The Tigers announced they’ve activated veteran outfielder Manuel Margot from the 10-day injured list and sent him outright to Triple-A Toledo. He evidently was placed on waivers earlier this week and already went unclaimed. Detroit also placed Kenta Maeda on unconditional release waivers after designating him for assignment last week. Once he clears waivers, he’ll be a free agent. Margot’s removal from the 40-man roster drops their count to 38.
Margot signed a split contract at the end of Spring Training. Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez were injured, leaving the Tigers scrambling for outfield depth. Margot started five games through the season’s first week and a half, but inflammation in his left knee sent him to the shelf on April 8.
Javier Báez kicked out to center field and has had an excellent start to the season, hitting .309/.350/.479 in 28 games. Zach McKinstry is rotating between third base and the corner outfield. He’s out to a .291/.375/.427 start over 32 contests. Kerry Carpenter is playing right field regularly, while Riley Greene is locked into left field. Báez and McKinstry probably won’t remain this productive, but the Tigers have little reason to take either out of the lineup while they’re playing well. While Detroit could’ve used Margot off the bench while optioning a younger hitter like Justyn-Henry Malloy or Jace Jung, they elected to stick with their current position player group.
Margot has well over the three years of service time to decline an outright assignment in favor of free agency. The Tigers didn’t provide any indication that he’d do that, however. His contract pays at a $200K rate for time spent in the minors (and a prorated $1.3MM for his time on the MLB roster or injured list). He’d join Akil Baddoo, Brewer Hicklen, Jahmai Jones and Ryan Kreidler among outfield depth in Toledo if he accepts the assignment.
Maeda’s release was the expected outcome. Teams have five days following a DFA to try to line up a trade, but that rarely happens with veterans on lofty salaries. The Tigers needed to find a trade partner by Tuesday or place Maeda on waivers. He would’ve been able to decline an outright assignment without forfeiting any salary, so the Tigers simply released him.
The 29 other teams technically have an opportunity to grab Maeda off waivers, but doing so would require assuming the remainder of his $10MM salary. That obviously isn’t happening. They’ll wait until he clears and becomes a free agent. If Maeda signs elsewhere, his new club would only be responsible for the prorated portion of the $760K league minimum for whatever time he spends on the MLB roster. The Tigers will pay the remainder of the salary.
It closes the books on a disappointing year-plus tenure in the Motor City. Detroit signed Maeda to a two-year, $24MM free agent deal during the 2023-24 offseason. The former Cy Young runner-up had fanned 27% of opponents with a 4.23 ERA during his walk year with the Twins. While it looked like a solid rotation pickup, Maeda’s production tanked immediately in Detroit. He allowed a 6.09 ERA over 112 1/3 innings a year ago, losing his rotation spot in the process. Maeda opened this season in low-leverage relief and didn’t fare any better, giving up eight runs (seven earned) over eight innings. He allowed nine free baserunners — six walks and three hit batters — while recording eight strikeouts.
Bring back Maeda to the Dodgers!
Why, though?
Maeda back to the Dodgers makes sense because they always need more pitching, given their injuries, and there’s a good chance they can get him back on track.
A good chance? If Chris Fetter couldn’t, nobody could.
I have more faith in the Dodgers’ pitching wizards than the Tigers.
Detroit has by far the best pitching coach in MLB, so yeah doubting that big time!
Fetter is better! He’s not the beneficiary of a massive payroll that has the club acquiring talent. He has to develop his pitchers. And, his track record on rejuvenating careers is excellent, Maeda notwithstanding.
Why not just let him keep going all the way to Japan?
Because there’s 29 other teams that can sign him if he they want.
Hoping he comes to the Angels!
One of my favorites to watch over the years.
After the way the Angels played against Detroit last weekend he should fit right in.
Well said.
Hate to disappoint you, but this isn’t the same Maeda. Not even flashes of the former version.
With Javy holding down CF and JHen on the roster, Margot wound up being redundant. He’ll be depth down in Toledo but who would have thought Javy would be doing what’s he’s been doing to this point of the season. He keeps it up, he’s the schoo-in for Comeback Player of the Year. Go Get em Tigers….World Series bound and picking up steam 😎
He’s finally earning his money!
Unfortunately, Malloy and either Jung or Keith will be sent down to make room for Meadows and Vierling when the latter two get healthy.
Malloy or Jung for Vierling. Won’t be Colt. I think Meadows’ return is still a ways away.
I’m wondering about the 2 vacant spots on the 40. Hope the Arenado trade idea by Jim Bowden is just typical Bowden horse crap. I doubt Scott wants to add $64 million to the books and be saddled with Arenado through the 2027 season. McKinstry & Ibanez have done fine at 3B this year.
This Tiger team looks like the real deal. Tiger fans everywhere should be excited.
Baez is hitting again. Wow.
Glad he’s doing well again, wish nothing but the best to Javy and hopefully he continues to perform well for the Tigers.
Love your finish to your post, Motown ……
“World Series bound and picking up stream” …… Can I add, “There’ll be joy in Tigertown, we’ll sing you songs, when the Bengals bring the pennant home! Where it belongs!!!!!
Shades of ‘68 maybe? I still have the “Year of The Tigers 68” album and it’s great hearing Ernie Harrell and Ray Lane’s radio calls from that season….i get all the younger posters out here will say what’s an album or hey boomer, but that was certainly a highlight of a souvenir for a then 10-year old Tiger fan
That is a super cool souvenir. Vinyl? An actual album? I love finding old radio programs on vinyl.
Go Get ‘em Tigers. I remember that on radio and TV in 68.
Margot was having a career game.
Idiot lost the game for us by pinch hitting a guy fighting for.his career, doing a damn good job of it, for a rookie…..
The Tigers should have swept the Dodgers….
Once Maeda is a free agent, he should join the M’s and check in at the M’s magical pitching clinic. M’s having a long history with Japanese players should help too.
I’ll be stunned if Maeda is effective with whoever takes a chance on him. Nevertheless, good luck to him.
Agreed. Watching him he just looks washed and lost.
Did Margot get a CZ WS ring for his spring training stint with the Dodgers?
Madea goes to free agency
Hope Maeda lands somewhere and dominates. The White Sox are currently looking for an ace… Can they ride him to a surprise playoff birth. This guy thinks so!
Annnddddd that;s when the bartender cuts you off.