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Tigers Claim Buddy Kennedy, Designate Andre Lipcius

By Darragh McDonald | February 29, 2024 at 1:45pm CDT

The Tigers have claimed infielder Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Cardinals, per announcements from both clubs. The Cards had designated him for assignment earlier this week. The Tigers designated infielder Andre Lipcius for assignment in a corresponding move.

Kennedy, 25, has 40 games of major league experience, all with the Diamondbacks. He has hit a mere .206/.293/.299 in his 123 major league plate appearances thus far, though that’s obviously a small sample size. But in Triple-A last year, his work was much more impressive. He walked more than he struck out, 16.8% walk rate versus a 16.3% strikeout rate, and slashed .318/.444/.481. That production was in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League but nonetheless translated to a 133 wRC+, indicating he was 33% better than league average.

The Snakes designated him for assignment in September and he has bounced to a few rosters since then. He was claimed off waivers by the Athletics towards the end of last season, then was claimed again by the Cardinals in October. That makes today his third waiver claim in the past six months.

The Tigers are likely intrigued by that minor league offense, as well as Kennedy’s positional versatility. He has played all three non-shortstop infield positions as well as a brief look in left field. He also has an option remaining, so they can keep him in Triple-A as depth if he doesn’t earn a spot on the active roster.

The Detroit infield is likely to be Gio Urshela, Javier Báez, Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson from left to right. There’s a bit of uncertainty there as Keith has yet to make his major league debut, Urshela missed the second half of 2023 due to a pelvic fracture and Báez is coming off the worst full season of his career. Their depth/bench options include Zach McKinstry, Matt Vierling, Andy Ibañez, Ryan Kreidler, Eddys Leonard and Wenceel Pérez. Many of those guys also play the outfield so the depth chart will likely be affected by overall health of the position player mix in Detroit. Kennedy will try to earn his way up the ladder, as long as he continues to hang onto a 40-man spot.

Lipcius, 26 in May, would have been in that mix as well but he has been bounced off the roster for now. He made his major league debut last year and put up a solid line of .286/.342/.400 but in just 38 plate appearances. His 419 Triple-A appearances finished with a walk 12.4% of the time and he produced a line of .272/.363/.419, though that only translated to a 99 wRC+ in last year’s robo-ump-aided environment.

It seems the Tigers preferred Kennedy to Lipcius, so they will now have one week to work something out with the latter, either a trade or passing him through waivers. Lipcius has always drawn plenty of walks in the minors and can also line up defensively all over the diamond. He hasn’t played shortstop since 2019 but played the other three infield spots last year and the outfield corners as well. That versatility and his keen eye at the plate could garner some interest around the league, especially with a couple of option years remaining. If he were to pass through unclaimed, he would stick with the Tigers in a non-roster capacity.

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Detroit Tigers St. Louis Cardinals Transactions Andre Lipcius Buddy Kennedy

Rays Notes: Lowe, Chang, Littell
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Angels Notes: Wantz, Stephenson, Suarez
View Comments (55)
Post a Comment

55 Comments

  1. JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt

    2 years ago

    Probably the best player to ever come from Millville, New Jersey. (Just trust me, don’t look this up plz)

    10
    Reply
    • Old York

      2 years ago

      @JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt

      At least Buddy is playing every season. The other guy from Millville is constantly injured and a major cost to the team.

      3
      Reply
    • swagsuperawesomeepiccoolman123

      2 years ago

      new jersey residents rise up!!!!!!

      1
      Reply
      • moteus

        2 years ago

        Hey, I’m a Parsippany boy, muhse’f ….

        Reply
    • Jesse Chavez enthusiast

      2 years ago

      Oh easily, and @johnjaso, thanks a lot that song is going to be stuck in my head all day now 🙁

      Reply
    • mp9

      2 years ago

      have you ever heard about Mike Trout?

      Reply
      • D-Nice

        2 years ago

        He was being sarcastic. He knows. Seriously though, the Angels shudda traded Trout and replenished their system when they cudda got the world for him.

        3
        Reply
      • thestatbook123

        2 years ago

        Is that some weird breed of fish?

        Reply
        • dkhits20

          2 years ago

          No, that’s Tim Salmon

          1
          Reply
        • Edp007

          2 years ago

          Kevin Bass and AJ Pollock say hello

          Reply
        • Edp007

          2 years ago

          The ultimate guide , 98 mlb fish names baseballscouter.com/baseball-players-with-fish-nam…

          1
          Reply
        • BoJuBi

          2 years ago

          Cannot believe there is actually a article dedicated to that lol

          1
          Reply
  2. Tomas80

    2 years ago

    Is there something we don’t know about Lipcius? Seems like he deserved another chance.

    6
    Reply
    • detroitdave84

      2 years ago

      He’s 26 & can’t hit enough. The MLB is filled with guys like him. Tigers are deep with 4A & defensive guys who can’t hit!

      2
      Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 years ago

      Lipcius is just average at everything. He doesn’t hit for a high average, or display high end power. He doesn’t walk a ton, or have amazing sprint speed. He’s been shuffled around the diamond, so he’s not elite defensively at any position. He’s just average.

      1
      Reply
      • tigerfan4ever

        2 years ago

        You wish you were a just average human being, STYMEEDONE. Thus you’re jealous of Andre!

        1
        Reply
        • BoJuBi

          2 years ago

          What a strange comment lol

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          2 years ago

          STYMEEDONE is a strange commenter so he deserves a strange comment!

          Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      2 years ago

      The Tigers have a ton of potential backup infielders in the minors. I hope he makes it through waivers but like Stymedone said he’s average and others, including Buddy Kennedy are more intriguing.

      Reply
  3. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    Looks like a net negative to me.

    2
    Reply
    • SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs

      2 years ago

      Tigers hoping he has some of his grandpa in him

      1
      Reply
      • Motor City Beach Bum

        2 years ago

        Who was his grandpa?

        Reply
        • desertdawg

          2 years ago

          Don Money he played for the Phillies and Brewers back in the day.

          3
          Reply
  4. The Voices

    2 years ago

    Would rather have prime Albert Pujols

    1
    Reply
    • I.M. Insane

      2 years ago

      I’d rather it was 1953 and there were 16 major league teams.

      2
      Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      2 years ago

      Prime Albert Pujols on the Tigers, hell yeah!

      Reply
  5. miggywrld

    2 years ago

    Little puzzling to DFA Lipcius but Kennedy’s .380 minor league OBP sure makes him Scott Harris’ kind of guy.

    1
    Reply
    • detroitdave84

      2 years ago

      How is it puzzling to DFA a 26 year old who can’t hit, little power & has 6 guys ahead of him?

      1
      Reply
      • NMK 2

        2 years ago

        Not sure how a .286/.342/.400 slash in 38 MLB games and a .272/.363/.419 slash in 419 Triple-A appearances makes for a bad hitter. Seems to make contact at a solid rate, draws walks and has a touch of power. Have to imagine someone takes a flier on him.

        7
        Reply
      • Nuitari

        2 years ago

        Hitting hasn’t been his problem. He’s below average defensively and a slow base runner.

        1
        Reply
  6. Rsox

    2 years ago

    Lipschitz is a horrible name for a ball player, or anyone for that matter…

    Reply
    • dkhits20

      2 years ago

      It’s pronounced “lip-see-us” in this case, but there’s no doubt Buddy Kennedy is a much cooler name.

      1
      Reply
  7. Tom the ray fan

    2 years ago

    AHHHHH LIP SCHITS

    Reply
  8. User 2161944466

    2 years ago

    Remember that time when they signed Báez to a six yr 140 million contract? That was awesome.

    1
    Reply
    • Melchez17

      2 years ago

      If they hadn’t done that you would be watching Kriedler at short.

      Reply
      • wileycoyote56

        2 years ago

        At least we’d be watching a league minimum SS that can’t hit

        2
        Reply
      • Motor City Beach Bum

        2 years ago

        No. All Kreidler’s done is get hurt and not hit when he did play. Maybe he’ll turn it around this year. And Baez too…

        Reply
        • Melchez17

          2 years ago

          Whoops… I missed it…

          But… but… but… he will take playing time away from Maton!!!!

          Maton would probably be the SS with Scottie in charge. Batting cleanup.

          1
          Reply
        • moteus

          2 years ago

          Baez, turn it around?? Hardy har har!!

          Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      2 years ago

      Unfortunately we do. We live it every day. The good thing about it is Baez can’t possibly be as bad this year as last. Maybe…

      3
      Reply
    • Stat_head

      2 years ago

      Yep, could have had Trevor Story for the same money. Oh well.

      1
      Reply
  9. WeTheOnes

    2 years ago

    Heck, Kennedy will probably be DFA’d before Spring Training is over…Hoping they can sneak these guys through waivers…If they do, great…they add depth….…if not, someone else will come along. Lipcius was never in their big plans and signing Urshela really hurt any chance he had.

    1
    Reply
  10. Libpwnr

    2 years ago

    Superbowl champs

    Reply
  11. I.M. Insane

    2 years ago

    Buddy Kennedy sounds like the token wacky neighbor on a 60’s sitcom.

    2
    Reply
  12. For Love of the Game

    2 years ago

    Doesn’t move the needle one way or the other.

    1
    Reply
  13. D-Nice

    2 years ago

    If Tampa picks up Lipcius, he’ll be an All-Star. Ironically, it’ll probably be Cincinnati or Baltimore though

    1
    Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      2 years ago

      Baltimore seems to be trying to sign every middle infielder out there. What is up with that?

      Reply
      • dkhits20

        2 years ago

        In case Jackson Holliday isn’t MLB-ready, I’d guess?

        Reply
  14. sergefunction

    2 years ago

    Nicely trimmed beardette, and he tailored his uni quite properly this Andre Lipcius. He seemed to have it all.

    But then they played ball.

    Reply
  15. WestVillageTiger

    2 years ago

    He may be Andre The Giant soon. San Francisco is having all kinds of issues sorting their depth out…

    Reply
  16. gotigers68

    2 years ago

    This one makes little sense…..

    Reply
  17. letsholdemandgohome

    2 years ago

    This was the corresponding move the Cardinals made to make room for Crawford, who is more than likely just going to sit the bench next to Carpenter???

    Spring training (I know it’s early) is starting to already look like last year….. 7 runs in last 5 games. Starting pitchers get little to no run support.

    1
    Reply
  18. TroyVan

    2 years ago

    Colt Keith is going to be the AL Rookie of the Year.

    Bet.

    1
    Reply
  19. 84LeFlore

    2 years ago

    Remember all that dedication Baez was going to show this offseason? So far, he’s 0-for-11 this spring.

    Reply
  20. tradepartner

    2 years ago

    Go Baez Go

    Reply

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