The Tigers designated six relief pitchers for assignment: Dugan Darnell, Jack Little, Sean Guenther, Jason Foley, Tanner Rainey and Tyler Mattison. They added five prospects to the roster to keep them out of the Rule 5 draft: Hao-Yu Lee, Thayron Liranzo, Trei Cruz, Eduardo Valencia and Jake Miller. The sixth roster spot is filled by Gleyber Torres, who officially accepted the qualifying offer.
Cruz gets a 40-man spot for the first time going into his age-27 season. The Tigers had left the former third-round pick unprotected in the past two offseasons. The switch-hitting infielder, the son of former big league outfielder José Cruz, earned his way onto the roster with a breakout year in the upper minors. Cruz hit .279/.411/.456 while leading all minor league hitters with 102 walks between the top two levels. The Rice product can play both left side infield positions and has the athleticism to play some center field.
Valencia is a 25-year-old catcher/first baseman who posted a monster .311/.382/.559 slash line between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. He blasted 24 home runs while keeping his strikeout rate around 20%. The Venezuela native has never been viewed as much of a prospect, but the offensive performance in the high minors was too much to ignore.
Miller, a 24-year-old lefty, ranked 16th in the Detroit system at MLB Pipeline. An eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Valparaiso, he has shown an intriguing three-pitch mix with enough command and deception to project as a starter. Miller was limited to six starts between High-A and Double-A this year by a back injury, but Detroit likes him enough to keep him as a developmental play. He should begin next season in Erie.
More to come.
Foley looked really good for a couple of years. Nice buy low option for somebody
100% agree with this. Could be a sneaky closing option for a small market.
He’ll probably get a minor league deal somewhere (Detroit?) until he’s done with his rehab from shoulder surgery.
RJ Petit should have been protected also. Beau Brieske should go!
Agree on Petit but not Brieske.
Foley and Guenther are coming off major surgery. I’m guessing their recoveries are uncertain and likely taking them out of action until later in the season.
Its Guenthers second isn’t it? Too bad they got hurt. Both pretty solid when they are on. Cheers
Interesting. Looks like Trei Cruz may be a good candidate to replace Andy Ibanez.
I hope nobody takes I. Pacheco.
I figured they’d protect Pacheco over Valencia.
I thought they’d protect both. Valencia had some sick numbers: 24 HR, 95 RBI, 43-BB, 86-K, slash of .311/.382/.559/.941.
Pacheco hasn’t played above high A so they are probably hoping he won’t get picked or is too raw to stick on a roster. I’m hoping he goes unclaimed and can be up in 27 for us! 🤞
Foley is a bit of a surprise.
Was hoping they would hang on to Foley. I’m sure someone will pick him up in a hurry