JUST IN: Tigers trim 40-man roster down to 39 with minor league move

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Perhaps the biggest news surrounding the Detroit Tigers this week for fans to be happy about is the induction of Alan Trammell and Jack Morris into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and rightfully so. As far as this current crop of Tigers, business is to be done down in Orlando at the annual Winter Meetings.

On Monday, the team announced a roster move that cuts down their 40-man roster down to 39 players.

Right-handed reliever Victor Alcántara, 24, spent the bulk of the 2017 season with the Erie SeaWolves at the Double-A level in the minors, before making a brief appearance at Triple-A Toledo and eventually earning a September call-up with the Tigers. Overall, he Alcántara logged a respectable 3.68 ERA in 39 appearances with the SeaWolves and Mud Hens and appeared in six games with Detroit.

Alcántara was acquired in November of 2016 from the Los Angeles Angels in a deal that sent outfielder Cameron Maybin to the Halos. Detroit traded Maybin, whose club option was immediately picked up by Los Angeles following the deal.

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The move to outright Alcántara ultimately allows for the Tigers to utilize their No. 1 pick in the upcoming MLB Rule 5 Draft, which takes place at the conclusion of this week’s Winter Meetings. That top pick would have been void had a roster move not been made beforehand, after the team inked a deal with free agent pitcher Mike Fiers last week. Whomever Detroit selects in the Rule 5 Draft must remain on the club’s 25-man roster for the entirety of the 2018 season, otherwise said player must return to his former organization.

The Rule 5 Draft will surely be a focal point for the rebuilding Tigers this week. However, don’t be surprised to see some more changes to their immediate major league roster. Team general manager Al Avila recently commented on the possibility that second baseman Ian Kinsler could be dealt away this week. Kinsler has been the subject of trade rumors going back to the non-waiver trade deadline in July, and was most recently connected to the New York Mets.