2:55pm: The Tigers made these moves official and also announced that right-hander Alex Faedo was transferred to the 60-day IL. He landed on the 15-day IL on August 22 due to a right shoulder strain and the club announced that his season is over, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic on X. Detroit’s 40-man roster count drops to 39.
2:03pm: The Tigers have designated left-hander Joey Wentz for assignment, reports Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. He’ll be the corresponding roster move for right-hander Casey Mize, who is being reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
Wentz, 26, was the No. 40 overall pick by the Braves back in 2016. The southpaw quickly became one of the more prominent pitching prospects in what was then a stacked Braves farm system and made his way to the Tigers alongside outfielder Travis Demeritte in the trade that sent righty Shane Greene to Atlanta. Wentz made his big league debut with the 2022 Tigers and has pitched for Detroit in each of the past three seasons.
That 2022 cup of coffee proved to be a solid debut effort. Wentz started seven games, totaled 32 2/3 innings and posted a 3.03 earned run average along the way. His 20% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate didn’t necessarily stand out, but for a 24-year-old making his debut after just 12 appearances at the Triple-A level, it was an encouraging start all the same.
Unfortunately, that’s the most success Wentz has enjoyed in the majors to date. He appeared in 25 games with the 2023 Tigers — 19 of them starts — and was rocked for a 6.90 ERA with nearly identical strikeout and walk rates to that ’22 debut. Wentz became extremely homer-prone, however, surrendering an average of 2.13 round-trippers per nine innings pitched — the third-worst mark of any pitcher who totaled at least 100 innings last year.
Wentz’s 2024 season has been somewhat better but not enough to save his roster spot. In 55 1/3 innings, he’s pitched to a 5.37 ERA with a career-high 23.6% strikeout rate but also a career-worst 10.6% walk rate. He’s out of minor league options, so the Tigers couldn’t simply send him to Triple-A if they wanted to free up his roster spot. The DFA became a necessity in that regard, and Wentz will now be made available to all 29 other clubs via waivers.
If another club claims him, he’ll need to go right onto the big league roster, as he can’t be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he lacks the service time and prior outright needed to reject a minor league assignment. As such, he’d stick with the Tigers as a depth option in Triple-A Toledo without occupying a 40-man roster spot.
I remember he was supposed to be a steal from the Braves when the Tigers got rid of Shane Greene. Hopefully the guy he’s replacing will make true of some of his promise. It feels like Mize probably only has 2 years left before he could be a free agent but he’s lost like 2 1/2 years due to injury.
Not like Shane Greene worked out in Atlanta. Feel like Wentz biggest problem is confidence. Was worth the look.
Weird timing. This DFA would have made more sense at the beginning of the season. He’s actually looked much improved over his last several games. He’s a lefty and still only 26 years old… I think there’s a 99.9% chance he’ll get claimed.
Dumb statement. Tigers pitching staff is the entire reason they are over .500! The reason he’s out of the MLB is on him! He’s a head case & there’s nothing wrong with his arm. He’s inconsistent as hell & can’t seem to put it all together! If Fetter can’t fix him, he might not be fixable. Tiger pitchers fill the zone with strikes & he’s a nibbler. He doesn’t trust his stuff.
Culling time.
Joey is being sent from Wentz he came.
Weird he pitched yesterday, did well, got hit by 2 comebackers and limped off. Today he gets DFA’d, that’s big league baseball for you
Was at the game yesterday. He was 17 for 17 throwing strikes. He looked real good.
One game. His ERA is nearly 7
I’ll miss him
He is very handsome.just not good enough for the budding amazing tigers pitching next year
Yes, he’s got movie star looks. I see the Mets giving him a shot. New York. Bright lights. Big city. The two were made for each other.
Get a room you two
He can’t locate .. always the main problem with pitchers who aren’t successful
The other half of that trade with Atlanta, Travis Demeritte has been out of baseball for 2 years.
Joey looked like he had good stuff, and the walk rate wasn’t bad for a lefty. He’s young enough to still show improvement. Is he being cut because he’s one of Avila’s additions? I don’t see how not keeping him around until spring makes any sense. They could have just returned Emglert to the minors, or after getting hit on the knee, put Joey on the IL.
He’s being cut because he hasn’t pitched well again this year, nothing to do with being one of Avila’s guys.
Nothing to do with an “Avila” guy. 90% of the guys on the field are Avila guys!
No, he’s got a 5:30+ ERA and gave up 8 HR in 50 IP. It has nothing to do with Avila.
Lol. The angry troll is back!
He’s in fine form today. His conspiracy theories are entertaining.
Yes, at one time baseball must have done him wrong. Lots of pent up anger and resentment coming out of that guy.
Actually, all the guys I know who once got paid to play baseball, in spite of having differences with how teams are run and managed, are respectful of the guys who made it past where they were.
Well, believe it or not….
It’s NOT exactly rocket science, you know…..
As much as jocks would like to pretend….rocket science is actually much more complicated……
So Hinch played MLB ball. You didn’t. You do the math on who we should listen to.
Well, I know enough to recognize an angry, bitter troll when I see one. Have good one, Six Hopper.
Ooh, how clever and original!
“Well they called the jerk store and they’re all out of you!”
-George Costanza
He cannot praise. It requires intelligence, character and respect. Anger and contempt are easy these days. Especially anonymously in this age of anti-social media.
As someone once said, envy is the only one of the seven deadly sins that gives the sinner no pleasure. Envy is the desire to see others diminished. That is he.
You’re babbling. Go get a coffee. You’ve set a high standard and I expect much better insults from you 😉
On another note Tigers are 70-68 with 24 games to go. You have to admit the kids have looked good.
Yeah, REALLY hoping they can finish above .500 tis year.
You started your weekend a bit early.
You want to talk about the Pelfrey signing by Avila, or how many blown calls Big Al had or the crazy rant you just did. Pick one.
Don’t trade with Atlanta. This guy stinks. Seems like most players they trade away never work out except the catcher they sent to Oakland.
Wentz worked out better for Detroit than Greene did for Atlanta. Greene was one of the hottest closers in the league, got traded to Atlanta and immediately blew up his ERA.
It was the easiest choice to make.
How is Fetter not competent? I’d like to hear your rationale for that. Jack Flaherty, Michael Lorenzen, the cutrent Tigers potching staff and most Tigers fans disagree.
I can’t see a contender claiming him since he is out of options. Maybe a team going nowhere ( White Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays) give him a chance. If he clears he can’t refuse an assignment so he will be taking his talents to Toledo. ( Home of Jamie Farr)
Get a life. Ask Jack Flaherty how the pitching coach with the Tigers ruined his career.
Sorry resurrected more like. Have a clue before you comment. Easy to sit in Daddy’s basement and make comments though.
@senor smoke Does Aurelio Lopez know you are using his nickname from the ’84 team as your screen name here? Wentz had TJ surgery in March of 2020 and really hasn’t been the same pitcher since. Gardenhire was the manager then so Fetter was not the pitching coach during that season.
I see.
It’s a pity that Wentz couldn’t continue to prevent runs after his first MLB season. He came as a talented prospect and pitched very well in the minor leagues. But the surprising emergence of several pitchers who were called up from AAA made Wentz expendable.
Gruß,
BSHH
Hallelujah
What a stupid take. Miller went through 3 teams and 6 years before he figured things out. You keep talking about TJ surgery and Fetter without giving any evidence that the Tigers have a higher rate of pitchers requiring TJ than other teams. You blame it on them being told to throw harder when everything we know about the improvements this staff has made (which you ignore) says otherwise. Who hurt you as a child, that led to all this ill-informed anger?
He came, he saw, he wentz
a 26 year old lefthander former 1st round pick
29 teams would take a flyer on this.
I watched the game Friday and he looked awesome. 17 pitches, 17 strikes. The only hit he gave up was the ball that beaned his hand. It makes me wonder if he already knew that he was going to be DFAed and was pitching without any pressure. UnFettered if you like.
Ugh. Wish the Tigers would DFA Jason Benetti. He’d be fine if he would just stick to calling the game. But his constant need to “josh” with his broadcast partner distracts from the game and is usually cringe-inducing.
At least he doesn’t always talk about something making him cry like the last guy.
Tigers are 70-68 with 24 games to go. They are within striking distance of Minnesota and KC but the odds are low they catch them. Skubal is pitching for the Cy Young and Triple Crown. They have young players all over the field providving a glimpse of a bright future. They have a core of hitters established for next year and some interesting young starters in Montero and Hurter who should be ready to contribute next year. Things are looking up for 2025!
Next year they need a big bat. Soto is unlikely but perhaps Santander? Could they trade for Tucker from Houston? I don’t think they will do it since OF is not a weakness. Maybe Alonso, Hoskins or C. Walker for 1B? Tork has looked better since returning so maybe someone like Hoskins to share time/fill in at multiple spots like Canha did this year. Should they go after Bregman for 3B? It seems he is going to want a lot but he certainly is a middle of the order bat. Has Jung showed enough to be the guy at 3B? They definitely need another backend bullpen piece and some lefty depth with Chafin and Wentz gone now. Maybe they graduate some arms from the farm, find another diamond in the rough like Holton or go grab a pitcher having a down year like Doval, Bednar or Alexis Diaz. Their SPs are not deep enough. A #2 starter would be nice to replace Flaherty…perhaps Verlander, Buehler or just go get Flaherty! Lots of trade possibilities too.
Things are looking up.
you are nuts.
Finally something we agree on. I do not know how Green gets away with that. I can’t think of any above average hitter in MLB who swings like that. Also agree that Meadows and Vierling need to continue to hit line drives. Tork? I’m still not a believer that he’s figured it out. Watches way too many strikes go by. I don’t like K’s. I especially don’t like K’s looking.