The Detroit Tigers made some key moves to fill roster vacancies recently. Infielder Javier Baez was activated from the medical emergency/bereavement list, while right-hander Brenan Hanifee and left-hander Sean Guenther were recalled from Triple-A Toledo. These moves came after the team traded right-hander Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers, sent left-hander Andrew Chafin to the Texas Rangers, and dealt outfielder Mark Canha to the San Francisco Giants.
Baez, who is 31 years old, has been struggling this season with a batting average of just .178 and a career-low OPS of .484 in 67 games. Despite his current performance, Baez has been a consistent hitter throughout his 11-year career in the major leagues, playing for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and now the Tigers. He holds a career batting average of .251 with a .731 OPS in over 1,200 games.
Hanifee, at 26 years old, has limited major league experience with only three appearances last season for the Tigers, where he posted a 5.40 ERA over five innings. This season in Triple-A Toledo, he has a record of 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA in 47 innings across 34 relief appearances.
Guenther, 28, last played in the major leagues in 2021 for the Miami Marlins, where he struggled with a 9.30 ERA in 14 relief outings. However, this season in Toledo, he has shown improvement with a record of 3-4 and a 3.86 ERA in 44 1/3 innings over 34 games, including two starts.
These roster changes are significant for the Tigers as they aim to strengthen their lineup and pitching staff for the remainder of the season. The team will be looking towards Baez, Hanifee, and Guenther to make valuable contributions on the field and help secure wins as they push for a spot in the playoffs.
With these new additions, the Tigers are hoping to turn their season around and compete at a higher level in the coming weeks. Fans will be eager to see how Baez, Hanifee, and Guenther perform in their roles and how they can impact the team’s success moving forward.