The Tigers announced Friday that they’ve designated utilityman Ryan Kreidler for assignment. His spot on the roster goes to lefty Drew Sommers, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Toledo. Detroit optioned righty Alex Lange to clear an active roster spot for Sommers, whose promotion was first reported yesterday.
Kreidler, has seen big league time in parts of four major league seasons, including 2025. He’s played five different positions — second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field — for Detroit dating back to 2022 but has never hit enough to play his way into a prominent role. He’s a lifetime .138/.208/.176 hitter in the majors, though that anemic slash line has come with scattershot playing time and in a sample of only 211 plate appearances.
Kreidler would’ve been out of minor league options in 2026, so an eventual removal from the 40-man roster felt inevitable, whether it be during the season or early in the winter. He’s been a much better hitter in Triple-A, where he’s spent parts of five seasons and turned in a .239./360/.421 batting line in 1165 plate appearances. Kreidler has been better than average in four of his five Triple-A seasons, but he struggled considerably there in 201 plate appearances last year, which has weighed down his rate stats in the upper minors a bit.
The Tigers can place Kreidler on waivers at any point in the next five days now that he’s been designated for assignment. He’ll be available to the league’s other 29 teams, with waiver priority based on the reverse standings (worst record to best record). He hasn’t been outrighted in the past and doesn’t have three years of MLB service, so if he goes unclaimed he’ll stick with the Tigers and head to Triple-A as a depth option.
No surprises here, except why it took so long to finally DFA Kreidler…feel bad for Lange being demoted so soon after hs call up earlier this week, but he’ll be back
I also feel like it’s also so he can get regular work.
He sure was great guy excerpt for the hitting in the major’s. Tiger fans hope he catches on with someone, and can finally have a successful MLB career.
I wouldn’t mind if he went unclaimed, if only for his glove in case someone gets hurt. Without Meadows or Vierling, I don’t feel comfortable with Greene in center for injury reasons. Perez works, and Baez is a great option but would rather not see Sweeney at short. But I understand why they did it and hopefully he heads back to AAA.
Sadly, Sweeney is a much better hitter than Kriedler.
But also not a good fielder.
I just haven’t been able to understand why the Tigers stuck with Sweeney as long as they did. Seems like he’s been rewarding that devotion with some hitting results lately.
What would they do instead? He helped them in the postseason. They have a 10 game lead to let him get right. He has superb bat speed and fits in with the team. I don’t see why they wouldn’t let him try to figure it out.
He had a big hit in the playoffs, but I’m pretty sure he batted in the low .100’s.
But whatever. It’s great to have a player that produces. I hope he does.
No I understand you. He’s not a great player. But at this point I just don’t see why not to keep trying for at least the regular season. Most of the roster is guys that they’ve stuck with despite tough first seasons.
I would love for the Dodgers to pick this kid up..
CT3 II? Great, great clubhouse guy and he is so versatile!
Kreidler was the guy to get dfa’d. He’s had plenty of opportunities over the last several years and just didn’t cut it. I’m surprised it took this long honestly.
Kriedler will be a serviceable major leaguer somewhere, sometime. In his defense, I’ve noticed that a lot of young players don’t handle position changes that well and the results show up in their offensive results.
I hope he goes unclaimed and stays with the organization.
@Troy I get that point of view. It’s a tradition in the country to root for the underdog. Maybe a change of scenario kind of guy?
Could be that a change of scenery would help. Obviously, he is a + defender. And, he hits in the minors. But, so far, not in the bigs.