The Detroit Tigers announced on Friday that they have signed reliever Zach Mcallister to a major league deal through the end of the season. In a corresponding move, they have designated pitcher Jacob Turner for assignment.
The Detroit Tigers announced today that they have agreed to terms on a Major League contract with RHP Zach McAllister. To make room for McAllister on the 40-man roster, the Tigers have designated RHP Jacob Turner for assignment.
MORE INFO: https://t.co/rSCieUYIfX
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) August 10, 2018
McAllister, 30, was recently released by the Cleveland Indians after they designated him for assignment days prior. That move was a result of the team activating reliever Andrew Miller from the 60-day disabled list. McAllister compiled a 4.97 ERA and a 4.50 FIP in 41 appearances out of the bullpen for the Indians this season. This comes after he registered a career-low 2.61 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 50 games last year.
Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 2006, McAllister was traded to the Indians in 2010 and made his major league debut the following season. He started 65 out of 72 games from 2011-14 but has served exclusively as a reliever since the start of 2015, with all but three of his 205 appearances coming out of the pen.
The deal agreed upon by the Tigers and McAllister is good through the end of this season, making him an unrestricted free agent heading into the winter. This is a move to give the Tigers additional stability in the bullpen for the remainder of the season.
As noted, pitcher Jacob Turner has been DFA’d to make room for McAllister on the 40-man roster. Turner was promoted from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday to make room for Mike Fiers, who was traded to the Oakland Athletics late Monday night. The 27-year-old assumed Fiers’ spot in the rotation and started on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels. While it was not entirely his fault, Turner surrendered seven runs (five earned) and lasted just one inning.
The Tigers the next day then recalled pitcher Artie Lewicki from the minors as part of a flurry of roster moves. Lewicki tossed three innings in relief of Blaine Hardy on Wednesday, who lasted just five innings in his start, giving up just one run on three hits, striking out five.
Artie Lewicki is in fact the newest member of the rotation, per Ron Gardenhire. https://t.co/Qf0fvTb5Qy
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) August 10, 2018
