Tigers Claim Brendon Davis From Angels
The Tigers announced they’ve claimed infielder Brendon Davis off waivers from the Angels. Detroit also selected righty Drew Carlton onto the big league club and placed Will Vest on the COVID-19 injured list. The Tigers had a prior vacancy on their 40-man roster, and Vest won’t count against that tally while he’s on the COVID list.
Davis, 24, hasn’t yet played in the majors. Los Angeles selected him onto the 40-man roster over the winter, as he’d have otherwise qualified for minor league free agency. That came on the heels of a breakout 2021 campaign in which the righty-hitting infielder posted a .290/.362/.561 cumulative line across a trio of minor league levels. Davis had arguably his best showing following a late-season bump to Triple-A, and that impressed the Angels enough they were willing to devote him an offseason 40-man roster spot.
Los Angeles assigned Davis back to Triple-A Salt Lake to open this year, and his results have fallen short of last year’s excellent showing. Through 159 plate appearances, he’s hitting .243/.333/.463 with six home runs in a hitter-friendly setting. That’s still decent production, and Davis has a strong combination of walks (11.3%) and strikeouts (19.5%). It’s not at the .333/.409/.641 level at which he debuted there last season, though, and the Angels tried to slip him through waivers to keep him in the organization without a roster spot.
Detroit jumped at the opportunity to add the former fifth-round pick, who was involved in the 2017 deadline deal that sent Yu Darvish from the Rangers to the Dodgers. Davis scuffled during his days in the Rangers’ farm system, but he’s improved dramatically since the Angels grabbed him in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. He’s primarily a third baseman, but he also has experience in the middle infield and the corner outfield. He can be optioned for the next three seasons, so he offers the Tigers a versatile depth pickup.
Carlton returns to the majors after being outrighted off the roster at the end of last season. The 26-year-old made his first four big league appearances last September, allowing two runs with four walks and one strikeout in 3 2/3 innings. He’s off to a nice start with Triple-A Toledo, tossing 15 frames of 3.60 ERA ball with an excellent 30.2% strikeout rate and a strong 6.3% walk percentage. Carlton also has all three options remaining, so the Tigers can shuttle him between Detroit and the minors without again exposing him to waivers if they’re willing to keep him on the 40-man roster.
Avila: Manning Exit Not Due To Injury
12:54pm: Tigers fans can breathe a sigh of relief, it seems. General manager Al Avila tells reporters that Manning was lifted not because of an arm or shoulder injury but because he’d become increasingly light-headed and was not feeling well (Twitter link via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press). It’s not yet clear whether Manning will require an additional rehab appearance due to the fact that today’s was cut short.
11:46am: Tigers righty Matt Manning exited his minor league rehab assignment in the third inning with an apparent injury, tweets Jason Beck of MLB.com. The 24-year-old landed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation back on April 20 and was making his third start of his minor league rehab stint. Manning, who’d already walked three through his first 2 1/3 frames, plunked Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman before a visit from the trainer that ended with his departure from the game.
There’s no formal word from the Tigers just yet, but further injury for Manning will only add to what’s been a snakebitten rotation in Detroit this year. The Tigers currently have Manning, Casey Mize, Tyler Alexander, Michael Pineda and Spencer Turnbull on the injured list. Turnbull was expected to miss the bulk of the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer, but the other four are dealing with 2022 injuries — and they could soon be joined by free-agent signee Eduardo Rodriguez, who left yesterday’s start against the Rays in the first inning due to an injury to his left side. Manager AJ Hinch said yesterday that Rodriguez would likely require a trip to the injured list.
Manning was the ninth overall pick in the 2016 draft and, for years, has been viewed as a potential building block on the Tigers’ pitching staff. He was hit hard through 85 1/3 innings during his MLB debut last year, although the majority of his outings were solid in nature. Manning was blown up for six or more runs in four of his 18 starts en route to a 5.80 ERA, but he finished the year with a more palatable 4.43 ERA in his final five outings. He pitched to a 2.25 ERA with four strikeouts, no walks and a 52% grounder rate in eight innings this season but left his second start after two innings due to shoulder discomfort.
The Detroit rotation is in shambles at the moment, though lefty Tarik Skubal appears to be in the midst of a bona fide breakout. He’s being followed by former first-rounder Alex Faedo and rookie Beau Brieske, and it’s not clear just where the Tigers will turn beyond that trio. Long reliever Rony Garcia impressed in relief of Rodriguez yesterday, and the Tigers also have veteran Wily Peralta in a long relief role at the moment. Peralta was a valuable pickup for them last year, making 18 starts and pitching to a 3.07 ERA — albeit with shakier underlying numbers. Down in Triple-A, veteran Chase Anderson has pitched fairly well on a minor league deal, as have 24-year-old hurlers Joey Wentz and Elvin Rodriguez — both of whom are on the 40-man roster.
Tigers Sign Trayce Thompson
The Tigers announced Thursday that they’ve signed outfielder Trayce Thompson to a minor league contract. He’ll head to their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo. Thompson was designated for assignment by the Padres earlier this month and elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A El Paso.
Thompson, 31, went 1-for-14 with the Padres earlier this year prior to his DFA. He’s seen big league time in parts of six seasons, batting a combined .205/.280/.397 in 640 trips to the plate. The younger brother of NBA star Klay Thompson, Trayce is a former second-round pick (White Sox, ’09) with an obvious blend of power and speed, which was on full display when he hit .295/.363/.533 in 135 plate appearances.
Thompson has ripped 26 home runs and swiped 11 bags in about a season’s worth of MLB plate appearances and has also walked at a solid 9.5% clip. However, since that terrific rookie showing back in 2015, he’s posted a grisly .180/.258/.360 batting line with a bloated 31.1% strikeout rate. He’s capable of playing all three outfield spots and has enticing raw tools, but Thompson has never put things together over a lengthy sample in the big leagues.
The Tigers could use some extra outfield depth at the moment with Austin Meadows, Victor Reyes and top prospect Riley Greene all injured. The Detroit outfield currently consists of Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill, Daz Cameron and multi-position utility options Harold Castro and Willi Castro. Backup catcher Eric Haase also has some limited experience in left field.
That list of injuries makes it sensible both that the Tigers would seek out some additional depth and that Thompson would find the opportunity to his liking. There’s a clearer path to a big league return in Detroit than he might’ve had on a deeper and healthier roster in San Diego.
Eduardo Rodriguez Suffers Side Injury, Likely Headed For IL
3:19PM: Rodriguez left the game due to discomfort in his left side, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLive’s Evan Woodbery). The left-hander is likely to require an injured list placement.
1:57PM: Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just one-third of an inning in today’s start against the Rays, and left the game after a mound visit from the Tigers’ team trainer. Rodriguez was clearly off his game, allowing four singles and a walk before recording his only out of the afternoon.
After issuing another walk, the left-hander then indicated towards the Tigers’ dugout, which prompted the mound visit and Rodriguez’s departure after only 23 pitches. Only two of those pitches hit the 90mph threshold, as E-Rod’s fastball velocity was a few miles below his 92mph average.
There hasn’t yet been an update on Rodriguez’s condition, but pitching injuries have unfortunately become far too common for the Tigers this season. Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Michael Pineda, and Tyler Alexander have all hit the injured list since Opening Day, resulting in Beau Brieske, Alex Faedo, and Joey Wentz all being called up to make their Major League debuts. If Rodriguez might now also be facing an IL visit, swingman Wily Peralta is probably the likeliest candidate to step into regular rotation work.
One of the major additions of a busy offseason for Detroit, Rodriguez signed a five-year, $77MM free agent contract in November, with the Tigers eyeing the southpaw as a veteran cornerstone for its young rotation. After a slow start, Rodriguez looked to be putting things together over his last two outings, with just one run allowed in 13 1/3 innings prior to today’s abbreviated start.
Michael Pineda Won’t Require Surgery
Tigers righty Michael Pineda sustained a fractured right middle finger when he was hit by a comebacker in his weekend start against the Orioles, but manager AJ Hinch said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM today that the injury is not expected to require surgery (Twitter link via Jason Beck of MLB.com). Hinch suggested that Pineda will miss more than a month but not the multiple months that likely would’ve been needed to recuperate from surgery. He’ll be reevaluated in a couple of weeks.
Pineda, 33, signed a one-year, $5.5MM contract with the Tigers this offseason after spending the previous four years with the division-rival Twins. He’s out to a nice start, with a 3.22 ERA through his first 22 1/3 innings on the season. However, he’s also averaged fewer than five innings per outing and has posted a career-worst 13.6% strikeout rate. Pineda’s once-blazing fastball averaged just 90.9 mph with the Twins in 2021 and is sitting at 90.6 mph so far in 2022, though he’s maintained outstanding control, evidenced by his 4.5% walk rate.
The fractured finger for Pineda is the latest in a mountain of pitching injuries for the Tigers so far in a disappointing 2022 season. Detroit already knew that Spencer Turnbull would be shelved for most or all of the season following last summer’s Tommy John surgery, but he’s been joined on the injured list by Casey Mize (sprained MCL in his elbow), Matt Manning (shoulder inflammation), Tyler Alexander (elbow sprain) and now Pineda.
With a rotation’s worth of arms on the shelf, the Tigers are leaning heavily on veteran Eduardo Rodriguez, breakout 25-year-old Tarik Skubal, with little clarity beyond that duo. Former first-rounder Alex Faedo got the nod in last night’s game, while rookie Beau Brieske has held his own through four starts despite an unpalatable 11-to-10 K/BB ratio in 21 frames. Veteran Wily Peralta was an unexpected boon in the rotation last year and could be stretched out from his current multi-inning relief role, and the Tigers also took a look at left-hander Joey Wentz when they called him up for his MLB debut recently.
The final few rotation spots could be in a state of flux while Detroit weathers this stretch of injuries, however. Right-hander Chase Anderson, who has a 4.02 ERA in seven Triple-A starts, gives the organization one possible veteran option to consider as they look to piece things together.
Tigers Place Austin Meadows, Victor Reyes On 10-Day IL
May 16: The Tigers have formally placed Meadows (vertigo) and Reyes (right quad strain) on the 10-day injured list. Righty Alex Faedo and outfielder Daz Cameron have been recalled from Toledo in their place.
May 15: Austin Meadows and Victor Reyes both made early exits from the Tigers’ 5-1 win over the Orioles today, and postgame, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jason Beck) that the two outfielders would be placed on the 10-day injured list.
Meadows missed three games last week due to a sinus infection, and he hadn’t played in Detroit’s previous two games due to what he described as dizziness or vertigo-like symptoms. Attempting to play today, Meadows managed only one inning before having to depart, with Hinch saying that Meadows felt nauseous and lightheaded in addition to continued dizziness. The skipper said that Meadows will meet with a doctor Monday in Florida when the Tigers travel to visit the Rays.
Reyes was only just activated from the IL earlier today after missing three weeks with a left quad strain. Unfortunately for Reyes, he suffered a strain of his right quad while running the bases after a double in his first at-bat. Reyes had to be immediately replaced by a pinch-runner.
The Tigers were going to call up Alex Faedo to start Monday’s game against Tampa Bay, so Faedo will take the roster place of one of the injured outfielders. It would seem like a position player would be the other callup in order to help bolster the bench, and this could provide an opening for the recently-demoted Akil Baddoo to return to the majors. However, Baddoo hasn’t hit much during his week in Triple-A, so the Tigers might want to give him more time to really get on track before calling him back up the Show.
Derek Hill and Willi Castro can fill in for Meadows and Reyes in the outfield, but losing more position players won’t help a Detroit team that has been collectively ice-cold the plate. Meadows is one of the only Tigers with above-average production to date, with a .270/.365/.350 slash line over his first 115 plate appearances.
Michael Pineda Won’t Require Surgery For Fractured Finger
May 15: The Tigers announced that they have placed Pineda on the IL, as expected, with Victor Reyes heading in the other direction as a corresponding move.
May 14: Tigers right-hander Michael Pineda had to leave today’s game in the second inning after being hit in his throwing hand by a Ramon Urias line drive. Following the game, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLB.com’s Jason Beck) that Pineda had suffered a fractured right middle finger. A trip to the injured list is inevitable, and Hinch said that Pineda will visit specialists to determine the next course of action in recovery.
It’s a tough outcome for both Pineda and the Tigers, who are already missing multiple members of their ideal starting rotation. Matt Manning (shoulder discomfort) may be within a week or two of returning to action, but Casey Mize (elbow sprain) didn’t last long in his first rehab start, and his rehab assignment has now been paused. Tyler Alexander also made some spot starts earlier this season, before a left elbow sprain put the southpaw on the shelf.
Pineda missed some time himself at the start of the year, as visa issues delayed his arrival to Spring Training and thus his preseason prep was delayed. Though five starts and 22 1/3 innings, Pineda has a 3.22 ERA, though with only a 13.63% strikeout rate. While that K% is a particular low, Pineda’s story for the last four seasons has been delivering some solid bottom-line numbers (3.77 ERA over 303 innings) despite generally unimpressive peripherals. Pineda signed a one-year, $5.5MM deal that contains up to $2.5MM in bonus money based on innings totals, but he’ll have trouble hitting any of those innings thresholds if he misses substantial time on the IL.
The Tigers signed Pineda to add some veteran experience to their young staff, and just five weeks into the season, that pitching depth has already been sorely tested. Tarik Skubal has been excellent and Eduardo Rodriguez has started to turn things around after a rough start, but Detroit has turned to Beau Brieske, Alex Faedo, and Joey Wentz to all make their first Major League starts.
Faedo was already expected to be recalled from Triple-A to start Monday’s game, and Brieske will likely stick in the rotation after having posted some decent results to date. Wentz could also get another look for a start or two until the Tigers feel Manning is ready to be activated from the injured list.
Injury Notes: Votto, Meadows, Canning, Howard
Decked out in a snazzy Dr. Strange jersey for a “Marvel Night” promotion, Joey Votto played the first game of a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville tonight. Votto was placed on the COVID-related injured list on May 3, and Reds manager David Bell told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon) that “it’s really hard for me to know” exactly how long Votto’s rehab assignment will last. The veteran slugger will play today and tomorrow for the Bats, and Bell seemed to imply that it could be a somewhat lengthy stint, saying “it was encouraging that he’s playing tonight. Not too long ago, he wasn’t feeling well.”
Sheldon believes Votto could be activated from the IL when the Reds visit his hometown of Toronto on May 20-22. Obviously the top priority is simply that Votto is healthy and can get properly prepared for his return, but this absence could also serve as a reset for the 38-year-old’s season. Pretty much everything has gone wrong for the Reds thus far in 2022, including Votto’s ice-cold .122/.278/.135 slash line over his first 90 plate appearances.
More on other injury situations from around baseball…
- Griffin Canning has spent the entire season on the 60-day IL due to a stress reaction in his lower back, and he felt some discomfort during a recent two-inning simulated game. Angels GM Perry Minasian told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register) that it’s a relatively minor setback that won’t require any more testing, but Canning is “going to take a little more time with our medical staff in Anaheim and we’ll take it day by day.” June 6 is Canning’s first eligible day to leave the injured list. The 26-year-old (and former top 100 prospect) has a 4.73 ERA over 209 1/3 career innings with the Angels, a tenure highlighted by a Gold Glove in the 2020 season. With the Angels intending to keep their six-man rotation going for the remainder of the year, the Halos will need Canning healthy to provide extra depth in the coming months.
- Austin Meadows has missed the Tigers‘ last two games due to what the outfielder described as vertigo-like symptoms and a sensation of spinning. “I don’t know if it’s an infection or just inner ear dizziness,” Meadows told The Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold and other reporters. Referring to missing three of four games during a recent series against the Astros, Meadows said “I was pretty sick in Houston. I had a sinus infection, so I don’t know if it’s a residual effect from that, or whatever is it.” On the plus side, Meadows did a normal set of baseball drills prior to today’s game, so he might not be far away from a return. Meadows has hit .270/.365/.350 over 115 PA, good for a 120 wRC+ that is easily the best of any regular in the offensively-challenged Detroit lineup.
- Cubs prospect Ed Howard‘s season is in jeopardy after suffering a hip injury in a High-A game earlier this week. While trying to avoid a tag at first base, Howard fell to the ground in awkward fashion and was in obvious pain on the field. Howard and the organization are still trying to determine the next course of action in dealing with the injury, but speaking to The Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro and other reporters, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer implied Howard’s 2022 campaign was over, saying “It’s a shame that his season is going to be cut short.” The 20-year-old shortstop was the 16th overall pick of the 2020 draft, and is currently ranked 14th by MLB Pipeline and 18th by Baseball America on the pundits’ lists of the top prospects in Chicago’s farm system. Howard’s bat is still a work in progress, but Pipeline cites him as “one of the best defenders in the entire minors.”
Drew Hutchison Elects Free Agency
The Tigers announced that right-handed pitcher Drew Hutchison has cleared outright waivers and elected free agency. The 31-year-old veteran signed with the team in March but was designated for assignment earlier this week to clear a space on the 40-man roster for young starter Joey Wentz.
Through 10 Detroit appearances this year Hutchison has soaked up 15 plus innings and posted a 4.60 ERA, albeit with a bloated 16.7% walk rate. After a two-year run in the Tigers system it seems the organization, owner of a dismal 9-23 record to start the Major League season, prefers to shake up the roster by infusing some younger players over rostering a frequently shuttled veteran type. The former fifteenth-rounder is just a season removed from 21 plus innings of 2.11 ERA ball though, and has put up solid results in the upper minors for most of his career.
Hutchison will now head to a largely picked-clean market of free agents in hopes of latching on with another team. That the righty cleared waivers hints that his next deal will likely be of the minor league variety; given the conservative handling of many pitchers this year, however, the odds are good that Hutchison will draw interest as a depth piece in the near future. In the event of a promotion and late career breakout, a signing team can keep Hutchison under team control via arbitration through the 2023 season.
Tigers Claim Sam Howard From Pirates
The Tigers announced they’ve claimed reliever Sam Howard off waivers from the Pirates and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo. He’d been designated for assignment last week. Detroit had two vacancies on the 40-man roster, so no additional move was necessary.
Howard, 29, has pitched in the big leagues with the Rockies and Bucs in each of the past five seasons. The Georgia Southern product has shown the ability to generate plenty of whiffs, but he’s also battled notable control woes. He’s tallied 91 MLB innings across 103 appearances, pitching to a 5.34 ERA with a solid 27.2% strikeout rate but a 14.1% walk percentage. He had an even more extreme version of that batted ball-averse style last season, when he fanned 30.2% but walked 16.1% of opponents in a personal-high 45 innings.
Those strike-throwing concerns became problematic enough for the Bucs to move on, but the Tigers will roll the dice on Howard’s swing-and-miss capabilities. He generated whiffs on 15.8% of his offerings last season, the 16th-highest rate among relievers with 40+ innings pitched. His four-seam fastball, in particular, was excellent at missing bats.
Howard still has a couple minor league option years remaining, so the Tigers can keep him at Toledo as a depth option for a while if he holds onto a 40-man roster spot. He’ll be the third left-handed reliever on the depth chart behind offseason signee Andrew Chafin and primary closer Gregory Soto.