TODAY: Right-hander Keider Montero and infielder Ryan Kreidler were both optioned to Triple-A, Cody Stavenhagen writes, likely confirming that Mize and Jobe will get the final two rotation spots.
MARCH 21: The Tigers informed Kenta Maeda that he’ll open the season in the bullpen, manager A.J. Hinch announced on Friday (relayed by Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic). That takes the veteran righty out of the competition for the final two rotation spots behind Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Reese Olson.
Maeda is entering the second season of a two-year, $24MM free agent deal. His first year in Detroit was the worst of his career. He allowed more than six earned runs per nine innings with personal-worst strikeout and home run rates. That cost him his rotation spot midseason. Maeda worked in low-leverage relief from July onwards. He made one start in the season’s final weekend after Detroit clinched a playoff spot. They left him off their postseason rosters.
The 36-year-old entered camp trying to pitch his way back into the rotation. Maeda has worked 12 2/3 frames over four appearances this spring. Despite a brilliant 19:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, he gave up eight runs. Maeda surrendered 13 hits, four of which cleared the fences.
Hinch hasn’t finalized rotation plans, but Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe look like the favorites for the last two jobs. Mize has had a fantastic spring, allowing only two runs while striking out 18 over 16 innings. Jobe has had a tougher time, as he’s given up four homers in 12 1/3 innings.
Maeda becomes the seventh locked-in member of Detroit’s season-opening bullpen. Jason Foley, Beau Brieske, Tyler Holton and free agent pickups Tommy Kahnle and John Brebbia will be in the late-inning mix. Will Vest should have a roster spot secure despite his own home run troubles this spring. Maeda could also factor into leverage spots, as Hinch said he’s not locked into mop-up work.
Keep on trying, sir.
What a complete bust, like Baez!
Like Baez, Maeda will get the ziggy (a Dick Vitale saying) by Memorial Day if he’s not performing.
He had a decent spring and could be useful as a long man.
I liked Maeda on the Dodgers. Hope he rights the ship.
There were times that he went really deep into games, just looked like an ace. And in the postseason, he was a weapon out of the pen (but apparently didn’t like doing it). He also, I believe if my memory is right, homered in his first start for the Dodgers.
Hated to see him leave LA, but it worked out well. Getting The Bazooka (Brusdar Graterol) has been a fun ride, and not waiting for Maeda to apparently crater.
Madea goes to the Bullpen
Tigers are prioritizing youth development in starting roles while repurposing Maeda’s $24MM contract into a flexible, undervalued asset. The Tigers are thus quietly building a bullpen with asymmetric versatility, using Maeda as a linchpin to stretch their pitching staff’s effective depth without additional cost.
Do you think you just said something everybody else didn’t already know? Salute, captain obvious.
Zappa, if this were truly obvious, the chatter wouldn’t stall at Maeda’s spring runs—it’d already be dissecting the Tigers’ deeper play. I’m not here to parrot box scores; I’m spotlighting the asymmetry. A $24MM arm with a 19:1 K:BB ratio isn’t just ‘bullpen fodder’—it’s a repurposed linchpin for a relief unit built to flex across innings. Obvious stops at the surface; this is about what’s brewing beneath.”
They are starting those that earned spots in rotation. Maeda has given up 8 Rs over 12 IP this spring.
True, but most of those runs came in one start. Otherwise, he’s actually pitched well. The bad start was his last one though. Which cost him.
Dsett75, you nailed it—context is king. That one blowup skews the 8-run narrative; strip it out, and Maeda’s spring screams dominance: 19 Ks, 1 BB, pinpoint stuff. Recency bias stung him, sure, but the Tigers aren’t dumping him to mop-up—Hinch is eyeing leverage roles. They’re not just building a rotation with Mize and Jobe; they’re sculpting a bullpen with Maeda as the underrated fulcrum. Cost efficiency, youth upside, and flexibility, all in one move.
Tigers3232, no argument—Mize and Jobe punched their tickets with 18 Ks in 16 IP and raw promise. But Maeda’s 8 runs over 12 2/3 don’t tell the full story: 19 strikeouts, 1 walk. That’s elite control, not a rotation reject. The Tigers aren’t benching him; they’re unlocking versatility. Youth gets the rotation runway, while Maeda’s arm stretches a bullpen that’s quietly morphing into a multi-phase beast. It’s not failure—it’s strategy.
The full story? Who were those games against? How many were split squad games? Context is key isn’t that what you said??
Hey,
What do you expect for $12million a year…..
Ya for 3 million more he could be on the disabled list with Cobb
Jobe hasn’t proven he’s ready. Won’t help his development to rush him. Maybe the plan is to let him get hit until Cobb is healthy.
I would pay Cobb 15 mil and Maeda 12 mil if it meant Mize developed into a dominant and healthy pitcher.
I don’t think Mize or Jobe will be allowed to throw very deep into games, and Maeda and eventually Cobb will be needed to bridge the gap to whoever survives on the roster coming out of the bullpen. Shorter expected outings will allow everyone to throw with a little more velocity as well.
So when will the tigers stop signing 35+ year old players? Com’on. Scott Harris wants to tell everyone how good he is the Mark Canha, Kenda Meada signings. STOP already… Tgeres a reason nobody wanted him last year.
Mize and Jobe both will win at least a dozen games each
Jobe will be fortunate and on a good path if he wins 5.
I can’t believe he didn’t do anything with the lineup. After last season, they didn’t really need the relievers or Cobb. Heck, they didn’t even need Torres, position wise. And I get that he tried for Bregman, but talk about putting all your eggs in one basket.
I think they are banking on internal improvements and some players like Malloy providing similar offensive stats to players available in free agency for a fraction of the cost. But…that one big bat to complement what they have would have been nice.
It’s the smart move.
Could you imagine this team if they would have signed Matt Chapman for 3B and they had drafted Wyatt Langford RF?
The team would be a favorite in the Central.
They wouldn’t have needed Torres or Cobb. No Chafin or Maeda. That’s over $40 mil saved right there.
How would Chapman and Langford changed their pitching signings? Would the Tigers have made one or both two-way players? While Langford hasn’t struggled too badly, he’s hardly cemented himself in the Rangers long range plans, to this point. Slow down there BGF.
They wouldn’t have been as desperate for pitching if they had a decent offense. Harris was grabbing at straws. Kind of like you were by suggesting Chapman and Langford would be pitching. Cute.
2024 Langford .253/ .325/ .415 splits for a 111 OPS +. Better than Riley Greene did in his rookie year. Last I heard, Riley Greene was a pretty decent player. 111 OPS+ would have been 3rd on the Tigers team last year. The Rangers have him batting 3rd and in RF this year. Yep… they have plans for him. He was batting leadoff today… .485/ .548/ .815… I think he might make the team. Imagine if he were doing that as a Tiger? Sheesh, Tiger fans get all weak in the knees seeing Malloy come to the plate. I can’t imagine what they’d do if they had Langford.
Langford is a great young player. Joey Votto was good too…once. And now he’s pitching! Clark and Langford have a whole career ahead of them. Check back in 5 years and have the discussion about who is better. You could be right…or Langford could be Joey Votto and trying out pitching! Hopefully they both have great careers.
Are you Melchez17? I saw a post where you mentioned Fedducia and figured it must be you. Cheers dude.
Yes, I’m Melchez. Joey Votto would be a great outcome… one of the greatest 1B’s ever.
You probably mean Joey Gallo… I see that now. Gallo was decent for a couple years. a couple 40 homer years… Langford hit .253 last year. .253 is the highest Joey Gallo ever hit. Langford’s 74 RBI would be 4th highest for Gallo. 19 steals over double what Gallo ever put up in a year. Looking into my crystal ball, I see Langford being much better than Gallo. And better than Max Clark.
I sure wish I were wrong. I have been a huge Tiger fan for 50 years now. But to see how Harris has failed to get Hinch what he needs to compete has been very disappointing. Hinch is doing the best he can. I just hope he and Fetter don’t decide it’s time to move on.
Yes Joey Gallo is what i meant. Don’t post before your first coffee is the lesson there!
I think the top 4 guys front that draft will all end up great. Out of the gate Langford is certainly leading the pack and looks like a keeper. With that name he just belonged in Texas!
I also agree they needed another bat this offseason. He tried to get it with Bregman and I don’t blame him for not budging. I hope the Tigers don’t look at Bregman again after he snubbed them.
I think Robert would cost too much and Devers just won’t be traded since Bregman will likely opt out next year. They could definitely use another RH bat, but then again if Tork recaptures his form or Malloy breaks through maybe they don’t need it. Guess we will find out soon. Cheers dude.
I’m pretty sure Tork will improve. He may not be a Joey Votto or Adrian Gonzalez, but he should be a solid 1B with some power. Malloy, I highly doubt does much, but he has the potential to be something really solid. High OBP, some power… his glove though… man, he would need to hit BIG to negate that glove.
I think Bregman will rake in Fenway, but I think he might enjoy that $40 mil a year for 3 years. He could build up serious value. Then, the Red Sox may just extend him a couple more years… kind of like VMart did in Detroit. He could get the $200 mil he wanted in 5 years if he produces. Then he’d be a 35 year old DH making $20 mil a year and open to going anywhere or just staying in Boston padding his stats.
If Bregman averages 30 homer (very realistic) and a .300 average in Boston for 5 years… he would have over 300 homers, .290 average, over 1,000 RBI… 2,000 hits. He’s Hall of Fame bound. That’s a very good young team with some serious talent… he could get a ring or 2.
I am disappointed in the offseason, but I will always root for my Tigers. I’m tired of being disappointed. Bring back those Jim Leyland and Sparky years. I think they are close… they just need a little help here and there.
Go Tigers!!!!
The jury is out in the Langford vs Clark debate, especially with how McGonigle is developing (they signed him with the savings for drafting Clark). Clark and McGonigle could get starters as soon as next year.
They could have afforded McGonigle regardless. The savings on Clark were minimal. They saved $300,000 signing Max Clark.
It’s looking like Langford > Jenkins > Clark
Another bone headed play by Scottie Harris.
It’s nice that you think your crystal ball can see that far ahead, but it is too soon to tell. Langford was older and a more advanced bat and the itger two have looked great in the minors. The cash they saved on Clark helped convince McGonigle to sign.
My crystal ball showed me there was no one to play 3B. Scottie Harris chose Nick Maton over Matt Chapman. He chose Alex Cobb over a slew of other worthy pitchers. He signed a 2B when the team was loaded with 2B’s. Then Harris moved Tork when he actually started to produce.
Harris has made some major bone headed plays since he was hired. ERod… Candelario… Willi Castro… Faedo… are some of the minor mess ups.
Clownshow in Detroit.
Max Clark is quite possibly the closest thing to Bryce Harper Tiger fans will ever see. He’s going to be way better than Langford and Jenkins. You have no baseball knowledge. Stunningly ignorant.
You misspelled Daz Cameron.
They over paid pick 37 McGonicle $500,000. They underpaid the next pick 45 Max Anderson by $500,000. They could have had Langford and McGonigle. Dang, that would have been nice.
Maybe Wyatt Langford told them he didn’t want to go to Detroit? You know, like Bregman. Can you blame them? Would you want a leader like Scottie Harris? The guy is a clown. A complete clown.
That is funny 😉
Be n8ce Melchez. They got to the playoffs, beat Houston and took Cleveland to game 5. Skubal won the Triple Crown and things look good for the future with the #1 farm ststem in baseball.
Harris has made mistakes…Erod being the glaring one. All GMs make mistakes. He has done some really good things as well with some smart free agent signings, good waiver wire pickups very good trades and great drafts.
No-one bats a thousand.
Harris has made some great moves… Flaherty… McGonigle… Rainer… Holton… they were all pretty much no brainer decisions though. (Holton was a surprise that paid off).
The trade of Flaherty could have been a much worse result. What was he wanting from the Yankees? Certainly not one of their top prospects because the Yankees would never deal one of them for a couple months of Flaherty. That falls through and he swings a deal with the Dodgers. Nice rebound.
The Tigers made the playoffs last year yes… not because of Harris though. He was selling at the deadline. Hinch and the coaches and players did that.
Looks like SenorSmoke found a new handle.
Turns out it is Melchez. Senor Smoke/Colavito must have got himself kicked off again;) Surprising right?
I believe Clark will end up being an outstanding major leaguer. McGonigal and Rainer will also be All Stars.
The Tigers, 2027-34, are going to be like the Astros, 2017-24
McGonigal and Clark will get to Toledo this year.
Rainer will be in West Michigan and probably Erie, this year.
All 3, will in part or whole, be in the majors in 2026.
Rainer is Bobby Witt II
Clark is Harper-esque
McGonigal is Ian Kinsler II
Just wait.
McGonigal hit a bomb of Aaron Nola today. It’s a week from opening day. Do you think Nola was just mailing it in?
You can tell. McGonigal is a hitter.
Jobe hasn’t earned it.
Prospect obsession.
Sell hope, sell tickets.
And I don’t understand how a pitcher can be listed as 6’1″ and 145 lbs.
Makes no sense. This person is a professional athlete?
I was thinking more.like we should be sending the paramedics or CP services….
145 lbs?
It’s how they operate. They did the same thing with Manning and Mize.
Tigers have some good problems. Maeda to the bullpen. Only 1 of Chafin, Hanifee and Hurter…all of whom are better than Maeda, will make the team. It should be Hanifee. He is this year’s Holton. A beast. They also might get Alex Cobb back by May 1st. Montero at AAA will be available any time.
I expect Maeda to probably get DFA’s before the All Star break. Tigers will be very lucky to find any kind of trade partner for him.
Cobb? I consider him a sunken cost. Anything they get from him will be a bonus. If he wins 5 games (Heck, if he even starts in 5 games) that would be a bonus.
Biggest issues for the Big D, is whether Parker Meadow’s and Matt Vierling’s throwing arms heal. I have my doubts either of them play even 1/2 the season.
Isn’t that sad? Fans are waiting for a contract to expire Months after it was signed. That tells you quite a bit.
That’s one fan, not fans. He doesn’t speak for anyone but himself.
Are you anxious to see Alex Cobb? Do you drool every time you see Scottie Harris?
Melchez…Styme doesn’t like Harris but he cheers for his team. Pay attention big guy.
Kenta Maeda with a SO:BB ratio of 19:1 is what you want for the pen and a closer.. I’m hoping this is a positive move vs a failure.
As bad as the offense is, and its very bad; I’m worried about the Tigers’ defense. I think the team will be something completely different the 2nd half. Something good will come from it.
I agree, they can’t expect this group to go on a crazy run again this season. We will need to add some pop to the lineup by trade deadline if we want to have a legitimate shot at the division. Maybe we already have it in minor league, but I wouldn’t count on it, probably need to make a few moves to get more offense.
But what do they trade? It’s not like they have a surplus of talent to deal. They have some nice prospects, but I doubt they deal any decent ones. They are bandaging up players to cover positions. It’s as if they had no clue what the team needed the past 2 years.
They have the #1 minor league system in baseball with tons of young pitching. They can trade for anything they want! It has to be the right player who fits the roster and at the right price so they are not mortgaging their future. Harris has built a sustainable pipeline of prospects to supplement the lineup. You want him to blow that up for a short term fix, or go sign a player on the decline like Chapman. You are impatient Melchez.
The place the Tigers need to add at is 3B. Just nothing available.
Matt Chapman was waiting on a contract offer last year… Harris was sleeping.
Bregman was available this year… Harris gave it his all, which really isn’t much.
Gavin Lux was traded for a mediocre minor league OFer. Lux has been a 2+ war his last 2 years. He’s been playing 3B for the Reds this spring.
Bret Baty has had a good spring. He’s blocked at 3B by Vientos.
Alec Bohm was available.
You just have to look around… they are out there. You have to try.
Two guys on the decline who wanted contracts into their late 30’s when they would be hitting like Cabrera at the end of his. Harris offered Bregman the highest contract amount and thankfully he didn’t take it. Bohm was severely overpriced, lacks power and is 1B bound soon. Baty and Lux had not proved anything in MLB to make them more than a change of scenery candidate.
No solutions there Melchez. Just long term problems and maybes. The Tigers already have a maybe with Jung.
Sounds like the Tigers are giving Hao-Yu Lee & Kevin McGonigle reps at 3B. I like their chances better than Jung, whom they should just move back to 2B.
McGonigle and Max are on the fast track to Detroit. If not 2026, 2027. Lee may be ready next year. He’s an intriguing possibility at 3B. That’s probably why they’re not shopping for a 3B & CF.
I agree with you. In 2026 I could see Lee at 3B, McGonigle at SS, Jung at 2B, Keith at 1B, Rogers and Dingler or Liranzo at C, Carp at DH and Greene, Meadows and Clark in the OF.
The 3B position has been a trouble area throughout the Tiger history. They traded away more than they kept. Miguel Cabrera was acquired as a 3B but wasn’t good there. Nicolas Castellanos was even worse. Detroit’s noteworthy full time 3B produced few quality seasons:
Ossie Vitt 3
Marv Owen 4
Pinky Higgins 6
George Kell 5 (injured in 48)
Ray Boone 5
Don Wert 4 (until he was beaned)
Aurelio Rodriguez 5 (platooned after 76)
Travis Fryman 5 (plus 2 at SS)
Dean Palmer 2
Brandon Inge 6 (Mismanaged!)