TODAY: Hopkins cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A, the Tigers announced.
FEBRUARY 22: The Tigers announced that outfielder TJ Hopkins has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move for infielder Gio Urshela, who was signed to a one-year deal earlier today.
Hopkins, 27, was with the Reds last year but has been bouncing around the league in recent months. He was designated for assignment in December when Cincy signed Austin Wynns, later getting flipped to the Giants in a cash deal. He lasted a couple of months on the Giants’ roster but was designated assignment again in mid-February when that club acquired Otto López. The Tigers claimed him off waivers two days ago but he’s now received his third DFA of the offseason.
He made his major league debut last year but hit just .171/.227/.171 in 25 games. His 94-game showing in Triple-A was much more impressive as he drew walks at a 14% clip and hit 16 home runs, leading to a slash of .308/.411/.514 and a 134 wRC+. He’s mostly played left field but has experience at all three outfield slots.
He’s never really been a highly-touted prospect but it seems last year’s strong Triple-A showing is intriguing enough for several clubs to have acquired him. He still has two option years and could be a nice depth piece somewhere. The Tigers will now have one week to trade him or pass him through waivers. Based on the way his offseason has gone so far, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he landed on another roster. If he were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would stick with the Tigers as non-roster depth.
I gotta stop buying these guys jerseys right when they get claimed smh ♂️
Liiiiies
Come back to the Reds. I don’t understand how Fairchild and Martini have more value.
Hopefully he clears waivers, seems like a solid depth player to have.
Absolutely no surprise here!
The roster churn in Detroit continues.
Would be great if the White Sox took a run at a guy like this and dropped someone like Josimar Cousin. He has been pitching since 16 in various leagues and has NEVER had even a decent performance in the minors or Cuban league. At 25, he pitched to a 5.71 ERA in A ball, so they sent him to the Fall league where he proceeded to give up 15 runs in 15 2/3 innings. WTF are they hanging on to?
Curious? When designated for assignment during Spring Training – Do you just continue on with your Spring Training and whatever happens happens?
Probably not. I don’t know for certain but based on discussions on here and my own understanding, DFA puts you in employment purgatory essentially. I doubt you’re still working out with the team
I believe you’re pretty much correct. My understanding is you collect your belongings and go into as you say “employment purgatory”. Keeping players around after they’ve essentially been fired would eventually end up being very awkward.
I assume there must be some liability issues here. In a more perfect world a team could say to one of these guys, “you can stick around and use our facilities to work out until you clear waivers or not”.
But they aren’t getting paid. Obviously, they’re not going to hit grounders to him or let him take BP, but he can use the gym and the pitching machine….but what if he injures himself?
I would think the MLBPA might look into these cases where the player has a place to hang until his waiver window closes. Then he’s gone or sent ro the minor league camp. The team isn’t liable. The player has the cloice. No money, but at least he can do some minimal work outs.
If he has options, which Hopkins does have 2 left, after DFA, the Team has a week to pass him through waivers or trade him. If he passes through wavers, the team can send him to one of their minor league teams. The player is taken off the 40 man roster
. Hopkins cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A, the Tigers announced.
Thanks for the update, there, Mr. Doggie!!
I recall a ST a few years ago where FA were working out together at a complex. I’m not sure if that’s an every spring thing or just that particular spring. That was when the draft pick compensation was new and nobody wanted to give up the first rounders. Obviously they eventually signed.
Finding MLB roster spots for these AAAA guys is heartless. Good luck to all of them.
Agree warnbeeb, it’s pretty brutal for these guys who are damn good players btw, there needs to be a better method to the madness for them.
TJ has 28 teams to go for an all time record
Guess Zaidi will jump on the dumpster dive wire & re-acquire TJ Hopkins
FIRE ZAIDI
FIRE ZAIDI
FIRE ZAIDI
When the Tigers picked this guy up, everyone was excited to add such a high end prospect for so little. Now he just gets dumped for a veteran 3B who can’t hit the ball to the warning track.
But he can get a base hit 3 out of 10 times which makes him well above average
Tommy Johns (@) Hopkins.
Will be interesting to see if either of the recent DFAs get through waivers. (Hopkins and Ingram) Seems like a decent chance one might.
Ingram was picked up by the Mets.
But… but… but…. TJ is going to take playing time away from Maton.
Maton will never beat out Phil Mankowski!
Comedy relief STYMEEDONE is at it again!
I was a huge Phil Mankowski fan. Lefty batting 3B. No power but he had a decent eye. Nothing great, but I liked him.
They traded him for another favorite of mine… Richie Hebner. I guess I like lefty hitting 3B’s.
Another shove needed, Melchez is still stuck.
Wolfie Power!!!
Hungry like one?
Good depth.
Figured at least one would make it through….not surprised the LHP didn’t make it.
Strikes out too much..,