Today is the deadline for option decisions, as well as for reinstating players off the 60-day injured list. The Tigers just released their flurry of moves, most notably exercising their $10 million club option for 2027 on RHP Drew Anderson, and declining their 2027 option on RHP Kenley Jansen. In addition, they made a surprising move, signing RHP Jacob Waguespack to a one-year, $1.3 million deal for 2027. Waguespack’s deal comes with an extra $200K in potential bonuses he can earn next season.
Probably
the most surprising part of the Tigers decisions today was the fact that they reinstated seven of eight players from the 60-day injured list. The only player they didn’t reinstate was left-hander Bailey Horn, who had Tommy John surgery during the season and is expected to miss all of the 2027 season. He was placed on unconditional release waivers along with RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long.
The Tigers did reinstate OF Kerry Carpenter, OF Parker Meadows, OF Wenceel Perez, OF Matt Vierling, RHP Reese Olson, RHP Will Vest, and INF Trey Sweeney. OF Corey Julks was outrighted and is now a free agent, while RHP Yilber Diaz was designated for assignment.
Some of the players they kept still aren’t going to make it through the offseason, as the Tigers 40-man roster now stands full at 40 players. Keeping Carpenter, Meadows, Vest, and Olson were obvious moves, but hanging onto Matt Vierling yet again doesn’t appeal to me at all. Sweeney and Perez don’t really have much path to a future role either.
The Tigers still have to add prospects Josue Briceño and Max Anderson to the 40-man soon, and so two more players will have to come off the 40-man to make that happen. And of course any free agent signings or claims of players who have to go on the 40-man will require a corresponding move to open a spot.
One real surprise here to me is Waguespack. He was certainly effective for the Tigers, putting up a 2.49 ERA, but the 32-year-old just doesn’t get many whiffs, gives up homers, and isn’t that great a strike thrower either. Yilber Diaz is still wild but has a lot hotter stuff and is six years younger.
Still, this is only temporary housekeeping, and further moves will alter the 40-man roster anyway.
