Tigers Place Victor Reyes On Injured List
The Tigers announced today that they have placed outfielder Victor Reyes on the injured list with a left quad strain. Fellow outfielder Derek Hill has been recalled to take his place on the roster.
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic relays word from Reyes, who says he’s been battling the injury all season. Despite that, he was off to a fairly strong start to the year. Reyes has a strikeout rate of 16% so far this year, well below his career mark of 22.1%. Similarly, his walk rate is at 8% on the young campaign, more than double his 3.9% career rate. His 112 wRC+ is also quite healthy, compared to the 82 he’s put up in his career so far. Of course, this is a tiny sample of just ten games and it would be unwise to draw sweeping conclusions from it, though there are positive signs in his Statcast profile as well, with his .394 xBA easily outpacing his numbers from previous years. It’s surely discouraging for the 27-year-old to have to sit out the next little while after a promising start to the year. Evan Woodbery of MLive relays word from manager A.J. Hinch, who apparently had a challenging time giving Reyes the news. Based on the fact that Reyes wanted to keep playing, it shouldn’t be a lengthy absence.
In more positive news for the Tigers, a couple of their offseason acquisitions could be returning from injuries shortly. Hinch told reporters that shortstop Javier Baez and reliever Andrew Chafin should be back in the coming days. (Twitter links from Woodbery) Baez played in five games for the Tigers, hitting .316/.350/.526, before being placed on the IL with thumb soreness. Chafin was signed by the Tigers to a two-year, $13MM deal but has yet to appear for the team due to a groin strain. Whenever they return, they will bolster the lineup and the bullpen, respectively. In the absence of Baez, the Tigers have been relying on two Castros, Willi and Harold, to fill the shortstop position. Gregory Soto is the only lefty in the club’s bullpen right now, but he has been deployed in the closer role, leaving the club a bit short-handed in the southpaw department.
Tigers Notes: Mize, Manning, Pineda
The Tigers were dealt a couple scares in the rotation last week, with righties Casey Mize and Matt Manning both landing on the injured list due to arm issues. Mize suffered an MCL sprain in his throwing elbow, an ominous-sounding injury that seemed as if it could result in a long absence. There’s still not much clarity on his timetable for return, but the most recent news on the 24-year-old has been promising.
In an appearance on MLB Network Radio yesterday, manager A.J. Hinch said initial results indicated they’d “avoided any sort of catastrophic occurrence” (relayed by Jason Beck of MLB.com). Mize himself addressed the matter this afternoon, saying he “(feels) good” because he’s “not having surgery and … going to pitch again soon” (via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press).
That Mize appears to have avoided a serious injury is obviously fantastic news for the club. The former first overall pick is an integral part of the organization’s present and future. That’s also true of Manning, himself a former top ten draftee and highly-regarded prospect. The 6’6″ hurler left his start over the weekend with shoulder discomfort. Detroit placed him on the injured list due to inflammation this afternoon, but Hinch didn’t sound particularly concerned. The manager said Manning is hoping to resume throwing as soon as this weekend (Beck link), suggesting his stay on the IL could be brief.
Even if Manning returns in short order, the Tigers will be down a couple starters through an ongoing stretch of six consecutive games without an off-day. In response, Detroit announced tonight they’re recalling veteran Michael Pineda to make his season debut tomorrow afternoon against the Yankees. Signed to a $5.5MM guarantee in Spring Training, Pineda consented to be optioned to open the year after being delayed in reporting to camp by visa issues.
The hope had been for the big righty to start three games with Triple-A Toledo before being called up, but he’ll be pressed into action after two minor league appearances by the injuries to Mize and Manning. Now that he’s in the majors again, Pineda figures to take the ball every fifth day as a regular member of the rotation. Once Mize and Manning return, Tyler Alexander would likely be bumped into a long relief role — assuming the club avoids intervening injuries.
Tigers Place Matt Manning On Injured List, Recall Angel De Jesus
The Tigers announced this afternoon that right-hander Matt Manning has been placed on the injured list, retroactive to April 17th, with right shoulder inflammation. Fellow right-hander Angel De Jesus was recalled in a corresponding move.
Manning had been pulled from his most recent start with discomfort in this throwing shoulder. A few days later, manager AJ Hinch provided an encouraging update, saying that the news from further testing was “as positive as it could be” and that there was no structural damage. Despite that good news, the club is going to let Manning sit for a few days and rest his arm.
The club had an off-day on the 18th and has another coming up on the 25th, meaning that it’s possible Manning will only miss one start. After two starts this year, he has a 2.25 ERA in eight innings. He only has four strikeouts in that time but hasn’t allowed a single walk yet. The 24-year-old is looking to build off of a rookie campaign last year where he threw 85 1/3 innings of 5.80 ERA ball.
As for De Jesus, he was selected to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, which was later canceled after the lockout. As soon as he gets into a game, he will be making his MLB debut. The 25-year-old has already thrown four innings in Triple-A this year, allowing three earned runs, with five strikeouts against no walks.
Tigers Outright Bryan Garcia
Tigers right-hander Bryan Garcia went unclaimed on waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo, per a team announcement. He’ll remain with the organization but will no longer occupy a place on the 40-man roster.
Garcia will be sticking with the only organization he’s ever known, as the 27-year-old was drafted by Detroit back in 2016. He showed enough potential as he climbed up the minor league ranks to be deemed one of the club’s best prospects. Baseball America ranked Garcia between #16 and #22 in Detroit’s system for four straight years, from 2017 to 2020.
After getting a cup of coffee in 2019, he seemed to be delivering on his promise in 2020. During that shortened season, he threw 21 2/3 innings out of the Tigers’ bullpen with a 1.66 ERA. That was a largely unsustainable ERA, however, as evidenced by his 12.9% strikeout rate and 10.8% walk rate. In 2021, the wheel of fortune spun him around the other way, as his strikeout rate ticked up to 16.7%, but his walk rate climbed to 13% and his ERA jumped to 7.55.
Garcia will now try to work his way back into the team’s plans with a good showing in Triple-A. He’s off to a good start, having thrown 3 2/3 scoreless innings so far this year, but with a troublesome 20% walk rate in that small sample. If he can get his roster spot back, he still has two option years and a service time count of 1.148, meaning he’d still need over a year of time in the big leagues to earn a raise through arbitration.
Hinch: No Structural Damage In Matt Manning’s Shoulder
April 19: Manager AJ Hinch said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM this morning that Manning’s initial diagnosis is “as positive as it could be” (Twitter link via Jason Beck of MLB.com). Imaging revealed that Manning is dealing with inflammation and some tendinitis, but the shoulder appears to be structurally sound. The Tigers have not determined whether Manning will make his next start but surely breathed a sigh relief nevertheless upon learning that there’s no major damage.
April 16: The Tigers have dealt with more than their share of injuries in this young season, and they may have suffered another today. Matt Manning was pulled early from his start with right shoulder discomfort, the team announced. This comes just a day after fellow young starter Casey Mize was placed on the injured list with a sprained MCL.
Beyond their young starters, the Tigers already began the season without Riley Greene, one of the top prospects in the game. Only recently, offseason acquisition Javier Baez was also placed on the injured list.
Manning and Mize together represent one of the primary reasons the Tigers are viewed by many as a team to watch this season. Losing both this early in the season would be a gut punch. Not to mention, they are already without Spencer Turnbull, whose career was on the upswing before Tommy John surgery knocked him out of commission.
As for Manning himself, the 24-year-old former ninth overall pick made 18 starts last season, putting down a a 5.80 ERA/4.62 FIP over 85 1/3 innings. Today was just his second start of the young season, having tossed six innings of one-run baseball in his season debut against the Red Sox.
For today at least, Drew Hutchison stepped in for Manning, tossing three scoreless innings of one-hit relief. Hutchison could be a candidate to stay in the rotation, should Manning require a stint on the injured list. Michael Pineda is already expected to join the rotation in Mize’s place. The 31-year-old Hutchison is in his second season with the Tigers. He notched a 2.11 ERA over 21 1/3 innings last season in what was his first big league action since 2018.
Tigers Sign Derek Law To Minor League Deal
The Tigers have signed reliever Derek Law to a minor league contract, as noted by Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America. Law has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo and already made his first appearance with the Mud Hens over the weekend.
Law has appeared in parts of five big league seasons. The 31-year-old broke into the majors with the Giants in 2016, tossing 55 innings of 2.13 ERA ball as a rookie. Law’s strikeout rate that year was right around the league average, but he allowed only three home runs and walked just nine hitters (4.2% of batters faced) en route to that success. In the following seasons, though, the righty hasn’t managed to replicate that excellent strike-throwing.
Over 37 1/3 frames in 2017, Law pitched to a 5.06 ERA while walking a league average 8.3% of opponents. His walk rate has jumped north of 11% in each of his past three seasons. He made seven appearances with the Giants in 2018, then tossed 60 2/3 innings of 4.90 ERA ball with the Blue Jays the following year. Law spent 2020 at the Rangers’ alternate training site but didn’t make it back to the majors, though he returned to pitch in nine games as a Twin last season.
Overall, Law owns a 4.22 ERA in 181 1/3 MLB innings. He has a 22.3% strikeout rate and 11% swinging strike rate that are in the realm of league average, while his 9.9% walk percentage is a bit elevated. He’s coming off a nice showing with the Twins’ top affiliate in St. Paul — a 2.54 ERA in 28 1/3 innings over 18 appearances — and will add some bullpen depth to the upper levels of the Detroit system.
Tigers Place Javier Baez On 10-Day Injured List, Recall Willi Castro
Apr. 17: Castro is indeed the replacement, as the Tigers announced today that he has been recalled.
Apr. 16: The Tigers have placed shortstop Javier Baez on the 10-day injured list due to right thumb soreness. The placement is retroactive to April 13. The Tigers will play a man short in today’s game with the Royals, and add a new player to the active roster before tomorrow’s contest. Willi Castro looks like he’ll be the replacement, as the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens announced that Castro was scratched from today’s lineup.
Baez has missed four games with this nagging thumb problem, and twice between scratched from the starting lineup. This would seemingly indicate that the injury isn’t too severe, and while x-rays were negative, the issue ultimately proved bothersome enough for the team to just put Baez on the IL. Between the retroactive placement and Monday’s off-day on Detroit’s schedule, Baez is eligible to return during the Tigers’ series with the Rockies next weekend.
After signing a six-year, $140MM deal during the offseason, Baez has gotten off to a good start in Motown, hitting .316/.350/.526 in his first 20 plate appearances as a Tiger. Harold Castro has been filling in at shortstop in Baez’s absence, and will likely continue to get the bulk of the work, though the switch-hitting Willi Castro will also get some action after his probable call-up.
Tigers Place Casey Mize On Injured List
TODAY: Mize has a sprained MCL, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Chris McCosky of The Detroit News and Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press). Mize will undergo more tests on Monday but did say that his arm was already feeling better today. Pineda has been scratched from tomorrow’s Triple-A start and is expected to pitch for the Tigers during their upcoming series (Apri 19-21) against the Yankees.
APRIL 15: The Tigers announced they’ve placed starter Casey Mize on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain. Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic relays the Tigers consider the IL placement “precautionary” in nature. In a corresponding move, outfielder Daz Cameron has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
Mize worked five innings of two-run ball yesterday against the Royals. He felt some elbow soreness upon waking up this morning and will go for further testing, tweets Jason Beck of MLB.com. That the team is stressing today’s IL placement to be precautionary is a bit of a relief, but it’s worrisome any time a young pitcher of Mize’s talent goes on the shelf with any sort of arm issue.
The first overall pick in the 2018 draft, Mize entered the professional ranks with sky-high expectations. He moved quickly through the minors, performing well consistently while maintaining his status as a top prospect. The Alabama native reached the big leagues late in 2020 and spent last season in the Detroit rotation. Over 30 starts, Mize tossed 150 1/3 innings of 3.71 ERA ball. His 19.3% strikeout percentage and 9.4% swinging strike rate were subpar, but he showed excellent control and induced ground-balls at a solid 48.1% clip.
Mize stayed healthy for the entirety of last season, but he’s had some injury concerns in the past. He missed time with forearm troubles during his sophomore year at Auburn — essentially the only flag raised on pre-draft scouting reports — and he spent a month on the minor league IL with shoulder soreness in 2019. Between that history and Mize’s obvious importance to the organization long-term, the Tigers are sure to proceed with caution.
With Mize out of the rotation for at least the next week and a half, the Tigers are down to Eduardo Rodríguez, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning and Tyler Alexander as the top four. Detroit signed veteran righty Michael Pineda to a one-year deal to serve as the #5 starter, but he was delayed by visa issues and consented to be optioned to Toledo to open the year. Pineda is lined up to start for the Mud Hens this weekend but could be recalled by the middle or end of next week.
Right-hander Wily Peralta started 18 games for the Tigers last season and is in the organization on a minor league deal. He’s been building up arm strength after visa delays held him back too, but manager A.J. Hinch told reporters he’ll be brought up to the majors “shortly” (link via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press). Detroit plans on deploying him out of the bullpen this season, but his background as a starter should make him a multi-inning option. Peralta is not yet on the 40-man roster, so the Tigers will need to make a move in that regard to formally select his contract.
Tigers Select Wily Peralta, Designate Bryan Garcia
The Tigers have selected the contract of right-hander Wily Peralta. To create 40-man roster space, the team announced that righty Bryan Garcia has been designated for assignment.
As per the teams of his minor league deal, Peralta will lock in $2.5MM in guaranteed salary for reaching the active roster, and he can also earn another $500K in incentive bonuses. Despite a 3.07 ERA over 93 2/3 innings with Detroit last season, Peralta had to settle for another minor league contract, likely due to both the lockout-shortened offseason and some underwhelming secondary numbers. Peralta was below average in most major Statcast categories, including a 14.4% strikeout rate that ranked in only the third percentile of all pitchers. Peralta also had a 50.7% grounder rate, and might benefit from some more batted-ball luck with Javier Baez now behind him in the Tigers infield.
Peralta started 18 of 19 games last season and could be in line for a return to the rotation now that Casey Mize has been placed on the 10-day injured list. However, Peralta has only pitched in relief over three minor league outings this season, so the Tigers could opt for an opener/bulk pitcher or piggyback setup while Peralta gets more fully stretched out. Detroit has off-days on each of the next three Mondays, which will help the team mix and match its pitchers and give starter Michael Pineda more time to ramp up in the minors.
Garcia has posted some strong numbers (2.92 ERA, 29.19% strikeout rate) over 142 career relief innings in Detroit’s farm system, though he has had trouble repeating that consistency over three big league seasons. After delivering a 1.66 ERA over 21 2/3 innings in 2020, Garcia struggled to a 7.55 ERA in 39 1/3 frames last year, due to control problems and an inability to keep the ball in the park. Given the potential Garcia has shown in the minors, it seems quite possible that another team might claim Garcia away from the Tigers on DFA waivers.
Tigers Acquire Jamie Westbrook From Brewers
The Tigers announced Wednesday morning that they’ve acquired minor league infielder/outfielder Jamie Westbrook from the Brewers in exchange for cash. Westbrook, who is not on the 40-man roster, will report to Triple-A Toledo.
It’s a straightforward minor league trade for a Tigers club that has lost some outfield depth early in the season with injuries to top prospect Riley Greene (broken foot) and Derek Hill (strained hamstring). Detroit is also facing a potential absence for Robbie Grossman, who exited last night’s game with a groin injury. Grossman tells reporters this morning that an MRI did not reveal a strain (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com), and while that’s certainly good news, it’s still possible that the ensuing tightness/discomfort will lead to a brief IL stint. Daz Cameron was added to the taxi squad, Woodbery notes, and could be called up if Grossman does require a 10-day absence to heal up.
Westbrook, 26, isn’t strictly an outfielder and has actually spent more time at second base than in the outfield, but he’s still no stranger to playing on the grass. He missed time last season to suit up for Team USA in the Olympics, but Westbrook split the rest of the season between Milwaukee’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, where he slashed a combined .281/.353/.456 with a dozen homers, 16 doubles, a pair of triples and three steals in 365 plate appearances.
It was a solid all-around year for Westbrook, who has consistently been an above-average hitter in the upper minors. Despite a generally solid performance throughout his minor league career, Westbrook has yet to get a call to the Majors either in Arizona or in Milwaukee. Listed at 5’9″, he’s been labeled as an “undersized” player and been questioned by scouts due to his diminutive nature. The fact that he’s been limited to left field and second base on the defensive spectrum hasn’t helped his prospect stock much.
That said, Westbrook is out to another good start in Triple-A — 5-for-10 with a double, a walk and no strikeouts — and he’ll bring a righty bat with a track record of performing in the upper minors to his new organization. In 446 Triple-A plate appearances, Westbrook is a .308/.380/.510 hitter. He’s also slashed .270/.324/.411 in a more pitcher-friendly Double-A setting (1786 plate appearances) and .319/.357/.510 in Class-A Advanced (527 plate appearances).
It’s primarily a depth acquisition for the Tigers, but if Westbrook continues to perform at an above-average offensive level, it’s possible he’ll finally break through to the big league level in his ninth professional season.