TODAY: The Tigers officially announced the selection of Gipson-Long’s contract. Right-hander Brendan White was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
SEPTEMBER 8: The Tigers are planning to select the contract of Sawyer Gipson-Long in time for him to start Sunday’s game against the White Sox, manager A.J. Hinch announced to reporters, including Jason Beck of MLB.com. It will be his major league debut. Detroit has an empty spot on the 40-man, although the team will need to make room for the 25-year-old on the active roster.
This will be the second promotion of the season for Gipson-Long, who earned the call to Triple-A in late July. He has made six starts since then, pitching to a 4.35 ERA with an impressive 33.1% strikeout rate. However, he has struggled in two appearances out of the bullpen in September, giving up six runs on seven hits. The Tigers will count on him to get back on track in the majors.
Gipson-Long joined the Tigers organization at last year’s trade deadline, coming over in exchange for Michael Fulmer. As Beck pointed out on Twitter, he was the final trade acquisition of Al Avila’s tenure in Detroit. The young righty currently ranks as the no. 19 prospect in the Tigers system, per MLB Pipeline. Earlier this season, Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs called attention to his above-average groundball rate and praised his ability to throw strikes. His groundball rate is down since his promotion to Triple-A, but his strikeout rate has never been higher.
The Tigers expect Gipson-Long to pitch out of the rotation for the rest of the season. He’ll be pitching in place of Matt Manning, who fractured his foot on Wednesday, ending his 2023 campaign. Detroit will have a couple of spots up for grabs in the rotation next season (presuming Eduardo Rodriguez exercises his opt-out clause), so these final three weeks will serve as an audition of sorts of Gipson-Long. A good showing could increase his chances of making the Opening Day roster in 2024.
What’s with the hyphenated trend ? Spring training for Detroit should be far more livelier than usual. Will Mize be ready ? I hope SGL does well as one more pitcher trying out in a serious way is a good thing for Detroit.
The Gipper is back!
I wondered if he might get a tryout given his age and the meh results from Flores and others in AAA. Glad they are test driving some players down the stretch. Interested to see him pitch.
Got nothing on Enacarnacion-Strand
kind of a f-u to turnbull
He won’t be here next year. Seems pretty mutual
Turnbull has been terrible this year with his pitching and approach to his demotion. He hasn’t earned a promotion.
It would be a mistake to cut Turnbull. You can never have enough pitching. He will be cheap. Some pitchers takes longer to heal. I would hate to see him helping a division rival next year and have no return for the loss. The time to consider cutting him is at the end of spring training if he’s still not showing progress.
I don’t think Turnbull wants to be here and the Tigers, I believe feel mutually about him. The fact he’s a Boras client makes things worse. I am not counting on him in Detroit next season. Scott Harris may very well be on the phones regarding him once trades can happen again, trying to package him along with someone of value to get some value back. At least one would hope so. Either that or the scenario at the end of spring training happens. I’d hate to see him go, but I believe all signs point in that direction.
I hope they tender him a contract and stick him down in Toledo all year and make an example out of him. And then do it again in 2025. Never let him see the big leagues until he’s like 33 and only if another team will sign his crooked rear end.
Can’t wait till 2024… Gipson-Long, Olson, Faedo, Brieske, Wentz… Illich won’t have to spend a dime on rotation. That’s all that matters… if Chris makes a couple bucks.
Reminder..it’s Mrs I who is pulling the purse strings and is the real tightwad of the family. Chris is just obeying him mommy’s demands
Jayheck Where are you getting this idea?
From friends and acquaintances who have worked for the Illitch’s. It’s a know fact among those who know them that Mrs I is the one who does not want to spend the money
Skubal, Manning, Mize and some combination of Olson, Faedo, Wentz and Gipson-Long. That actually seems like a pretty decent rotation. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if they picked up a free agent as well.
I agree. I like Brieske also in the mix.
Olson has had a good year. Faedo looks like a spot starter/bullpen guy. Wentz has imploded this year and needs a hard reset. I’d be real happy with Brieske as the #5 starter…he pitched well in the rotation last year. Gipson Long is TBD as a #5. Add one of those guys to Skubal, Mize, Manning, Olson PLUS a free agent, because we know there will be injuries. Like thonolans ghost said that’s a pretty good rotation and could be a great rotation if they sign a good start with Miggy money (resign Erod, Snell, Nola, Gray et al). The pitching staff is a strength.
They would need a free agent for veteran leadership on the very young staff. I would take any of those pitchers you listed, but included in the “et al” would be bringing back Lorenzen, that would be my first choice. ERod is a good one but I have my doubts about them working something out as it’s almost a given he opts out, but if the proverbial miracle happens and he stays, I wouldn’t be unhappy. Yes, I agree with you in part that the pitching staff is a strength and am with you on him needing a hard reset. He was not this bad last year. I’d move Lange to middle relief and no more Cisnero. End that experiment that’s gone on long enough. Place Holton in the back end and make him or Foley the closer in 2024. Alexander should be back and could either spot start or long relieve along with Brieske and/or Faedo. After saying all of that, I’m convinced the Tigers actually have a surplus of pitchers, barring injury with more depth in the minors next year. I’m also convinced that Turnbull is as good as gone, in a mutual good riddance. He’s a Boras client and both sides have been jacking each other around since his “demotion”. I’m thinking there’s some really bad blood going on there on both sides.
100% agree with everything you said. Lorenzen and Erod are known quatititles which is a bonus.
I’m not sure ERod wants to be in Detroit. At the trade deadline when he vetoed the deal with the Dodgers, he said he loved Detroit. I think he was just being politically correct…what else was he going to say? It’s been a pretty well known fact that he wants to be back on the east coast, so if that trade was with him going back to Boston for instance, I’m sure he’d not have turned it down. Especially since he’s done quite well since, I believe he’s as good as gone, opting out.
Just as a side note, I hate NTCs and opt outs in free agent deals. The team signing the contract seems to get the raw part of the deal. ERod out, Javy stays is a prime example.
He has a place in Florida where his family is. I’d expect him to sign closer to home. I’d be surprised if he stays, but then again maybe he is comfortable with Hinch and Fetter. I think this is his best year in MLB. Maybe instead of splashing on Erod they will look for the next Lorenzen or Erod and let Fetter fix them. That’s one thing SF did well when Harris was there is take underachievers like Gausman and Rodon and turn them into stars.
If starting is a strength, sign a bullpen guy. Hader is the new closer with Lange and Foley and Holton for set up. Adds a needed lefty to the pen.
Oh yes. He screwed the Tigers and embarrassed Scott Harris by demanding an additional year at a price the Dodgers wouldn’t pay to waive his opt out clause.
He doesn’t care at all about Detroit. And, that hard line negotiating tactic is a sign of how the negotiations will go for Detroit. He’s going to demand way more than the Tigers are going to be willing to pay him because he doesn’t know what he’s worth until he tests the free agent market.
If he thinks he’s going to get $22-$26 million AAV, he doesn’t settle for anything less than $26 right now. Detroit will have to pay a premium to keep him from opting out. They won’t do it.
I remember after the failed trade to LA, Rodriguez telling reporters he vetoed the trade because he loved Detroit. Better call the fire department because he needs the flames put out from his pants. Of course, he wanted to say that not to disrupt the clubhouse, but man oh man, everyone knew better than to drink that koolaid. I’d be shocked if I was wrong about my (or every single Tiger fan’s ) interpretation about his BS. Harris (or the new GM, if he finds one) needs to sign someone who really wants to be there. I’m not saying the Rodriguez signing was on him, Avila was still in charge….just saying learn from Al’s mistakes with free agents…..and STOP with the opt outs and no trade clauses (or if they’re used, limit them to say four teams.). If the player won’t accept those terms, he can find another team to play with.
I also think he has a crazy wife and his marriage is toxic as hell. That’s just my opinion and I could be wrong….
Remember, he took off for over half a season and screwed his teammates by doing so last year, to fix his marriage. That cost him close to $10 million. I happen to know a little something about toxic relationships and that sort of thing sounds very familiar. So does some other clues (like passing up a chance to play for a World Series favorite to stay closer to his family (WIFE!))
Buck Farmer is my best comp for our young Sawyer. He might carve out a nice backend of the rotation type of career, especially if the Tigers are smart enough to pull him around 75-85 pitches. We need to prevent the opposing teams from getting a chance to figure out they can tee off on him.
I’m much higher on Olson then any other of the guys you mentioned. He is the only one who will assuredly be a rotation guy and maybe help us contend.
Buck Farmer was horrible so I hope you can find a better comp for Sawyer-Gipson else he’s doomed.
I’m very high on Olson. He’s pitched well in most of his starts, maybe had two bad ones overall, thus his 4.50 ERA. IMO, he’s a victim of no run support in most games he pitches, last night was a prototypical start for him. He’s still young, a rookie, but I think he’s got a high ceiling and will get even better as time goes on.
I like Sawyer Gipson or Long because he throws strikes. I’m liking what I’m seeing. Meadows and Carpenter. Abreu is looking good and Torkelson is breaking out. They gotta dump Baez, however.
Gibson-Long, not Sawyer-Gibson. These hyphenated names, geesh.
Sawyer Gipson-Long. I agree with hyphenated names being stupid. What’s next? Birth parents, adoptive parents, birth parents’ second spouses and adoptive parents’ second spouses?
Robert Anderson-Smith-Johnson-Olson-Matthews-Jacobs-Jingleheimer-Schmidt?
Biggest issue with Gipson-Long is it seems he’s consistently had problems with the long ball. His FIP and ERA is almost always much higher than his xFIP. Seems like the Tigers have coached him to be a little less focused on throwing strikes and try to get guys to chase a bit more. It’s led to a huge increase in K rate with a moderate jump in BB rates. The overall impact seems to be positive.
Just have to find out if MLB hitters will be fooled and chase, too.
Good insight.
@GarryHarris Who is Abreu?
tigerfan: That’s getting to be a good question. I think there are four Abreu’s currently in the majors: two with Houston, one with Boston I think and one more just got called up. But you’re right. As far as I know, there are currently no Abreu’s on the Tigers, but stay tuned.
I knew there weren’t any Abreus on the team. I was wondering if Garry was confusing the last name with someone else’s. It’s a common name, at least in MLB, as you stated. Could he have meant Ibanez? That would be my guess but that’s all it is….a guess. I’m not so sure Ibanez is looking good. He’s got his times, yes, and he’s better than I expected but good? I guess good is in the eye of the beholder.
Good catch. I thought everything I wrote went unread. I meant the Andy Ibañez is looking like a good player if he plays 2B.
Ever notice how the players performance in inversely proportional to their pay?
Forgive my grammar…
I read all informative and interesting comments, Tiger related, especially ones from knowledgeable (IMO) regular posters that I’m familiar with including you. That’s why I called you out….to know who you actually were talking about, fully well knowing that there isn’t an Abreu in the Tigers system.. Now that the mystery is solved, I want to clarify my statement on Ibanez. He’s not a terrible player, decent defense, much better than Schoop sadly became, as a whole he’s been serviceable. The Tigers had no option but to turn to him at the time he became the “regular” second baseman. I don’t see him back with Detroit in 2024, unless he’s signed to another minor league contract. I agree 100% with your other observations, except you left out Riley Greene. Barring injury, he, Carp and Tork should be a solid to great nucleus of the Tigers for many years to come. It might surprise you that I think the most impressive of the three to me is Carpenter. I expected what we got out of Tork and Riley, but I saw Carpenter as turning out to being maybe another Chris Shelton. Instead, he’s more like JD Martinez. Both Carp and JD made adjustments in their batting styles and we all know what happened with JD.
Ibanez is serviceable defensively with a little pop. Maybe he just needed a fresh opportunity. He seems comfortable playing here and may get better with the reinvestment with reputable hitting coaches.
Go Tigers!
Not mathematically eliminated yet….come on!
I am starting to lose faith…. Go.Javelina! Best player on the team! He’s like a thermometer.
You know Marion, it not my fault a person, self assigned, stopped.my from paying the $87M in the first place.
AND.,OH.BOY, AM I PISSED!
Very, very PO’d.
Signed ,
Your truly
The Superfife.
So I have to take a BILLION DOLLAR LOSS BECUASE THIS PAUL KING GUY AND HIS SON?
AND HIS FREINDS AT GOLDMANS?
I DON’T THINK SO.
DO YOU REALIZE JUST HOW UPSET I AM?
You ok, bruh?
No, and he does this all the time.
He always has to be the class clown.
SGL with an impressive start, giving up 2 runs 4 hits, no walks 5 strikeouts in 5+ innings. He retired the first ten batters he faced. He’s in line for the win and Hinch made sure that he won’t lose by pulling him with the tying runs aboard. Will Vest came on and let an inherited run score. It’s up to the offense and bullpen to preserve this for the kid.
Bally Sports just posted a graphic stating he’s the first pitcher in franchise history to log 5+ innings, record 5+ strikeouts and give up no walks in his major league debut.
….and he got the win as the bullpen did it’s job. Tigers 3 White Sox 2.
Gipson-Long for the WIN !!
Very promising debut for Gibson-Long.