The Detroit Tigers are keeping busy in the days leading up to Spring Training, adding two new names to the roster… well, their minor league roster. They signed left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar.
#Tigers have signed LHP Caleb Thielbar, who turns 31 on Jan. 31, to a minor-league deal. That's per @StPaulSaints, who have now sold his contract three times. Previously it was #mntwins and #Marlins. Best of luck to an #OldFriend from Randolph, MN.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) January 23, 2018
As well as second-baseman/outfielder Alexi Amarista.
The Tigers have signed utilityman Alexi Amarista to a minor-league deal, I’m told.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) January 23, 2018
Amarista most recently played for the Colorado Rockies where he hit .238 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 96 games. Meanwhile Thielbar has spent the last two seasons with the independent St. Paul Saints, and also had stints with the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins. His stint with the Twins is most-likely what got him to Detroit as the Tigers new manager, Ron Gardenhire, knows Thielbar from his days in the Twin Cities.
The 31-year-old left-hander will look to try and secure a bullpen spot with the Tigers, who quite frankly, are in need of any and all help they can get going into the 2018 season.
BONUS CONTENT:
Detroit Tigers’ Jake Rogers is top defensive catching prospect in minors
As hard as it was to say goodbye to Justin Verlander, the return on investment is already making itself known. The MLB Pipeline announced that Jake Rogers, who was acquired in the Verlander trade to the Houston Astros, is ranked as the top defensive catching prospect in the minors.
On top of that, he’s No. 5 on the Top 10 Catching Prospects overall list by MLB Pipeline. And if Rogers progresses as expected, he would make a nice replacement for starting catcher James McCann.
McCann is now a veteran in the Tigers’ clubhouse and will likely take on a leadership role to the team’s young players. He’s under Detroit’s control until 2020, pending a trade as part of the ongoing rebuild.
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