Prior to their afternoon spring tune-up on Wednesday, the Tigers announced more roster moves, some more notable than others.
The Tigers today announced the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/FGJIjSMfe8
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) March 29, 2017
Lefty reliever Blaine Hardy was in contention for a spot in the bullpen come Opening Day. He will however likely see plenty of big league time this season, seeing as he still has two option years remaining. Hardy this spring logged an ERA just under 4.00 in nine outings (11.2 IP).
Perhaps the most surprising of the cuts is outfielder Alex Presley. The 31-year-old veteran hit over .450 with an OPS north of 1.300 this spring, while playing all three outfield positions. Having said that, given his left-handed bat and ability to play all over the outfield, the Tigers could be calling on Presley rather often this season.
Another veteran in Omar Infante is also being cut after an impressive spring. The two-time Tiger hit .351 this spring while playing primarily second base in the field. It’s important to note that Infante’s minor league deal features a clause that can make him a free agent come next week.
Among those sent to minor-league camp is Omar Infante, who has an opt-out next week. Expect him to become a free agent and explore market.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) March 29, 2017
Journeyman Brendan Ryan, another player who signed a minor league deal this offseason with the Tigers, could also likely explore other options for jobs this season. Ryan this spring hit .233, playing primarily shortstop for the Tigers. He’s played in nearly 900 big league games with four different clubs since 2007.
Efren Navarro also inked a minor league deal with Detroit this offseason. Navarro hit just .081 in 37 at-bats this spring. Don’t let that output deceive you though. The 30-year-old has a career .297 average in over 1,100 minor league games and has played roughly a season’s worth of big league games over his career, all with the Angels (2011, ’13-’15).
Angel Nesbitt this spring allowed four earned runs in 7.2 innings pitched. He was considered to be a real dark horse candidate for the Tigers bullpen, after appearing in 24 games with the club in 2015, making the team out of spring camp then.
Catcher Miguel Gonzalez has spent each of the last two seasons in the Tigers’ farm system, hitting .242 (2015) and .243 (2016) respectively. His cup of coffee in the show came back in 2013, when he played in five games with the White Sox.
