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Quick Hits: Tigers, Pederson, Bieber, McKenzie, Rockies

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The Tigers could potentially have a new general manager in place before the end of the season, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports via X.  It was almost exactly a year ago that Scott Harris was hired as the club’s new president of baseball operations, though the GM role (effectively Harris’ top lieutenant) has remained vacant, despite an ongoing search and the fact that Detroit has three assistant GMs in Sam Menzin, Rob Metzler, and Jay Sartori.  It remains to be seen if the Tigers might promote from within or look to someone from outside the organization to act as Harris’ official second-in-command.

There hasn’t been much news on the GM search or Harris’ hiring preferences, as he said back in June that the process had taken a back seat to more pressing matters, such as preparation for the amateur draft and presumably the trade deadline in short order afterwards.  It could also be that Harris has someone in particular in mind who is currently under contract with another organization, and had to wait until closer to the end of the 2023 season to engage in negotiations.  Or, since Harris was viewing his first season with the Tigers as an evaluation process on and off the field, he might have a better sense of what he wants in a GM after a year of gauging the club’s pluses and minuses.

More from around the baseball world…

  • After two seasons with the Giants, Joc Pederson is eager for a third, telling the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser that “I really like it here.  It’s a great group of guys.  I love the way they run the organization.”  Pederson’s big 2022 campaign led the Giants to issue him a qualifying offer after the season, and Pederson opted to take the one-year, $19.65MM rather than test the market in search of a longer or more lucrative deal.  Pederson is again eligible for free agency this winter, and will face a more limited market since his 2023 numbers (.245/.355/.421 with 13 homers over 383 plate appearances) have been more good than great, and Pederson brings little batting value against left-handed pitching or defensive value as a corner outfielder.  That said, Pederson also has some of the best hard-contact metrics of any hitter in the league, and since his .373 xwOBA outpaces his .340 wOBA by such a significant margin, there could be multiple teams interested in seeing if he can have better luck in 2024.  San Francisco might be such a team, since the Giants’ love of platoons might be create a natural part-time for Pederson.
  • Guardians starters Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie each started rehab assignments with Double-A Akron this week, with Bieber’s next outing tentatively slated for tomorrow and McKenzie on Tuesday, as Guards manager Terry Francona told reporters (including Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal).  Both pitchers are on the 60-day injured list, as McKenzie has been out since June due to a right elbow sprain and Bieber since July because of right elbow inflammation.  With only two weeks left in the regular season, the timing will be tight for either pitcher to make it back, and Cleveland’s dimming hopes at the AL Central title also make it possible that the team could just shut down Bieber or McKenzie out of caution.  However, the two right-handers are still aiming to return, since as McKenzie put it, returning after the long IL stint would allow him to “go into the offseason with a calm mind.”
  • The Rockies’ seemingly nonstop flood of pitching injuries has continued today, with Kyle Freeland leaving today’s start after three innings due to what the club later announced as a mild right oblique strain.  This came after Colorado already placed right-hander Peter Lambert on the 15-day IL prior to their doubleheader with the Giants, as Lambert is suffering from right biceps tendinitis.  Lambert has a 5.36 ERA over 87 1/3 innings this year, after missing most of the previous three seasons due to injuries.  Freeland has a 5.07 ERA and he leads the Rox with 155 2/3 innings pitched, though he also previously missed a bit of time on the IL with a minor shoulder issue in July.  It is safe to assume that Lambert’s 2023 campaign is over, and Freeland is also probably done for the year unless his oblique strain ends up being very minor.

MLB Trade Rumors Podcast: Free Agent Class Preview: Catcher and First Base, Márquez Extension and the Dodgers’ Rotation

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The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss:

Plus, we answer your questions, including:

  • What can the Tigers do about Spencer Turnbull? (16:45)
  • Will the Athletics change their spending habits after they move to Las Vegas? (22:00)
  • Why is the American League Central always so bad and will that ever change? (25:45)

Check out our past episodes!

  • Waiver Claim Fallout, September Call-Ups and the Biggest Strength of Each Playoff Contender – listen here
  • MLB Trade Rumors Podcast: Shohei Ohtani’s Torn UCL, Free Agent Power Rankings and Stephen Strasburg to Retire – listen here
  • The White Sox Fire Their Front Office, Injured Rays and Prospect Promotion Time – listen here

Tigers Select Sawyer Gipson-Long

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TODAY: The Tigers officially announced the selection of Gipson-Long’s contract.  Right-hander Brendan White was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.

SEPTEMBER 8: The Tigers are planning to select the contract of Sawyer Gipson-Long in time for him to start Sunday’s game against the White Sox, manager A.J. Hinch announced to reporters, including Jason Beck of MLB.com. It will be his major league debut. Detroit has an empty spot on the 40-man, although the team will need to make room for the 25-year-old on the active roster.

This will be the second promotion of the season for Gipson-Long, who earned the call to Triple-A in late July. He has made six starts since then, pitching to a 4.35 ERA with an impressive 33.1% strikeout rate. However, he has struggled in two appearances out of the bullpen in September, giving up six runs on seven hits. The Tigers will count on him to get back on track in the majors.

Gipson-Long joined the Tigers organization at last year’s trade deadline, coming over in exchange for Michael Fulmer. As Beck pointed out on Twitter, he was the final trade acquisition of Al Avila’s tenure in Detroit. The young righty currently ranks as the no. 19 prospect in the Tigers system, per MLB Pipeline. Earlier this season, Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs called attention to his above-average groundball rate and praised his ability to throw strikes. His groundball rate is down since his promotion to Triple-A, but his strikeout rate has never been higher.

The Tigers expect Gipson-Long to pitch out of the rotation for the rest of the season. He’ll be pitching in place of Matt Manning, who fractured his foot on Wednesday, ending his 2023 campaign. Detroit will have a couple of spots up for grabs in the rotation next season (presuming Eduardo Rodriguez exercises his opt-out clause), so these final three weeks will serve as an audition of sorts of Gipson-Long. A good showing could increase his chances of making the Opening Day roster in 2024.

Austin Meadows Will Not Return This Season

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Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows won’t return from the injured list this season, as manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jason Beck) this afternoon. Meadows initially was placed on the injured list back in April due to anxiety, and has been away from the team since June.

It’s been a long road for Meadows since the Pirates selected him with the ninth overall in the 2013 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2018 with Pittsburgh but was traded to the Rays as part of the Chris Archer deal after just 165 plate appearances in the majors with the club that drafted him. Once in Tampa, he quickly rose to prominence as an All Star in 2019, even garnering down-ballot MVP votes thanks to a sensational .291/.364/.558 slash line across 138 games that season.

Meadows struggled badly during the shortened 2020 season, slashing just .205/.296/.371 while being limited to 36 games by an oblique strain. He bounced back somewhat in 2021, posting a 112 wRC+ as the Rays’ everyday left fielder. That said, he was rated brutally by defensive metrics that season, and combined with the reduced offense relative to his peak in 2019 he was worth just 1.6 fWAR that season. With Meadows due to be eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2022, the Rays shipped him to Detroit in exchange for struggling infielder Isaac Parades before the season began.

While Parades has taken off with the Rays, Meadows has made it into just 42 games with Detroit since the trade. He was limited to just 36 games of league average offense (100 wRC+) with the Tigers last year due to vertigo. Meadows then managed just six games this year before heading to the injured list. Overall, the 28-year-old outfielder has slashed just .248/.333/.322 in 168 trips to the plate since first suiting up for the Tigers. With Meadows likely due for a raise on his $4.3MM salary in his final trip through arbitration this offseason and the Tigers flush with young outfield talent like Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Meadows’ younger brother Parker Meadows, it’s fair to wonder if Detroit will consider non-tendering the elder Meadows brother this offseason, allowing him to hit free agency rather than retaining him for the 2024 campaign.

That being said, Hinch’s comments indicated nothing but support for Meadows as he works through his struggles. As relayed by MLB.com, Hinch said that “We have to continue to be supportive of him and others that are going through experiences that none of us really know unless you’ve done it… And so, rather than judge him, we need to support him, and we’ve continued to do that as an organization. We will continue to do it.”

Matt Manning Out For Season With Fractured Foot

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Tigers starter Matt Manning fractured his right foot during tonight’s loss to the Yankees, tweets Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. A Giancarlo Stanton line drive that left the bat at a blistering 119.5 MPH hit Manning’s foot in the first inning. While he fielded the ball and recorded the out, Manning was replaced at the start of the second frame.

It’s astoundingly poor luck for Manning, who also broke a bone in the same foot when he was struck by a comebacker in April. McCosky notes that this fracture occurred in a different area, though that’ll be of little consolation with his third MLB season being cut short.

Manning has battled injuries in each of the last two seasons. He lost time with shoulder and forearm injuries a year ago. The foot issues are more clearly fluke occurrences, though they’ll cost him reps just the same. Manning made 14 starts this year, logging 77 innings of 3.62 ERA ball.

The former ninth overall pick hasn’t missed many bats at the big league level. He struck out under 16% of batters faced this season and has fanned only 16.1% of opponents for his career. Manning has shown above-average control and posted consecutive sub-4.00 ERA seasons, though, so he should have a rotation spot secure for 2024.

AL Central Notes: Faedo, Robert, Varland, Bieber

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The Tigers restructured their rotation recently, with the club’s current starting five being left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez, Tarik Skubal and Joey Wentz alongside right-handers Matt Manning and Reese Olson. That leaves right-hander Alex Faedo as the odd man out, and as manager AJ Hinch confirmed to reporters (including Evan Woodbery of MLive) recently that Faedo would be moving to the bullpen. Faedo received his first relief assignment last night, striking out one on 13 pitches in a single inning of work.

While Faedo was used as a single-inning reliever last night, Hinch indicated that his longer-term role for the Tigers going forward will be as a multi-inning reliever. Woodbery relays that “scheduled” relief appearances of two or three innings are one possibility for Faedo, as well as piggyback starts alongside Wentz. That duo would be a somewhat surprising combination, considering Faedo’s reverse splits this year; left-handed batters have slashed just .143/.209/.333 in 115 plate appearances against him, while righties have hit a far more impressive .266/.322/.505 in 118 trips to the plate.

Overall this season, Faedo has posted a 4.89 ERA and 5.03 FIP in 57 innings of work in the majors. While he showed promise in his final five starts with the big league club, posting a 2.73 ERA over that timeframe, his control left plenty to be desired over those appearances, with a 12% walk rate against a strikeout rate of just 17.5%. Despite those struggles, Hinch suggested that it was possible Faedo could return to the rotation for a start or two at some point before the end of the season.

More from the AL Central…

  • White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. was scratched from yesterday’s lineup against Detroit due to cramping in his right quad. That same issue led Chicago to hold Robert out of the lineup today as well, with MLB.com indicating that Robert could return to game action as soon as tomorrow. That being said, the club plans to exercise caution regarding the health of their superstar outfielder. In a dismal season on the south side of Chicago, Robert has been a major bright spot, slashing .272/.324/.560 with 35 home runs and 17 stolen bases alongside elite defense in center field. Oscar Colas has taken over for Robert in center field while he’s been out of the lineup.
  • The Twins are expected to recall right-hander Louie Varland tomorrow, according to the Star Tribune’s Phil Miller. Miller adds that Varland is expecting to join Minnesota as a member of the bullpen, a role which is fairly unfamiliar for the 25-year-old hurler. Out of 78 professional games Varland has played since being drafted in 2019, he has started all but six of them, including all 15 of his appearances in the majors, where he sports a career 4.83 ERA and 5.12 FIP after allowing 17 runs in 15 innings across his three most recent big league starts back in June. Varland is expected to take the roster spot of right-hander Cole Sands, who Miller indicates was optioned after tonight’s game against the Rangers.
  • Guardians ace Shane Bieber is making progress in his rehab from right elbow inflammation, as MLB.com relays that the right-hander has advanced to throwing all of his pitches during bullpen sessions. As Terry Francona told reporters, if Bieber’s next bullpen goes well, he’ll progress to facing live hitters. The next logical progression after that would be a rehab assignment as Bieber builds back up to a starter’s workload. Bieber will first be eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list on September 10, but it seems all but assured that Bieber will need longer than the minimum 60 days before returning at this point. That said, the 28-year-old seems to be on pace to return before the end of the season barring any setbacks. Prior to his injury, 2023 was shaping up to be a down season for Bieber, who posted a 3.77 ERA and 4.11 FIP across 19 starts.

Astros Claim Bennett Sousa Off Waivers

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The Astros have claimed left-hander Bennett Sousa off of Detroit’s waiver wire, according to the Tigers.  The Astros announced that infielder Rylan Bannon was designated for assignment to create roster space on Houston’s 40-man.  Right-hander Blair Calvo was also outrighted to the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate after clearing waivers.

Sousa has been optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land, where he’ll provide some depth should the Astros need some left-handed help in their bullpen.  Framber Valdez is the only left-hander on Houston’s MLB roster, and Sousa joins fellow Sugar Land Space Cowboys Parker Mushinski and Matt Gage as the only other left-handed options on the 40-man.

The 28-year-old Sousa is changing teams for the second time in a week, as Detroit only claimed him off waivers from the Brewers on August 29.  Sousa’s brief Tigers tenure didn’t result in any Major League or minor league action with the organization, as the Tigers designated him for assignment just on September 1.

A tenth-round pick for the White Sox in the 2018 draft, Sousa made his MLB debut with Chicago in 2022 before joining the Reds on a waiver claim back in February.  The Brewers then acquired Sousa in April, leading to two appearances for Sousa in a Milwaukee uniform.  Altogether, Sousa has appeared in 27 MLB games and thrown 23 innings during his career, posting an even 9.00 ERA.  Over 193 1/3 innings in the minors, Sousa has a 2.98 ERA to go along with some good strikeout rates and grounder rates, though control has increasingly become an issue as Sousa has worked his way up the minor league ladder.

Bannon made his Major League debut last season, and has already suited up for three different teams (Orioles, Braves, Astros) over his seven career games in the Show.  Perhaps best known as one of the five players acquired by the O’s from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade, Bannon was involved in a flurry of waiver claims over the last five months of 2022, going from the Orioles to the Dodgers to the Braves to the Cubs and finally to the Astros in December.

His 21 career PA in the majors have only yielded two hits, but Bannon has posted some decent numbers in the minors, including a .228/.339/.420 slash line over 1191 PA at the Triple-A level.  Between his bat and his ability to play second base, third base, and shortstop, it wouldn’t be a shock if Bannon is claimed again on waivers from a team looking for some infield depth.

Tigers Notes: Turnbull, Greene, Baez

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Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull was scratched from a start with Triple-A Toledo yesterday, as noted by Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, due to a cracked toenail. It’s another setback in what has been a brutal season for Turnbull as he returns to the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery early in the 2021 campaign.

McCosky adds that the relationship between Turnbull and the organization has deteriorated significantly throughout the 2023 season. Turnbull posted a brutal 7.26 ERA and 5.55 FIP in 31 innings of work across seven starts earlier in the season before the Tigers attempted to option him to Triple-A. Upon being optioned, Turnbull disclosed some neck discomfort to the Tigers and visits with doctors led to the club placing Turnbull on the injured list in early May. Turnbull posted a 7.71 ERA in four rehab starts with Toledo before being activated from the IL toward the end of August and was immediately optioned to Triple-A. Yesterday would have marked Turnbull’s first appearance since being activated and optioned.

There are plenty of contractual nuances to the situation. Turnbull is currently just six days short of reaching five years of MLB service time, at which point the club would no longer be able to option him to Triple-A without his consent. If he remains in the minors through the end of the 2023 season, his free agency would then be delayed until after the 2025 campaign. Of course, it’s possible that between Turnbull’s difficult 2023 campaign and the decaying relationship between club and player, the Tigers could opt not to tender him a contract for the 2024 campaign.

McCosky indicates that Turnbull is “most likely” seeking independent medical counsel, though he also suggests that the Tigers may not accept that counsel. If tensions continue to rise, the Tigers could place Turnbull on the restricted list. Turnbull, who would not accrue MLB service time or be paid during a stint on the restricted list, could then file a grievance against the Tigers in response.

More from Detroit…

  • The Tigers placed outfielder Riley Greene on the 10-day IL this afternoon with elbow inflammation. As noted by Jason Beck of MLB.com, Greene is dealing with swelling and soreness in his elbow following a diving catch during last night’s game against the White Sox. Greene will undergo an MRI in 7-10 days to determine the severity of the issue, though with the season’s final month upon us and the Tigers all but guaranteed to miss the postseason, it’s fair to wonder if the injury brings an end to Greene’s 2023 campaign. Greene’s played well in his sophomore season as a major leaguer, combining strong outfield defense with a .288/.349/.447 slash line (119 wRC+) in 416 trips to the plate this year.
  • McCosky also relayed recent comments from manager AJ Hinch regarding shortstop Javier Baez’s playing time going forward. Hinch admitted to reporters that playing time would be “at a premium” going forward with the expanded rosters, and that as a result Baez will “play a little more sporadically than we’re used to” going forward. Baez landed with Detroit prior to the 2022 season on a six-year, $140MM contract that has the look of an albatross nearly two years in. In 262 games since joining the Tigers, Baez has slashed just .229/.271/.360 with a wRC+ of 74. While he’s largely posted strong defensive marks during his time in Detroit, Baez’s days as an offensive contributor and above-average regular with Chicago (113 wRC+ from 2018 to 2021) seem to be behind him, and a reduction in playing time could make sense for the 30-year-old veteran as the Tigers continue to look toward the future.

Tigers Designate Bennett Sousa For Assignment

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The Tigers announced they’ve designated reliever Bennett Sousa for assignment. That’s the 40-man move for Miguel Díaz, whose contract was selected last night.

Detroit just nabbed Sousa off waivers from Milwaukee on Tuesday. It’s possible his stay in the organization won’t result in an appearance, as the Tigers will now have to put him back on waivers. Having already gone from the White Sox to the Reds to the Brewers to Detroit via minor transactions this year, he could well be claimed again.

Sousa has pitched twice this season for Milwaukee and made 25 appearances for the ChiSox a season ago. The southpaw has allowed 24 runs in 23 big league innings, striking out 14 while walking 12. He owns a 2.98 ERA in parts of five minor league campaigns, though, striking out nearly 31% of opposing hitters in the process. Sousa still has a couple options remaining, meaning another team that claims him could keep him in Triple-A if they’re willing to carry him on the 40-man roster.

Tigers To Select Miguel Diaz, Recall Andre Lipcius For MLB Debut

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The Tigers announced a pair of forthcoming promotions with active rosters expanding tomorrow. Detroit will select right-hander Miguel Díaz onto the 40-man roster and recall infielder Andre Lipcius from Triple-A Toledo. The 40-man roster remains at capacity after José Cisnero went unclaimed on waivers. As a result, they’ll need to make a corresponding move when selecting Díaz’s contract.

Díaz is up for the first time this season and his sixth MLB campaign overall. The 28-year-old reliever pitched in three contests for Detroit last season. He was non-tendered at year’s end but returned on a minor league pact. Díaz has pitched 57 innings with Toledo on the year, working to a 5.05 ERA. That’s largely because of an abnormally low 59.6% strand rate, as his underlying marks are better than the run prevention would suggest.

In addition to picking up 14 saves for the Mud Hens, Díaz is striking hitters out at a quality 28.6% clip. He has kept the ball on the ground on nearly half the batted balls against him. He’s issuing a few more walks than ideal, but the combination of whiffs and grounders will get him a middle innings spot in A.J. Hinch’s bullpen.

Now that he’s back on the MLB roster, Díaz will be eligible for arbitration next offseason. The Tigers could keep him around beyond this year if they’d like, though it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s again non-tendered after logging a few innings down the stretch.

It’s the first career promotion for Lipcius, who was initially added to the 40-man roster last winter. The right-handed hitter was a third-round pick out of Tennessee back in 2019. He has never been an elite prospect but has a solid minor league track record. Lipcius placed among the organizational top 30 prospects at Baseball America in each of the past two offseasons, though he wasn’t on the outlet’s midseason update of the farm system.

Lipcius has bounced around the diamond this year. He’s suited up at each of first, second and third base and in left field. He’s not regarded as a particularly good defender at any spot but has the ability to move around the diamond to keep his bat in the lineup. The 25-year-old is hitting .272/.363/.412 with 10 homers through 416 Triple-A plate appearances. While that’s roughly average overall production given the very hitter-friendly nature of the top minor league level, Lipcius has shown strong strike zone awareness. He’s walking at a 12.5% clip while striking out just 17.5% of the time.

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