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Tigers Send Jason Foley, Andrew Chafin To Minors

By Darragh McDonald | March 26, 2025 at 2:05pm CDT

The Tigers are making some surprising roster cuts ahead of the start of the season. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the club is sending both right-hander Jason Foley and left-hander Andrew Chafin to Triple-A Toledo. Foley is on the 40-man roster and will be optioned. Chafin is a veteran on a minor league deal with certain guaranteed opt-out dates but Petzold relays that the southpaw is expected to report to Toledo.

Foley, 29, was last optioned to the minors in April of 2022. He was recalled in May of that year and has been up with the club since then, seemingly establishing himself as a bonafide major leaguer. He’s never had huge strikeout numbers but has succeeded with good control and a grounder-heavy approach.

Overall, he has 199 2/3 innings in the bigs with a 3.16 earned run average, 18.1% strikeout rate, 6.2% walk rate and 54.1% ground ball rate. He has emerged as a key leverage arm for the club in recent years. In 2023, he secured 28 holds and seven saves. Last year, he largely took over the closer’s role, racking up 28 saves and eight holds. He qualified for arbitration and is making $3.15MM this year.

In this year’s camp, his 6.14 ERA certainly looks ugly, but it’s a tiny sample of 7 1/3 innings and the numbers under the hood aren’t nearly as bad. He struck out 10 opponents without issuing a walk, with one hit-by-pitch the only free pass of the spring. The five earned runs he allowed came over his first four appearances. The past four were scoreless. A .429 batting average on balls in play and 62.5% strand rate point to much of the damage against him being bad luck.

All in all, it’s a pretty surprising move. It seems as though Brenan Hanifee will get the final bullpen spot over Foley, per Petzold. Hanifee has a strong 2.36 ERA in his career but in just 34 1/3 innings. Similar to Foley, he’s a ground ball guy, with an 18.2% strikeout rate and 54.1% grounder rate thus far.

Ultimately, Opening Day is just one day on the calendar. Bullpen churn is pretty common in today’s game, so Foley could be back up in short order. Still, it’s notable when last year’s closer is sent to the minors without much obvious reason. If Foley spends significant time in the minors this year, it could impact his trajectory. He comes into 2025 with his service clock at three years and 33 days, putting him on track for free agency after 2027. If he spends enough time on optional assignment this season to come up short of the four-year mark, that trip to the open market would be pushed back by a year.

The news on Chafin is also surprising. He’s a pretty reliable veteran with over a decade in the big leagues. He has a 3.42 career ERA and posted a 3.51 ERA last year. Even settling for a minor league deal was a surprise, but at least that deal came with a strong $2.5MM base salary for cracking the majors.

Like Foley, Chafin’s spring numbers look bad at a glance but not so much under a magnifying glass. He posted an ERA of 12.00 by allowing eight earned runs in six innings. He also gave out six walks. However, six of those eight earned runs and five of the six walks were surrendered in his first two innings pitched. He only allowed two runs and one walk in his final four innings, with the final two innings being scoreless and walk-less with five strikeouts.

Given his reputation, it would be fair to write-off his poor spring stats as small-sample weirdness but the Tigers evidently don’t want to make room for him. He’ll report to Toledo and hope for a call-up but he’ll have chances to opt-out on May 1 and June 1.

In another notable move, Petzold reports that utility player Ryan Kreidler will make the Opening Day roster. Kreidler had previously been optioned to the minors but it was reported earlier this week that the club’s injuries might open a spot for him. The Tigers have been hit hard by the injury bug, particularly in center field, with Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling all slated to start the season on the injured list.

Kreidler has played more infield in his career but the club apparently considers him viable enough in center to bring him up for extra coverage there. It’s unclear who will get the bulk of the playing time in center, but it may be some combination of Kreidler, Riley Greene and Manuel Margot.

Photo courtesy of Junfu Han, Imagn Images

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Detroit Tigers Andrew Chafin Brenan Hanifee Jason Foley Ryan Kreidler

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Post a Comment

67 Comments

  1. chandlerbing

    3 months ago

    Its rough being a pitcher these days
    High chance you’ll either go down with TJ or get demoted to the minors

    Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      3 months ago

      At least the pay is good.

      3
      Reply
      • chandlerbing

        3 months ago

        @hank
        True. If yer gonna sacrifice your limbs atleast get big bucks for it

        Re: foley tho, he’s been successful, not sure demotion makes sense. ST stats getting more & more important when managers/tms make decisions. Too much weight on meaningless games

        Reply
        • LeylandsLung

          3 months ago

          The games are meaningless but the individual performances are not.

          1
          Reply
  2. Salzilla

    3 months ago

    Whoa, who’s closing? Hilton? Brieske?

    2
    Reply
    • braveshomer

      3 months ago

      I need to know as well for strictly fantasy purposes lol

      2
      Reply
      • Salzilla

        3 months ago

        Yep, I do think it’s Holton who’s pretty much unavailable in standard leagues.

        1
        Reply
        • dsett75

          3 months ago

          Sal, Holton is unavailable in your leagues?! What do you play in, 20 team leagues? Lol, he’s like, 1% owned in mine and Foley isn’t rostered much more than that, but I suppose Holton will get Foley’s owners in the leagues where Chapman hasn’t been picked up yet (10 teams).

          1
          Reply
        • Salzilla

          3 months ago

          I don’t play in anything less than 12 teams, and most have deeper rosters than normal. And all with some combo of saves/holds. He went before Foley. Smart cookies.

          1
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          3 months ago

          All 3 Foley, Holton and Brieske are unavailable in my league and we have 10 teams. Competitive

          Reply
        • Salzilla

          3 months ago

          That’s cool, but it also depends on your format and roster sizes. Usually the wire is too big, a bit easier to navigate even with larger rosters. For me, personally, it gets a tad boring when good replacement players are very easily available.

          1
          Reply
        • dsett75

          3 months ago

          That’s crazy. I have 25 teams at espn and 8 at yahoo and only a couple have taken guys like Faucher, Foley, etc. Usually the last closer taken was someone like Hendriks or Martin from Texas. Chapman still isn’t picked up in half of em. A few go with all SP’s and bats on their bench, but I always go with 1 hitter, 6 SP, 3 closers and 1 setup guy (for bench/pitching). And my worst closer is maybe Martinez/Puk, (if I take one, I usually take the other so I’ll get the hold or save regardless), or probably Estevez or Romano.

          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          3 months ago

          Aha, we play in the 10 team, standard 23 player roto leagues, limit it just to AL so we’re not drafting just all stars. You’re right dsett, in the shallower leagues you can afford and prolly encouraged to pass on closers

          Reply
        • bobloucks123

          3 months ago

          You must have 30 roster spots then… yikes, wastes of space.

          Reply
        • Salzilla

          3 months ago

          Not if you know baseball. More fun for me.

          1
          Reply
        • BadMojo

          2 months ago

          Strange, since only one of those players have any real value. Is it a money league? If so I’d like to join. Seems like an easy league to win.

          1
          Reply
    • tigers182

      3 months ago

      Probably by committee

      5
      Reply
    • Tigersin2050

      3 months ago

      Likely Vest, but they’ll play the matchups.

      2
      Reply
      • ChicagoTommy

        3 months ago

        What makes you think Vest over Holton or Breiske?

        Reply
        • Tigersin2050

          3 months ago

          Playoffs last year. Pitches to righties and lefties well. Bulldog mentality. But both Hilton and Brieske will get plenty of looks.

          3
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          3 months ago

          Vest over Holton or Breiske is a bold statement, I’d trust Tommy, Hilfiger knows his fashion. Frankly I’d go with a Cartigan over a Holton in April, still Brisky out

          Reply
    • Ketch

      3 months ago

      Kahnle?

      Reply
      • Salzilla

        3 months ago

        Good choice too.

        Reply
    • stymeedone

      3 months ago

      @salzilla
      I don’t see Hilton getting more than a few opps. Guessing Red Roof or Super 8 will get more opps because they are cheaper, and we are talking Illitch here.

      2
      Reply
      • Salzilla

        3 months ago

        Damn autocorrect lol

        Reply
      • tigerfan4ever

        3 months ago

        So funny I forgot to laugh….so did anyone with a brain, STYMEEDONE!

        Reply
        • Salzilla

          3 months ago

          Erm, I thought it was funny, and I was the one that made the error.

          Reply
        • tigerfan4ever

          3 months ago

          Okay, STYMEEDONE, cut another check, make it out to your boy Salzilla.

          Reply
    • LeylandsLung

      3 months ago

      Committee, same as last year.

      1
      Reply
  3. RussianFemboySportsFan

    3 months ago

    Andrew chafin will most likely get called back up early in the season.

    12
    Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      3 months ago

      Chafin season don’t get going til summer time when it’s hot and sweaty in the land of gitchegoomy

      4
      Reply
    • tigerfan4ever

      3 months ago

      I agree. Chafin just wasn’t ready yet, being a late camp signing. He’ll get his call up, by the end of April. For him, this is just extended spring training. He realizes it, thus he’s reporting to Toledo.

      6
      Reply
  4. harrisstan

    3 months ago

    I wonder who the opening day 3b will be

    Reply
    • Jm207* 2

      3 months ago

      Andy Ibanez. Snell on the mound.

      6
      Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        3 months ago

        More like smell on the mound. Amirite?

        3
        Reply
    • waitsfornoone

      3 months ago

      Word on the street is that RH 3B Barbaro Garbey is available, and he already has familiarity with the Tigers..

      2
      Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        3 months ago

        Barbaro Garbey, is that I dream of Jeannies kid w family values guy and California senator Steve

        2
        Reply
    • dsett75

      3 months ago

      Ibanez against lefties and McKinstry against righties.

      3
      Reply
  5. HopefulTwinsFan

    3 months ago

    Foley being sent down is kinda surprising.

    9
    Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      3 months ago

      Welcome to your 4th place Tiggers

      2
      Reply
    • Windowpane

      3 months ago

      Kinda?

      Reply
  6. Never Remember

    3 months ago

    Probably didn’t angry man hinch his coffee fast enough.

    Reply
  7. phenomenalajs

    3 months ago

    I believe Chafin has a farm in Ohio and preferred to play for teams in the Midwest to remain within a short travel distance. So, it’s not that surprising that he’d accept an assignment to Toledo.

    6
    Reply
    • BrianCashmansBurner

      3 months ago

      Knowing that:…

      A) Chafin owns a farm

      and

      B) Chose his major league team based on his proximity to it

      …are some of the least surprising facts I can imagine.

      3
      Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        3 months ago

        He lived out of his truck when he was first starting out. Wasn’t he also Henry Rowengartner’s shaggy mentor in Rookie of the Year?

        Reply
  8. For Love of the Game

    3 months ago

    Foley has been hit kind of hard in spring training, thinking of exit velocities rather than just hits. His velo has been down a few clicks, reminiscent of mid 2024. He was throwing 99 mph last year until mid-season when his velo suddenly dipped to 94. He stopped serving as the closer at the same time without having the typical closer meltdowns that lead to losing the role. Late in the season the velo returned as quickly as it left.

    3
    Reply
  9. Hammerin' Hank

    3 months ago

    This is just another example that pretty much any reliever can “close” if needed. Foley had 28 saves last year but still doesn’t even make the opening day roster. Sure, it may be partially because of service time manipulation, but if he was THAT good he wouldn’t be sent down at all.

    1
    Reply
  10. dsett75

    3 months ago

    Two surprising moves. If Hanifee is taking Foley’s spot, then who’s taking Chafin’s? Hurter, Guenther, or are they gunna sign someone like Moniak or Canario?

    Reply
    • dsett75

      3 months ago

      I see they signed Gamel. Though, it looks like Kriedler will get what wudda been Perez’s spot.

      Reply
    • LeylandsLung

      3 months ago

      Guenther was already sent down

      Reply
      • dsett75

        2 months ago

        I know, but that was about a week ago. Looks like it’s Hanifee and Hurter.

        Reply
  11. jdgoat

    3 months ago

    Talk about reading too much into spring training stats. Foley is a stud.

    2
    Reply
  12. Dumpster Divin Theo

    3 months ago

    Theyre getting their news from a Petzold? What’s that? Detwa’s clearance outlet for old and discontinued pet stuff? If you can’t get it from PetSmart, don’t try Walmart or Goodwill. Head on over to Petzold.

    Reply
  13. Windowpane

    3 months ago

    I’ve heard the phrase “what have you done for me lately”, but Spring Training results? Are you kidding me? WTF?

    1
    Reply
  14. alproof

    3 months ago

    Once the injured come back, I hope they will make decisions based on merit. I can’t believe they got Manny Margot—talk about a zero.

    Reply
  15. warnbeeb

    3 months ago

    Tiger pitching is going to be fine. I see a lot of 4-2, 3-1 losses in the Tiger’s future

    1
    Reply
    • dsett75

      2 months ago

      As do I. I’m just gunna update the games. I’m not gunna watch because their offense is gunna be frustratingly horrible. I can’t believe they did nothing with the lineup with the exception of the redundant, unnecessary Torres. Especially with the success of last year even though the offense was subpar.

      Reply
  16. Jubilation

    3 months ago

    I am shocked they kept Kriedler over JHM. The bench is not very good.

    Kriedler – can’t hit
    McKinstry- bad hitter
    Dingler- not good hitter

    Reply
    • tigerfan4ever

      2 months ago

      Dingler had a decent spring. McKinstry got hot down the stretch last season. Those two made perfect sense to me. The only reason Kreidler made the team was he’s a living, breathing CF converted from SS. I was surprised they signed Margot to a major league contract. The two (Kreidler and Margot) are carbon copy players and one should be in Toledo. If Vierling, Meadows, Perez and Baddoo (gulp!) were healthy, neither of those two would’ve made the team. JHM is horrible defensively and barely passable as a bat. I’m not one bit surprised he didn’t make the team. He would’ve, however, if Tork had a poor spring. He didn’t.

      3
      Reply
      • warnbeeb

        2 months ago

        Won’t surprise me if Dingler ends up as #1 catcher. I think his bat has much more upside. Tigers is pretty much what you see, what you get.

        Reply
    • dsett75

      2 months ago

      It’s because Malloy can’t play CF and Greene will already undoubtedly get hurt sometime in April. There’s no need in speeding up that unfortunate fact by having him play there.

      1
      Reply
    • warnbeeb

      2 months ago

      McKinstry and Dingler are too good for AAA. Dingler, IMHO, is going to turn out way better than Rogers. He’s going to be a solid ML backstop.

      I bet, right now, other teams would take Dingler over Rogers 10:1.

      Reply
  17. BobGibsonFan

    2 months ago

    Spring training means nothing.

    Reply
  18. Old York

    2 months ago

    Detroit just showed us how to steal a year of control without anyone noticing.

    Reply
  19. MPrck

    2 months ago

    A.k.a Kreidler’s last stand. Sending another big bat in J.H.M down hurts so we all hope Ryan can make the majors with this huge chance. The division will be tight again this year. Lots of opportunity for all the Tiger players this year. GO TIGERS !!!

    1
    Reply
  20. warnbeeb

    2 months ago

    Kreidler is better at D than Margot. Margot better hit, because he is worse than Carpenter in the OF, imho.

    Reply
  21. warnbeeb

    2 months ago

    Nice article in FREEP this morning re. Foley in Toledo. Just me, but sounds like Foley has a bit of a difference of opinion with Hinch. Part of it, I’m sure, is competitiveness, but remember Hinch sat Foley the last 6 games of the playoffs last October. Seems like Hinch lost some confidence in him. Foley’s 1st outing in Toledo was excellent. Will be interesting to see how long he sits in AAA.
    Honestly, Tigers are going to have to cut Maeda loose sooner or later. Even 80% of Foley is better than Kenta.

    Reply

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