Headlines

  • Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin
  • Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury
  • Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib
  • Tucker Barnhart To Retire
  • Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline
  • Reds Release Jeimer Candelario
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Tigers, Eli Villalobos Agree To Minor League Deal

By Steve Adams | June 19, 2024 at 9:08am CDT

The Tigers have agreed to a minor league pact with free agent right-hander Eli Villalobos, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. He was designated for assignment by the Marlins last month and rejected what would’ve been his second career outright assignment in favor of free agency. Villalobos hasn’t pitched in nearly a month now, so Detroit assigned him to their Rookie-level minor league affiliate to ramp back up before presumably heading to their Triple-A club in Toledo.

Villalobos, 27 next week, made his big league debut with the Fish earlier this season and tossed 4 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on three hits and a pair of walks with three strikeouts in that generally sharp first MLB effort. He’s also logged 18 innings in Triple-A Jacksonville, recording a 4.50 ERA with a strong 26.5% strikeout rate but ugly 13.3% walk rate. Statcast measured his average fastball at 93.3 mph during that brief MLB run, and he also worked off a low-80s splitter and mid-80s slider.

While Villalobos has never ranked as a high-end prospect in Miami’s system, the former 14th-rounder was selected to the 40-man roster to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft on the heels of a 2022 season in which he posted a 2.86 ERA with a 32.7% strikeout rate (101 punchouts overall) against a 9.4% walk rate in 78 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He’s since bounced to the Pirates organization and then right back to the Marlins via a pair of DFAs and waiver claims.

Lack of prospect pedigree notwithstanding, Villalobos has sub-4.00 earned run averages and strikeout rates north of 25% in two seasons of action at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He walked a calamitous 18% of his opponents in Triple-A last season but has dished out a free pass to a less-alarming (but still too high) 12.8% of his opponents between Triple-A and the big leagues this season. He’ll be a project for the Tigers but could be a near-term bullpen option for them if he can continue to move past last year’s career-worst command issues.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Detroit Tigers Transactions Eli Villalobos

Sponsored: Rawlings® and the Grateful Dead Announce New Glove Collaboration
Main
Marlins’ Dillon Head To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery
View Comments (29)
Post a Comment

29 Comments

  1. Tomas80

    1 year ago

    So this is what the pizza money gets us.

    5
    Reply
    • moteus

      1 year ago

      Ouch!

      Reply
    • RunDMC

      1 year ago

      $5 Hot n’ Readys….yes.

      1
      Reply
  2. gotigers68

    1 year ago

    Yawn…..

    Reply
  3. Motown is My Town

    1 year ago

    But can he hit?

    4
    Reply
  4. tradepartner

    1 year ago

    Nobody on the Tigers hits consistently
    Scott Harris has all the answers
    May trade half the team at the deadline

    Reply
  5. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    1 year ago

    Nothing wrong with a minor league contract that you can bring up a player in a jiffy and not have to worry about saving the place on the 40.

    One thing that would have changed if they had hired the Superfife is the team/organizational mentality/attitude.

    Today, for example, I heard the interviewer use the term, “flush it”. How DISGUSTING! How UNPROFESSIONAL! How RUDE! That interviewer would not be interviewing my manager anymore. In fact, if it were not Bally, an embedded corp – literally, they would not be interviewing my manager anymore.

    Then, I heard Riley Greene use it. How DISGUSTING!
    Then I remember, I think I’ve heard the manager use it before too. How VULGAR!

    The Tigers are infected.
    Disinfect the Tigers. Hire the Superfife!

    Flea bit, peanut monkeys approved this message.

    Reply
    • tigerfan4ever

      1 year ago

      So sayeth Stuperfife, the toothless saber! What a broken brained idiot!

      3
      Reply
  6. Lawrence Benjamin Lowell

    1 year ago

    The problem starts with Ilitch, then Harris, then Hinch. With all the money Harris spent on the junk heaps, he could have gone out and signed one decent hitter.

    Reply
    • tigerfan4ever

      1 year ago

      Harris didn’t spend much on the “junk heaps”. You don’t pay big bucks for minor league contracts. The money he spent on these contracts likely doesn’t equal a one-year flier on a Gio Urshela type.

      Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      1 year ago

      Junk heaps like Flaherty who has been awesome? Or maybe Urshela who has just been decent? Could have done without Maeda’s first half but he had a great second half last year.

      Avila spent a bunch if money on a “decent hitter”… his name was Javier Baez. Look how that worked out.

      I agree they need to spend soon to fill in the gaps (SS!!!) but they need to let some of the kids play to identify those gaps.

      Reply
  7. Lawrence Benjamin Lowell

    1 year ago

    Time to jettison the Tork experiment.

    Reply
    • tigerfan4ever

      1 year ago

      No.

      Reply
    • Brassroo

      1 year ago

      Agree with TF4E. He is still quite young and can make a major impact, especially if he can learn to hit the fastball consistently.

      Reply
    • Motor City Beach Bum

      1 year ago

      I’d agree with tigersfan4ever and Brassroo but I’d also say if the right deal came along then why not.

      Reply
    • 84LeFlore

      1 year ago

      I don’t have an abundance of faith that Tork will recover. I’d like him to, and become an important part of the core. But he may not. I could see Keith moving to 1B and Jung back to 2B. where he’s better defensively than @ 3B. Unless McGonigle can’t cut it at SS & has to move to 2B. Either way, it might be an upgrade over Tork anyway.

      At this point, my keeper position players are Riley, Carp, Colt, Ibanez, Vierling, Perez & Jake & likely Meadows.

      Reply
      • Motor City Beach Bum

        1 year ago

        I think Rogers is just a placeholder or a time share. If Kelly gets traded then Dingler should get a shot. I’m not sold on a y of the Tigers catchers right now. Brady Cernowyk in the low minors looks interesting though, and him, McGonigle and Clark are the long range players who look like keepers so far.

        While I hope for more I think Meadows and Perez end up as part time players or backups. I think Malloy has more to show as well and Jung should get a shot. Sad that we have to cross our fingers on Tork.

        1
        Reply
  8. MPrck

    1 year ago

    I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the game today. Detroit is unwatchable almost right now. Carpenter is most missed now, but I think this is good for guys on the farm. Should be no hesitancy to bring Jung up as soon as they start moving guys. Let the draft and trading begin.

    Reply
    • The Saber-toothed Superfife

      1 year ago

      It was sad, to watch. Badoo, a great ballplayer, walked away from his last at bat, head up, proud man strut….
      He is crushed.
      Badoo is a good guy, a good ball player who should have 20hrs, 20 doubles and a .275 ba. He should bat lead off and use his speed.
      He is being crushed psychologically.
      I know that posture.
      It’s to keep from crying. I know because I’ve lived it my entire life.

      Something needs to change. Bottom line.

      And its not the ballplayers.

      Reply
      • tigerfan4ever

        1 year ago

        The toothless Stuperfife can’t even spell or know the history of a ball player. Did you know that Baddoo (not Badoo) never played above class A ball until the Tigers took him in the rule 5 draft? Probably not, as you’re that stupid.

        You’ve lived it your entire life because you bring your sadness upon yourself. You’re an embarrassment. You don’t have a clue. So instead of being an innocent bystander, you make these ridiculous comments. You have zero credibility, you’re not funny, but you’re a laughing stock with your useless act.

        1
        Reply
        • AAATIGERS2020

          1 year ago

          I believe your the reason most websites have comments closed, or removed altogether.

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          1 year ago

          I’ve never had a website close their comments or remove them altogether. That’s probably because the administrators or moderators realize I’m telling the truth. Back down to AAA for you!

          Reply
        • AAATIGERS2020

          1 year ago

          I’m following the Tigers. I’m already at AAA.

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          1 year ago

          That explains a lot. Down to A ball for you. Or maybe a DFA would be more appropriate?

          Reply
        • AAATIGERS2020

          1 year ago

          You always have to get the last word.

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          1 year ago

          You want the last word? Earn it. Otherwise stop whining

          Reply
        • AAATIGERS2020

          1 year ago

          Not whining. Just calling a toxic person, toxic.

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          1 year ago

          You’re whining, toxic person!

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          1 year ago

          Just a reminder to you, AAA, you started this, jerk!

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury

    Mariners Looking For Corner Infield Bats; Ownership Willing To Bump Payroll

    Wander Franco Found Guilty Of Sexual Abuse

    Mariners Place Rowdy Tellez On Release Waivers

    Max Meyer To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

    Whit Merrifield Announces Retirement

    White Sox Sign Noah Syndergaard To Minor League Deal

    Corbin Carroll Placed On IL With Wrist Fracture

    Hoops Rumors Has The Latest On NBA Draft, Free Agency

    Mets Option Francisco Alvarez

    Reds To Promote Chase Burns For MLB Debut

    Recent

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Mets Trade Donovan Walton To Phillies

    Colin Poche Elects Free Agency

    Trey Mancini Opts Out Of D-Backs Deal

    Padres To Select Eduarniel Nunez

    Brewers’ Connor Thomas To Undergo Elbow Surgery

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Jorge Mateo To Miss 8 To 12 Weeks With Hamstring Strain

    Reds To Sign Buck Farmer To Minor League Deal

    Pirates Trade Hunter Stratton To Braves

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version