TODAY: The Tigers introduced right now that Urshela has cleared outright waivers and has been positioned on launch waivers. Within the probably occasion that Urshela clears launch waivers, he’ll change into a free agent and be eligible to signal with any of the league’s golf equipment for a pro-rated portion of the large league minimal.
August 16: The Tigers introduced right now that they’ve chosen the contracts of infielders Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney, strikes that had been reported yesterday. In corresponding strikes, outfielder Akil Baddoo was optioned to Triple-A Toledo and infielder Gio Urshela was designated for task. To open one other 40-man spot, left-hander Easton Lucas was designated for task. Robert Murray of FanSided reported the Urshela transfer on X previous to the official announcement.
Urshela, 32, reached free company for the primary time after the 2023 season. He had a stable four-year run within the huge leagues from 2019 to 2022 however then had an injury-marred 2023 marketing campaign. He received into 62 video games with the Angels, hitting simply two dwelling runs earlier than a pelvic fracture worn out the second half of his season.
That was naturally going to influence his particular person market however he additionally had the misfortune of being part of one of many frostier offseasons in current reminiscence. Even big-name free brokers lingered on the open market nicely into the brand new yr. Many gamers beneath the celebrity stage ended up settling for very modest offers within the early elements of 2024. Guys like Michael A. Taylor, Enrique Hernández, Adam Duvall, Randal Grichuk and others settled for one-year offers of lower than $5MM.
The Tigers had been capable of nab Urshela for a assure of simply $1.5MM on a one-year deal. Although his 2023 season wasn’t nice, they had been probably excited to get a stable veteran at such a low value level. As talked about, Urshela had a powerful four-year run previous to 2023, spending time with the Yankees and Twins. In that stretch, he hit 54 dwelling runs in 435 video games and slashed .290/.336/.463 for a wRC+ of 118.
He spent most of that point at third base and usually had the status of a powerful defender. Bizarrely, Outs Above Common hates him and gave him a grade of -17 in that 2019-22 interval, however Defensive Runs Saved gave him a stable grade of +5.
If the Tigers received something near that type of efficiency for his or her modest funding, it might have been a steal. Sadly, Urshela has not been capable of bounce again as hoped. He has been in 92 video games for Detroit this yr with 5 dwelling runs and a modest batting line of .243/.286/.333. That interprets to a 73 wRC+, indicating he’s been 27% beneath league common on the plate this yr.
Detroit is 7.5 video games again of a playoff spot, which isn’t a very hopeless place, however they’re clearly targeted on the longer term at this level. Previous to the deadline, they traded away Jack Flaherty, Carson Kelly, Andrew Chafin and Mark Canha. They’ll use the rest of the schedule to get Jung and Sweeney uncovered to main league pitching, which is able to nudge Urshela out of their plans.
For the reason that commerce deadline has come and gone, they are going to haven’t any selection however to put Urshela on waivers within the coming days. He has about $345K of his wage nonetheless to be paid out, that means a claiming workforce wouldn’t be taking up big quantities of cash by grabbing him. Nonetheless, given his efficiency each final yr and this yr, it’s doable that he passes via unclaimed. He has been sizzling of late, with a .265/.342/.412 batting line and 108 wRC+ in August, however that’s a pattern of simply 38 plate appearances amid a tough two-year stretch.
If he passes via unclaimed, he has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright task whereas protecting that wage in place. If he finally ends up a free agent, the Tigers can be on the hook for that cash. Every other membership might signal him for the prorated league minimal, which might be subtracted from what the Tigers pay.
Lucas, 27, was simply claimed off waivers from the Athletics in Could. Since that declare, he has made three appearances for the Tigers with two earned runs allowed, two strikeouts and two walks. Mixed along with his time with the A’s, he now has 13 2/3 main league innings pitched with a 9.22 earned run common.
His minor league work this yr has been much more fascinating. Between the 2 organizations, he has thrown 49 Triple-A innings with a 3.31 ERA. The 11.2% stroll price is on the excessive facet however he’s countered that with a 25.2% strikeout price.
Lucas nonetheless has a full slate of choices and fewer than a yr of service time. For any membership intrigued by his Triple-A numbers this yr, he could possibly be a long-term depth piece. Like Urshela, he must be positioned on waivers within the coming days because the commerce deadline has handed. Lucas has a earlier profession outright, which might give him the appropriate to elect free company if he finally passes via waivers unclaimed.
