching perfectly, good strike zone control with high OBP and extra base hit numbers.
No defensive position yet for Malloy. Not a fit at third, still learning the outfield.
And Miggy is still on the team. He may be the DH fit for next year, cuz there’s not much out there in FA, and he’s cheap.
Lipcius was a third baseman in college. This can give him a jump on winning a job in ‘24. He’s gotta hit at least .250 and play some D.
Lipcius is a utility infielder, at best. They’ll give Colt Keith every chance to win the third base job next year.
I’d like to see Malloy get the call too. Split time with Cabrera at DH with some spot starts in the OF and 3B too. Give him (and us) a taste before next year when he surely will be up along with Colt Keith.
It looks like the Tigers are going to wait until next year to promote Malloy. A little disappointing, but it will give us something to look forward to.
Congratulations!
I was surprised it took this long to call up Diaz. Lipcius is auditioning along with others for a utility spot next year. Pretty packed crowd (Ibanez, McKinistry, Kreidler, Maton, Vierling, Short, Wenceel Perez and Eddys Leonard maybe). Some of those names won’t be back for sure.
I think you’re right, I’d expect one or two of those guys to be traded over the off-season, possibly along with an outfielder.
The Tigers have several utility infielders and fourth/fifth outfielders, and not enough high quality, everyday players.
Vierling should be a lock to make the 26 man roster in 2024. He’s the closest AJ Hinch will get to having a Chris Taylor-like everyday player at his disposal.
I wouldn’t be shocked if they traded Vierling or Baddoo over the off-season.
Should have picked up one of those major league arms. The bullpen is getting burned out. Moore and Giolito would have been a couple good additions for nothing. A righty hitting CF like Bader. Sure, they are free agents, but they are much better than some of the AAAA players they have. Maybe they could have been sold on signing with the Tigers if they liked it.
Ibanez, Vasquez, Sousa could all be cut and wouldn’t be missed.
Harris doesn’t care about winning. Just churning up the bottom of the roster with waiver claims. I would rather they move those bottom of the roster guys and get some top of the roster guys.
Those pitchers would have kept the Tigers from giving younger guys like Olson and Faedo more time to prove themselves. Harris made the right decision.
I should have mentioned Brendan White as well. I want to see what these guys can do.
Yep… Tiger fans want to see what Joey Wentz can do. LOL
And Diaz… we have been waiting all year for Miguel Diaz. Get some popcorn ready. The balls will be flying.
I didn’t say Joey Wentz… He’ll soon be back in Toledo where he belongs.
It’ wouldn’t be for nothing as the claiming team has to pay the remaining salary, hence the reason they were released in the first place
It was like $4 mil for the last month. Way too much for Illich to spend. He’s excited about Miggy leaving and Illich getting an extra $30 mil a year.
All those guys would have been September rentals. No upside for 2024, as they’re all free agents.
It would be better than seeing Wentz, Cisnero and Ibanez
More entertainment value for the fans? Absolutely!
Developmental value with respect to evaluating prospects and recruiting free agents? Negligible at best…
How do you want to spend $4M over 30 days?
I’d rather see them dump some more deadwood from the 40 man roster and bring some guys up from the minors for an audition, than waste more money on players who will not be here next year. If they’d brought in Giolito or someone people would gave bitched it was a stupid move.
And it would have been a stupid move.
So who are the Tigers booting from the 40 man to make room for Diaz?
Bennet Souza.
I wish another billionaire would take.an interest in Detroit, especially the Tigers.
Seems like, no competition breeds contempt and complacency.
It’s SO SAD, I’m not a billionaire too.
Detroit has suffered for it.
The USA has suffered for it.
The world has suffered for it.
PAY THE SUPERFIFE!