The Tigers have agreed to a minor league deal with southpaw Devin Smeltzer and released veteran outfielder Manuel Margot, per the transaction log at MiLB.com. Smeltzer has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo.
Smeltzer, 29, has seen big league time in parts of five major league seasons — nearly all with the division-rival Twins. The Vayner client is a former Dodgers fifth-round pick who went from L.A. to Minnesota a deadline swap for Brian Dozier. Smeltzer has worked both as a starter and long reliever in the big leagues, compiling a total of 162 1/3 innings with a 4.32 ERA. He’s only fanned 16.5% of his opponents but boasts a sharp 6% walk rate.
Smeltzer posted a 3.99 ERA in 140 innings with Minnesota from 2019-22, but his inability to miss bats and his susceptibility to home runs led fielding-independent metrics to cast a far more bearish outlook on his performance (4.82 FIP, 4.78 SIERA). Smeltzer’s 2023 season with the Marlins indeed brought a good bit of regression; he pitched 22 1/3 innings but was rocked for a 6.45 ERA as he served up seven round-trippers in that limited role.
That 2023 season in Miami saw Smeltzer regularly designated for assignment, passed through waivers, and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville. The Fish designated Smeltzer for assignment four different times, and he accepted an outright on each occasion. He also returned on a minor league deal in the 2023-24 offseason and pitched well (3.69 ERA) in 31 2/3 innings with Jacksonville in 2024 before being released.
Smeltzer has been pitching for los Dorados de Chihuahua in the Mexican League this year, logging a 5.17 ERA, 17.6% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate in an extremely hitter-friendly setting, where the league-average ERA is a staggering 6.01. He’d been working as a starter, averaging better than six innings per outing across 13 starts, so Smeltzer will provide Detroit some depth for the rotation or a swingman candidate.
The Tigers currently have Sawyer Gipson-Long, Alex Cobb, Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden and Jose Urquidy on the injured list. Jobe’s season is over due to Tommy John surgery. Cobb has yet to pitch for the major league club since signing a one-year deal over the winter. Madden, the No. 32 pick in 2021, has been out all season with a shoulder strain. Gipson-Long has been out since late June due to a neck injury. Urquidy signed a free agent deal over the winter while recovering from Tommy John surgery and will likely be an option in the second half.
As for the veteran Margot, he appeared in six games with the Tigers earlier this year and went 6-for-19 (all singles) in 20 plate appearances. He’s had a very rough showing in Toledo, slashing only .211/.299/.266 in 144 plate appearances for the Mud Hens.
Now 30 years old, Margot is a former top prospect who had a solid run from 2017-22 between the Padres and Rays, slashing .254/.309/.386 with plus baserunning, elite defense and quality production against left-handed pitching. He suffered a severe strain of the patellar tendon in his right knee back in 2022, however, and his sprint speed, baserunning and defensive grades have all plummeted since that injury. (He also missed time earlier this season with an injury in his other knee.) When Margot debuted late in the 2016 season, Statcast credited him with 99th percentile sprint speed — an average of 30 feet per second. In his brief look with the Tigers earlier this season, he was covering 25.3 feet per second, all the way down in the ninth percentile of MLB players.
Since returning from that career-altering knee injury in 2022, Margot has taken 862 plate appearances in the majors. His average hasn’t changed much, but he’s walked less often and seen the minimal power he previously possessed dry up. He’s a .250/.395/.348 hitter (82 wRC+) in that time, and this year’s bleak minor league showing doesn’t create a lot of reason for optimism. He’ll be an option for teams seeking some righty-swinging outfield depth, but it’s been years since Margot has performed at peak levels.
I don’t know if the Tigers moved the needle at all with either of these moves. Baseball is hard.
Teams always signing players to minor league deals. Give them like Jelly Beans. Is that because zero teams have zero space on the 40-man roster?? If that’s the case, increase the roster to 50 or something. Teams should have a limit on how many deals can be signed. Players like Billy McKinney need to realize the dream is over. Goto Home Depot or try the Independent League. You’re not good enough for MLB!!!
@mlbny. Yeah its been bad this year. Angels and braves made like 6 trades to release the guy a week later. Definitely everyone is doing it this year, and the guys getting circulated around every two days will be gone next year. Margot will catch on somewhere angels could use a outfielder that’s better than wade jr
I think Margot’s ship has sailed. He was hitting .211 at AAA. He would be a minor league addition, so he might get an opportunity, but not in the majors.
Margot was signed by the Tigers to fill in until Meadows returned. But then Margot got hurt. Pitching is more important than a really late depth outfielder. I liked Smeltzer when he pitched for the Twins. Some depth at SP for a spot start or injury replacement.
Smeltzer is purely a depth addition. I doubt he makes it to the majors.
The Tigers should look at relief help. Maybe Bednar or Chapman. Chapman would give them a power lefty arm for late innings. Vest and Kahnle have done great, but they could use a wipeout lefty. Holton and Hurter have been decent, but not a shutdown guy like the others.
Vest, Chapman, Kahnle, Holton, Hurter, Lee, Hanifee? would be a top bullpen.
That’s more trade deadline stuff. Right now, the Tigers have been shuffling their 5th starters up and down. That leaves Toledo in a bind for their rotation. Smeltzer fills that need.
I doubt Harris gives up what the Red Sox are going to want. Saux are going to want a Tiger Top 5 prospect. That’s nah gonna happin’.
More likely he goes for a swing and miss guy that they can use ahead of Vest and Kahnle.
Bednar, Helsley, Bautista, Bird
Rather have Bednar than Chapman imo
Starters, they seem set with Skubal, Mize, Flaherty, Olson and Montero. If they did add, they need to go big and not just get a number 5 starter. Before Sale got hurt, I thought he would be a good option. I doubt the Braves trade him. They foolishly think they have a run in them. They can’t win 2 in a row. Maybe check with the Angels about Kikuchi? He’s not a number 1, but he’s a solid 3. Taylor Mahle would be a rental option. But other than any of those, I don’t think they really need anyone else.
I mean, sure, Andrew Abbott would be an amazing addition, but the Reds aren’t parting with him unless you send them multiple top prospects.
I used to think Det needed a big name SP at the deadline, but last nights game made me realize that 1) you only need four starters in the post season (even less if you sweep) and 2) Keider actually sticking as a #5 the rest of the year for injury insurance come playoffs. But what if Skubal gets hurt? Mize or Olsen again? Were cooked if we don’t make a move. So if we can get a big name SP I’m good with that. A smaller name, same. But to do nothing would be a mistake imo.
If Skubal gets hurt we’re effed either way. Absent an upgrade, yes, Mize and Olson are your #2 and #3, respectively. I’m very much in favor of adding another SP, but the best version of Mize, Olson, and JFlare can cover innings if we add 2 solid bullpen arms. The cost for a #2 is probably too rich for Harris to pay given what we know about him.
I agree. I think the 3b convo isn’t valid due to McK/Veirling. Beaz won’t be a factor down the stretch since Sweeney will be sent back down after KC comes back after ALG. The thing with 3rd is yes, Suarez would be awesome but what does that mean for McK and Veirling? Less playing time. And who’s to say those two don’t struggle down the stretch, but more importantly, who’s to say a new 3b wouldn’t either.
Andrew Heaney would be a nice pickup. He has pitched well this year as a starter but also has experience as a reliever. Potential for a package deal with Bednar.
Thank you for your services in your short stint MM and good luck.
As a prospect, wasn’t Margot supposed to be what Mookie Betts turned out to be?
Sadly, Margot looks pretty mediocre these days. He looks and plays like a guy much older than he is.
Margot,who at five-ten,about 230 pounds,seems a bit beefy,may be a few years older than he claims.
If the Mets don’t intend to keep McNeil in CF than why not sign Margot ? With Manaea and Senga coming back shortly the Mets should fix the bullpen by trading for Jake Bird and Bednar
I thought, “No room on the 26 for this all of this trade talk… Sweeney? Rookie, accidently hit one yesterday; Meadows? still rookying it and plays great defense, most helpful; Vierling? part of team spirit, recouping from injury, lowest value;
Gleyber Torres? is a free agent at the end of the year? All Star?
Hmmmm….
Stand down Margot stand down please, stand down Margot
This wasn’t the article I commented on!
Something is wrong here.
I surely would have mentioned Hinch lost that Dodger game by not letting Margot bat. Margot was having a career game and flying high.
Now this.
The late Tigers radio analyst Jim Price would call someone like Smeltzer “minor league inventory” to be promoted in case of injury.
Margot hasn’t been good for a while,but may catch on the the bigs as a fifth outfielder as he’s still in just his early thirties.
Yankees should grab this guy after he gets DFA’d so he can start the Smelt Night game at The Stadium with Billy Crystal announcing…