9:15am: DeJong would earn a prorated $1MM base salary in the majors, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports.
8:38am: The Tigers and veteran infielder Paul DeJong have agreed to a minor league contract, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The C.L. Rocks client recently opted out of a minor league deal with the Yankees.
DeJong, 32, is a veteran of nine big league seasons. The slick-fielding, righty-swinging shortstop can handle any infield position at an average or better level. At the plate, he’s a strikeout-prone, low-OBP hitter with above-average power. DeJong has taken exactly 3500 plate appearances in the majors and slashed .229/.294/.416 with 146 home runs, fanning at a 27.9% clip against a below-average 7.1% walk rate.
Though he only took 83 plate appearances with the Yankees’ top affiliate in Scranton, DeJong popped six home runs in that short time. He also drew walks at a huge 19% clip. However, he hit only .203, leading to an oddball slash line of .203/.361/.516 during his relatively short stint in the Yankees organization.
DeJong has played in each of the past nine big league seasons. Last year’s 208 plate appearances with the Nationals were the fewest he’s logged in a 162-game season, though his playing time was hindered by a frightening injury early in the season, wherein DeJong took an errant fastball to the face. He suffered facial fractures and lacerations, ultimately spending about two months on the shelf. DeJong hit .228/.269/.373 with only six homers last year, but a year prior he ripped 24 long balls in semi-regular work for the White Sox and Royals while slashing .227/.276/.427.
The Tigers aren’t immediately adding DeJong to the big league roster, though it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see him get a look before long. Javier Báez, Zach McKinstry and Trey Sweeney are all on the injured list (the latter on the 60-day IL). Rookie Kevin McGonigle has seized an everyday role while splitting time between third base and shortstop. Gleyber Torres is locked in at second base. Colt Keith is playing third base frequently — particularly against right-handed pitching.
That doesn’t leave much room for regular playing time, but Detroit’s bench currently features journeyman Zack Short and rookie Hao-Yu Lee. Short is hitless through his first three plate appearances, which isn’t a concern for any batter in and of itself, but he’s a lifetime .171/.269/.295 hitter in 597 big league plate appearances (including a prior stint in Detroit). It’s not reasonable to expect him to provide even DeJong’s modest levels of offense at the plate. Lee, meanwhile, has struggled in a part-time role. If the Tigers want to get the 23-year-old regular at-bats to build on last year’s .243/.342/.406 line from Triple-A (14 homers, 22 steals, 106 wRC+), they could option him out and plug DeJong into the bench mix.
Delong is an upgrade over Short so let’s not waste any more time and bring him up now!
100%! Then send Hao-Yu to Toledo when McKinstry is ready. He looks lost at times at the plate and isn’t MLB ready.
Dejong ‘can handle any infield position at an average or better level’. Extra versatility for a utility player. Along with McKinstry who is also a super utility player. Not a bad move at all.
Thank you Tigers. He’s a pretty good player, if he could just stay healthy. A big if?
Not really, as he hasn’t been an above average player since 2019, and his All-Star selection that year was a pity pick under the rule that every team needs a rep. He had a great rookie year with his bat, but then his offense kept getting worse every year until he finally bounced back to a near league average bat in 2024.
That being said, his defense has always been above average, and his bat has at the very least been playable off the bench the last couple of years.
Just go ahead and bring him up and get rid of Short. Us tigers fans are getting 2023 PTSD.
I got that just from hearing they brought him back. A fine teammate by all accounts, but it’s not a good sign if your team is relying on him for anything.
Short must really be bad for Detroit fans to be wanting DeJong. I can’t picture DeJong being an upgrade over anyone.
Then you don’t know Zack Short. Good teammate, can’t hit worth a lick. The problem is that with injuries to Zach McKinstry and Javy Baez, the Tigers don’t have a backup for shortstop (and previously also 3B) Kevin McGonigle. They need someone cheap to do the job until Zach and Javy come back.
Agree- can’t hit fielding subpar with no range.
You are wasting time and $$
I’d guess he swaps out with Short, but you never know. Good signing, and GO TIGERS !
Mark McLemore likes this.
Two teams away from playing for every team in the ALC. Solid, yet streaky vet. Good clubhouse guy. Smart. Good cook.
Someone look up if there’s been a player who has played for every team in a division. I’m too busy
Kelly Johnson played for every AL East team. Brad Hand played for every NL East team. I’m sure there’s many other examples.
(Both very useful Immaculate Grid players)
Yo mama played every schoolbus in Central Appalachia in the 70s
Great, can Paul pitch?
Can Rimgo sing?
He needs to just Sail Away with his dad Neil at this point.
Instead he Renegade no Blue Collar Man
Lot of Tiger news today, Alvarez fire, and Zach returns. GO TIGERS !
Thanks for the info on Alvarez – I hadn’t heard that until your mention. “Violating team policy.” Ooff! I thought Alvarez and MLB managerial chops. Obviously he did something inexcusable.
…”Alvarez had MLB managerial chops…”
The Tigers front office is dreadful.
And the weather outside is frightful. But the fire inside is delightful
There’s a really good reason DeJong was a free agent yesterday…
I don’t understand why Tigers aren’t giving the opportunity to get MLB experience to their top prospects like Jung, Anderson and especially Clark. These guys all need playing time in the bigs.
Congrats you a millionaire