The Tigers have recalled right-hander Codi Heuer from Triple-A Toledo, with fellow righty Luke Jackson designated for assignment. The moves haven’t been officially announced but Craig McCosky of Detroit News was among the reporters to relay them.
The Tigers picked up Jackson a couple of weeks ago after he had been released by the Rangers. He had been having a rough season in Texas but has a good track record, so the Tigers scooped him up, hoping for a bounceback.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get it. He tossed 4 2/3 innings for Detroit, allowing four earned runs via three hits and five walks while striking out four. Combined with his results with the Rangers, he has a 4.54 earned run average in 39 2/3 innings this year. His 52.5% ground ball rate is good but his 16.1% strikeout rate and 13.8% walk rate are both noticeably worse than league average.
Despite the rough numbers, he might get another shot somewhere. The Rangers are still on the hook for the remainder his $1.5MM salary. That means another club could sign Jackson and would only have to pay him the prorated version of the $760K league minimum for any time spent on the roster. That amount would be subtracted from what the Rangers pay.
From 2018 to 2024, Jackson tossed 289 2/3 innings in the majors with a 3.91 ERA. His 10.2% walk rate in that time was a bit high but he punched out 27.1% of batters faced and got opponents to hit the ball into the ground on 54.3% of balls in play.
The punchouts haven’t been there this year, which is why he’s now twice been designated for assignment. But with the trade deadline now passed, it’s harder for clubs to find useful pitching upgrades. Since Jackson has a good track record and would essentially be free, some team might take a shot on him soon.
Photo courtesy of Junfu Han, Imagn Images
I suspected he would be leaving quite soon. If he clears waivers they may try to get him to Toledo or just release him.
How could you have suspected this happening so soon? I expected Fetter, the “best” pitching coach in baseball to earn his title and money and fix this guy.
Barves please don’t claim
I don’t think the Braves will after he performed poorly for them last year
don’t do it giants
You know they will.
It should say something when two of the three comments (so far) are pleading for their team NOT to acquire them.
That experiment failed quickly. Hopefully this next one works out better
That seems to be Scott Harris’ MO – cycle through castoffs and see where you can fix someone. Every once in a while you get a Tyler Holton or Brenan Hanifee. Most of the time you get another DFA candidate. Let’s see which category Codi Heuer fits into.
Maybe Fetter is a little overrated. I mean is success rate with these scrubs is about 10 percent. Most are DFA’d.
How could it not? The Tigers have Fetter and a magic wand right?
Braves in 3…2…1…
Darragh just wrote Luke Jackson has a good track record.
Thanks! I needed a good laugh.
Farhan Zaidi’s trade of Soler and Jackson for Sabin Ceballos was one of his greatest transactions. Dumped two overpaid players for a decent prospect.
It was because of the awful facial hair. Can’t be looking like you manage a furniture store while representing a professional baseball team. Disrespectful.
That never occurred to me before, but you are right! He would look at home in one of those stained polyester sportcoats!
These are the intangibles teams need to make note of.
I would’ve much rather seen Rafael Montero DFA’d first.
Wonder how much more of the Rafael Montero experiment there is? Talk about a long shot in the dark.
Why pick just one? Unless Harris finds another Schlub on the waiver wife, Montero will be DFA’d on Aug. 17th when Brenan Hanifee is eligible to be recalled.
Do you think Hanifee is really that much better than Montero?
Or Kahnle. In his last 30 games, he’s given up 21 ER in 26.2 innings. Show me someone else on the team who has been that bad for that long and still has his job.
Kahnle is fixable if he can stop putting his changeup in the middle of the strike zone!
That’s like me saying I could have been a pro MLB player, if I could throw 103 mph.
He’s had plenty of time to fix this. If the issue started in Apr/May, maybe you could justify keeping him around a little longer, but not in mid Aug. This should also not be the time for reclamation projects. It’s ridiculous that Hanifee is pitching in Toledo right now while we’re throwing all these 6.00 ERA scrubs out there.
Why though?
What does Luke Jackson have that Griffey and Ichiro don’t?
A championship ring.
If he never pitches again he can wear that with pride.