The Tigers are calling up left-hander Drew Sommers, reports Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit will need to make corresponding moves to open space for him on the active and 40-man rosters.
Sommers, now 25, was an 11th-round pick of the Rays in 2022. He was flipped to the Tigers back in February with Mason Englert going the other way. Sommers is a pure reliever and hasn’t generated a lot of prospect hype but he has continued to put up good numbers in the minors. Overall, he has thrown 154 minor league innings with a 3.10 earned run average. His 29.8% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate are both good figures and he has also racked up huge amounts of ground balls.
That includes this year. Since coming over to the Tigers in that deal, he has thrown 57 innings, split between Double-A and Triple-A. He has a 2.53 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, 7% walk rate and 63.8% ground ball rate.
He will now get a chance to try to carry those numbers over at the major league level. The Tigers currently have Tyler Holton as the only lefty in the bullpen, so Sommers will double the club’s southpaw contingent back there.
Photo courtesy of Rick Osentoski, Imagn Images
His AAA numbers look great, especially against lefties. A 40 man roster decision is easy, but I’m more concerned about who Sommers would replace on the 26 man roster. Kahnle hasn’t earned his spot, but are they willing to let him go? Rafael Montero has looked good. An unreported injury is my greatest concern.
Welcome to The D, Mr. Sommers! Your opportunity has arrived.
I think calling up Sommers was the plan as soon as they put Hurter in AAA, since he has to be there 15 days. I don’t suspect an injury, although I guess it could be possible. My guess is it’s Heuer’s turn to the go to the minors for a time.
Heuer was already sent down a few days ago. Maybe they’ll DFA Kahnle.
Dang, I can’t even keep up with the bullpen carousel. Idk, Kahnle was too valuable for NYY last postseason. But I just looked at the 40 man and it’s hard to see anyone leaving from that group. I’d be fine with Codi being DFA’d. Don’t know much about Mattison, but would like to see what he’s got. Kreidler will never be of use offensively, but his glove is valuable if an injury comes up down the stretch.
I’ve lost track of who’s who in the bullpen zoo with all of these recent moves. I’m sure the carousel keeps spinning to create pitching chaos for the Tigers next opponent, but it’s also messing me up as a fan!
I could see Lange being the odd man out if he still has options, otherwise it would be Hanifee.
Trying to find a scouting report and can’t. Good ground all rate and doesn’t give up home runs.
As long as we’re winning, let them demote/call up whoever and whenever they want. I like a good steak but I don’t need to know how it got on my plate.
This is going to be a DFA thing, which will be interesting to see who they designate.
More than likely, they shot a steer in the head with a nail gun…..which was merciful, because they had cut his b*lls off before he had any idea what was going on…..it’s a science!
Melton has options and DFA Kreidler. Kreidler seems like a non tender candidate this off season any way.
With Lee, Anderson and Trei Cruz all playing decently in Toledo, but none have the glove, Kreidler seems like the one to be DFA’s to open the spot on the 40 man.
I have no idea who they send down or cut loose from the ML pitching staff. Lange is out of options, I think. I doubt they DFA him. Montero will not be back next year regardless, but he has gotten some outs lately. It might be Kahnle.
For the 40-man, Vierling could be moved to the 60-day, but if not, my guess is Kreidler or Heuer is DFA’d. Either may be able to pass through waivers. Kahnle is the only logical pitcher to be dropped from the 26-man unless someone is injured.
Alex Lange has 2 Options remaining still. He’s the most likely to be demoted considering they just brought Hanifee back up a few days ago.
That did cross my mind. Not that it’s a pleasant situation when anyone gets sent down or DFA’d, but I think it would be a real downer for the team if Lange was immediately sent back down. Especially after how emotional everyone got about his performance the other night. And Hinch et al talking about how important of a piece he is to the bullpen, how hard he worked to get back, what great swing-and-miss stuff he has when he’s healthy, etc etc. But it’s definitely a possibility.
A possibility, but likely a hit to team morale like you said.
If true, I agree.
I’d say they could move Brieske to the 60 Day IL but that would still require them to call him up, then put him on IL, then call up Sommers to replace him.
Brieske hasn’t pitched since July when he was shut down and put on MILB 7 Day IL after giving up 5 runs in a third of an inning. He’s still counting against 40 man though
Doubtful they would DFA a position player from AAA as they only have 3 non-MLB position players on the 40 man, and cant imagine they want to go lower than that with playoffs & roster/playoff freezes coming
Kahne is the only one who makes any sense. Has not been effective since early summer. Didn’t cost that much and you have had some value with him. Tried to trade him at the deadline and couldn’t find a dance partner. Since he is on the 40 man and 26 man roster it is the only reasonable choice
Kahnle lost it JustLikeThat. He pulled a constant, heavy load before doing so which is why my take = he has some sort of upper body injury, as they say in hockey.
If so he has to go. There is no time, and no choice.
If not, that reliable first half production is going to be very difficult for the staff to overlook. “How can it be any better” is the constant question with the Hinch / Harris grouping, but with Kahnle it needs to be a question ruled out with finality for them to cut him.
Unless they believe that Terry Forster Jr. rides to the rescue and not as just as an LTOG (lefty 3 out guy).
Another of the myriad Tigers relievers.Let us hope Sommers,like new acquisition Kyle Finnegan,proves his worth out of the bullpen.(Plus,at six-three,THREE HUNDRED,Sommers can work as a bouncer in the off-season !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Hitters were sitting on Kahne’s changeup,but his 94-mph fastball is quick enough to miss bats.Hey,Tommy,how ’bout a few more blazers ?
Kriedler is my guess as DFA or Vierling to 60 day
Sommers didn’t look to good, today…..
We have different concepts of “good”…..