The Tigers announced they have selected the contracts of right-hander Brenan Hanifee and left-hander Sean Guenther. They also reinstated shortstop Javier Báez from the medical emergency/bereavement list. They will take the open roster spots of Jack Flaherty, Mark Canha and Andrew Chafin, who were all traded away on deadline day. Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group relayed the news about Hanifee on X prior to the official announcement. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News relayed Guenther’s selected earlier on X.
Hanifee, 26, got a brief look in the majors last year. The Tigers selected his contract in September and he tossed five innings over three appearances, allowing three earned runs. He was non-tendered at the end of the season but then re-signed with the club on a minor league deal.
This year, he has tossed 47 innings over 34 Triple-A appearances. He has allowed 5.17 earned runs per nine innings but he has likely deserved much better. His 26% strikeout rate, 6.9% walk rate and 56.1% ground ball this year are all strong marks. If it weren’t for a .315 batting average on balls in play and 61.6% strand rate, which are both on the unlucky side, fewer runs would have crossed the plate. His 3.86 FIP is more than a run better than his ERA and perhaps a better reflection of his performance this year.
With the trades of Flaherty and Chafin, as well as recent injuries to Reese Olson, Casey Mize and Matt Manning, the Tigers could have some rope for Hanifee, especially since he’s been averaging more than an inning per appearance in Triple-A this year. He still has a full slate of options and just a few days of service time, so he could stick around on their roster for a while if the Tigers so choose.
Guenther, 28, made 14 appearances for the Marlins in 2021 with a 9.30 ERA. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2022 and spent that entire season on the injured list before being claimed off waivers by the Tigers in November. He was outrighted off the roster shortly thereafter and has been with the Tigers in a non-roster capacity for almost two years now.
He has thrown 95 minor league innings in that time with a 3.69 ERA, 26.9% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate. He had a 47.1% ground ball rate at Triple-A last year and has a 55.5% rate at that level this year. Like Hanifee, he has a full slate of options but his service time clock is over the one-year mark, due to spending all of 2022 on the IL.
I’m assuming they will let Hannifee start some games? Figured maybe Lael Lockhart would get the call.
Still one roster spot open, so it could go to Lockhart…..or almost any breathing human being who can eat some innings. Enough of the bullpen games!
Time to see what the kids in AAA have to offer or maybe give Fetter a crack at Cole Irvin?
Even without Fetter fixing him, Irvin would still be a better option than Montero, Hanifee, Faedo, Brieske or Maeda starting games. The jury’s still out on Sammons, I guess.
And the Tigers also activated Javier Baez off the medical/bereavement list without apparently also demoting Ryan Kriedler. Just what we need…two shortstops hitting .175!
Bring Sweeney up now. He can’t do any worse.
Yeah what’s going on with Sweeney? I noticed he hasn’t been in the lineup for the Hens yesterday or today and he was traded on Tues.
Don’t forget McInstry at .170
Don’t forget Scott Harris’s obsession, Zach McKinstry to give us a solid trio of sub 200 shortstops
Harris failed this trade deadline again, specifically with the poor return he received for Flaherty. Supposedly, he could have received the package from Houston who then pivoted to Toronto when Harris held out for more. Bad Move!
I don’t see a lot of hope for the future with his “Bob Quinn” attitude as he’s going to do to the Tigers what that joker did to the Lions
But then Houston would have look at his medical records and probably taken the route New York took. The Yankees ended the trading period without the SP upgrade they wanted solely because they felt Flaherty was damaged goods. :LA apparently didn’t have a problem with Flaherty, although they have pitchers coming back from injury and aren’t as pitching-poor as the Yankees.
So the Tigers’ system is full of catching & SS prospects and in dire need of OF prospects? Not sure what reports you are looking at. The only fail for the Tigers this trade season is the ignorant fans yelling fail without actually do in g any research and review. Bloss isn’t better than Madden or Monterey & MLB slotted Liranzo ahead of them at #5 on their updated rankings. Right behind the 4 guys in the MLB Top 100.
I think Liranzo was a really good pickup now that ive read up on him. I have liked Sweeney too since the Yanks drafted him but he looks like a Utility guy…he can replace Baez soon for the rest of the season (crossing fingers) then replace McKinistry. I just wish they had got more for Flaherty.
I think they got what they needed to get for their expiring contracts. It’s arguable whether they could have gotten a “better” MLB-ready player or a higher-rated prospect in the Flaherty deal, but Harris pretty much stuck to his shopping list…
Year 8 of the rebuild and no end in sight.
They traded Chafin, Flaherty and Canha and they got back…
RHP Eric Silva
C Thayron Liranzo
SS Trey Sweeney
RHP Chase Lee
RHP Joseph Montalvo
Harris saved Chris some money. I bet he’s happy.
He has to sign or trade for a SP to replace Flaherty and a real SS in the offseason. I think Jung can fill 2B or 3B and if Tork doesn’t make it back then they also need a 2B or 1B (if Keith gets shifted to 1B). Two people who can HIT! Kim at SS and Yandy Diaz at 1B? Or a 2B…who’s available at 2B?
That kid in Erie who they got from Philly for Lorenzen
Lee. Good call. He’s hitting well. Cheers dude.
4 of those 5 are ranked in the Tigers top 30 prospects right now too.
Look at the players they let go. Most of those players traded by the Tigers was due to Harris. He picked up Kelly off the dump pile. Made a trade to get Canha where he basically gave up nothing. He took a chance on Flaherty other teams felt he was done. His resurgence might be due to Fetter but still Harris went out and got him. Chafin comes and goes every couple of years so we know that routine. There might be something to those injury concerns to Flaherty explaining why the Yankees backed off. Harris generated most of these prospects not just from what he did at the deadline but what he did to get these players.
They need to bring Chafin back next year if Texas declines his option. I.live his interviews. Let him live in the parking lot at Comerica in his RV for the rest of his life rent free. The only other option is the whole bullpen has to grow a Chafin Stache and mullet. That dude rocks!
Could you imagine the give-a-way day for him if he came back? It could rival the Magglio hat with hair from years ago.
How many guys have been with the Tigers 3 separate times? He definitely deserves his own bobblehead at least if he comes back.
Welcome to the infantry ! Good for those pitchers a few weeks of 30,000 grand a week helps make up for their hardships. Detroit needs arms while it tries to fashion a robust line up for next season. The bullpen guys have been pitching spectacularly so, lets get to hitting with regularity now. Great trades by Harris, and the gang is intact.
Xfinity returns ! What a hoot.
The rest of the season is going to be unwatchable, except when Skubal pitches, but tomorrows game is on Apple TV, so that’s also unwatchable.
It will take a couple of years to judge the prospects. Olsen ended up being a really good pickup, but no one was impressed at the time. Thought we got 3 great pieces for Verlander, which turned out to be a backup catcher.
Chafin is loose enough to get a kick out of Tigers Gig #4. In fact, he’s so loose he’s Country Loose.
He’s also good enough for the Tigers to want him back.
I’m wondering where IS all that great young pitching depth The Tigers were SUPPOSED to have going into the season?
They all have 5 ERA’S in AAA (Madden, Hurter, Manning). Lockhart is having a good year though.
Congratulations Brenan Hanifee and Sean Guenther!
Regarding all this other stuff….
Ya’ gotta let ’em play. and…we just don’t have a choice at this point. Remember Judge’s first year .179 BA.
I think they’re going about the trade business all wrong. Yes you have to shop your players around but you’ve got to target your big fish. Who do you want? What need does that team have? How can you help that team become better? How can you fill that need?
Here and now for a future
What is the value of your target to that team in years, assuming the best of that player? A fair consideration, not trying to “win” a trade.
That’s why I like package deals. A Flaherty and a Chaffin with ? = bigger fish, better headlines, more hope, more tickets…..
Harris should already know who his rule 5 guys are. They should be the ones being floated with all the cuts……for anything really. And those are on the burner when people do come calling and throw ins when calling others.