Tigers' Riley Greene: Will focus mostly on OF corners
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Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris indicated Monday that Greene is likely to remain primarily a corner outfielder, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The Tigers have lost three center fielders to injury in Matt Vierling (shoulder), Parker Meadows (arm) and Wenceel Perez (back). Greene has extensive experience in center field and has played there some this spring, but it would appear the club still plans to play him mostly in left field. Ryan Kreidler could be the favorite to handle reps in center field for Detroit for the time being.
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Tigers' Manuel Margot: Unlikely to play much center field
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Tigers president of baseball operation Scott Harris indicated Monday that he views Margot as more of a corner outfielder, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The Tigers' outfield, and particularly center field, has been hit hard by injuries, with Matt Vierling (shoulder), Parker Meadows (arm) and Wenceel Perez (back) going down. While Margot is capable of handling center field, it would appear he's more likely to see action in right field for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Ryan Kreidler: Back in majors, could see CF reps
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Kreidler has rejoined the Tigers and is a candidate to see starts in center field while Parker Meadows (arm) and Wenceel Perez (back) are out, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The Tigers are also down Matt Vierling (shoulder) in addition to Meadows and Perez, leaving them with very few options to play center field. President of baseball operations Scott Harris noted Monday that Kreidler is an "elite defender" and that "pitching and defense is going to be really important for us moving forward," indicating that Kreidler could see ample playing time in center field. The club also signed Manuel Margot to enhance its outfield depth.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Out one month with back injury
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Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday that Perez is scheduled to receive an injection in his lower back this week and will be sidelined for at least a month, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
He joins Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) on the shelf, as the Tigers' outfield depth will really be tested early on in the season. Recently signed Manuel Margot is a new option for Detroit and the club has also brought back Ryan Kreidler from minor-league camp.
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Tigers' Parker Meadows: Goes on 60-day injured list
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The Tigers placed Meadows (arm) on the 60-day injured list Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
With this move, Meadows now isn't eligible to return until late May. The 25-year-old outfielder is battling a nerve issue in his right arm and will require at least four more weeks of rest before he can begin throwing. Meadows going on the 60-day IL clears a 40-man roster spot for Manuel Margot, who was officially signed Monday. With Wenceel Perez (back) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) also out, the Tigers could use Ryan Kreidler in center field.
With the Tigers signing outfielder Manuel Margot on Sunday, Malloy has added competition in his bid for an Opening Day bench spot, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Margot signed with Detroit on a major-league deal, so he will give the team veteran depth in the outfield. Malloy, Spencer Torkelson and Jahmai Jones were previously thought to be battling for two open spots, but the addition of Margot likely means only one bench opening is left. Torkelson, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, has had an impressive spring and recently started seeing some time in the outfield to add versatility, so he might have the inside track at this point given his power potential at the plate. If Malloy starts the season with Triple-A Toledo, he could still be an MLB option later in the year if a need arises.
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Tigers' Reese Olson: Concludes spring schedule
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Olson allowed two runs on four hits across 5.1 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He walked two and struck out three.
Olson wrapped up a solid spring slate in which he recorded a 4.30 ERA and 13 strikeouts across 14.2 innings. The righty is in line to serve as Detroit's No. 3 starter this season behind Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, with his debut likely coming on Saturday against the Dodgers on the road. Olson has posted sub-4.00 ERAs in each of his first two MLB campaigns, though he's a risky play against the loaded Los Angeles lineup.
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Tigers' Manuel Margot: Finds new home in Detroit
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The Tigers have signed Margot to a contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, the contract is a major-league deal. Margot was released by Milwaukee on Saturday but will now have the chance to work in a reserve role in the American League. The move gives Detroit a reinforcement in the outfield, with Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) both set to begin the season on the injured list.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Jockeying for MLB roster spot
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Chafin is still in the mix for Detroit's final bullpen spot to begin the regular season, along with Brant Hurter and Brenan Hanifee, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Chafin was invited to camp on a minor-league deal and is not on the 40-man roster, so the Tigers would have to clear room for him if they want to keep him around, but the veteran southpaw could give the team a boost against left-handed hitters. Hurter is also a lefty while Hanifee, a righty, posted a sub-2.00 ERA for Detroit last season, so the team has a tough decision to make. Ultimately, all three players could see time in the MLB bullpen at various points during the 2025 season, but none of them figure to have huge fantasy impacts.
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Tigers' Brant Hurter: Competing for last bullpen opening
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Hurter, Brenan Hanifee and Andrew Chafin are likely competing for Detroit's final bullpen spot to begin the regular season, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Hurter and Chafin are both southpaws, which could give them an edge, though the righty Hanifee impressed for the Tigers last year with a 1.84 ERA across 29.1 regular-season innings. Ultimately, all three players figure to see time in the majors this season, as the team needs bullpen reinforcements. Hurter pitched well last year during his MLB debut, compiling a 2.58 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 45.1 regular-season innings.
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Tigers' Brenan Hanifee: Vying for final bullpen spot
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Hanifee, Brant Hurter and Andrew Chafin are likely competing for Detroit's final bullpen spot to begin the regular season, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Hanifee is a righty, while Hurter and Chafin are southpaws, so the decision could come down to how manager A.J. Hinch decides to construct his bullpen. Even if Hanifee doesn't make the cut initially, he figures to be in the mix for MLB action at some point this year. Hanifee impressed in a small sample last year, posting a 1.84 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 29.1 regular-season innings for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Jahmai Jones: Battling for final roster spot
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Jones is among a handful of players battling for one of Detroit's final bench spots to begin the regular season, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Jones, Spencer Torkelson and Justyn-Henry Malloy are likely competing for two openings. Torkelson, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick, has had a promising spring, and he also recently started getting reps in the outfield to add to his versatility. He's the most likely of the trio to make the team, which would leave Jones and Malloy to battle for the final spot. Jones, who was invited to camp on a minor-league contract, may be ticketed for Triple-A Toledo, but the 27-year-old has flashed some promise and would give the Tigers useful depth.
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Tigers' Javier Baez: Starting in center Saturday
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Baez is starting in center field and batting seventh in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
Baez has seen some time at third base this spring, where he hasn't seen regular-season action since 2019, and he'll now try out center, a position he's never played during the regular season in the majors. The Tigers appear to be preparing the veteran for more of a utility role in 2025, with Trey Sweeney in line to serve as the regular shortstop. Baez's already dwindling fantasy value will take a hit if he's not seeing consistent playing time.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Continuing push for roster spot
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Torkelson is impressing offensively and defensively this spring, and he may see time at DH, first base and in right field as a versatile bench option for the Tigers in 2025, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
A year ago, Torkelson was seen as a fixture at first base for years to come in Detroit, but a rough 2024 campaign has added a bit more uncertainty to the picture. He still seems likely to make the Opening Day roster, though he may have to settle for more of a bench role. Torkelson recently started seeing reps in right field, which gives him more potential versatility as a reserve. The biggest key for the 25-year-old remains his ability to make consistent contact, because if he can, he has the power in his bat to have a big impact.
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Tigers' Parker Meadows: Four weeks from throwing
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Manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday that Meadows (arm) will require at least four more weeks of rest before he can begin throwing, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Meadows can continue participating in conditioning and fielding drills while he continues to work his way back from a nerve issue in his right arm, but it seems like it will be a bit before he can start throwing. Once given the green light to start throwing and hitting, a clearer timeline for his return to play may emerge.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Appears locked into rotation
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Mize is expected to open the 2025 season as Detroit's No. 4 starter, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The Tigers informed Kenta Maeda that he will begin the season in the bullpen and later optioned Keider Montero, leaving Mize and Jackson Jobe to round out the Tigers' Opening Day rotation. Both players should have some runway with Alex Cobb (hip) expected to miss at least the first month. Mize put up a 1.13 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 16 innings this spring, a vast improvement on his regular-season numbers from a year ago (4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 78:29 K:BB in 102.1 innings).
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Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Back in action
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Malloy (illness) is in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
After turning the page on a stomach bug, Malloy will resume his bid for a bench spot on the Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old has made a compelling case so far, going 13-for-43 in exhibition play, though only three of those hits have gone for extra bases (all doubles).
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Tigers' Ryan Kreidler: Optioned to Triple-A
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Kreidler was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Kreidler hit two homers and drew 10 walks in 19 Grapefruit League games, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot on Detroit's bench to begin the regular season. The 27-year-old has appeared in the majors in each of the past three seasons, topping out at 84 big-league plate appearances in 2022.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Sent down to minors
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Montero was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The 24-year-old righty put together a decent spring, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHP and 17: 6 K:BB in 14 innings, but Montero ultimately fell short in his bid for a roster spot. In light of this transaction, Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe appear locked in at the back of the rotation for Detroit.
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Tigers' Jackson Jobe: Makes Opening Day rotation
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Jobe is expected to open the season as the Tigers' No. 5 starter, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Kenta Maeda was informed Friday that he will begin the season in the bullpen and Keider Montero was optioned Saturday, which seemingly locks Jobe into the rotation. Jobe, Detroit's top pitching prospect, has made four starts in the Grapefruit League this spring, pitching to a 3.65 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings. He lines up for a road start in Seattle during the first full week of the regular season.
