Free Agency opened up last Thursday and it became official for free agents to sign yesterday, with all that the Detroit Tigers had to reinstate their players from the 60-day injured list as shortstop Javier Baez, and pitchers Alex Faedo, Sawyer Gipson-Long, and Brendan White have been reinstated. Bligh Madris, Bryan Sammons, and Ryan Vilade have been outrighted from the 40-man roster after they cleared waivers. They also declined the $3.1 million club option of Casey Mize for 2025 but he will remain with the team.
SS – Javier Baez
Baez suffered a hip injury and underwent surgery ending his season. He had a tough year for the Tigers playing in 80 games hitting .184 with a .516 OPS; he had 12 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBI, 25 runs scored, eight stolen bases, and 12 walks.
RHP – Alex Faedo
Faedo suffered a straight right shoulder which ended his season, he had made 37 appearances with six of those coming as starts going 5-3 with a 3.61 ERA, a 4.91 FIP, a 1.34 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. At Triple-A Toledo he made 3 appearances with one of those coming as starts posting a 3.00 ERA, a 2.67 WHIP, and four strikeouts in three innings.
RHP – Sawyer Gipson-Long
Gipson-Long suffered a left groin strain to start spring training then after his first rehab start he had forearm tightness and underwent Tommy John surgery. In that lone rehab start he went three innings giving up one run on three hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out four.
RHP – Brendan White
White underwent a hydro-dissection procedure to address radial nerve-related symptoms. He pitched in rookie ball, Single-A Lakeland, Double-A Erie, and Triple-A Toledo in 2024 making eight appearances with one of those coming as a start going 1-0 with a 7.36 ERA, a 1.91 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 7.1 innings.
Get Your Inside The Diamonds Merchandise Here
1B – Bligh Madris
Madris played in 21 games for the Tigers in 2024 hitting .269 with a .683 OPS; he had three doubles, a home run, five RBI, eight runs scored, and six walks. At Triple-A Toledo in 108 games he hit .222 with a .767 OPS; he had 20 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 60 RBI, 57 runs scored, 21 stolen bases, and 53 walks.
LHP – Bryan Sammons
Sammons appeared in six games with Detroit going 1-1 with a 3.62 ERA, a 5.80 FIP, a 0.92 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. At Triple-A Toledo he appeared in 22 games with 20 of those coming as starts going 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts in 102 innings.
UTL – Ryan Vilade
Vilade played in 17 games this season with Detroit hitting .178 with a .453 OPS; he had a home run, five RBI, five runs scored, and two walks. At Toledo in 108 games he hit .278 with a .795 OPS; he had 24 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 64 RBI, 47 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, and 39 walks.
RHP – Casey Mize
Mize once he returned to the Tigers appeared in 22 games with 20 of those coming as starts going 2-6 with a 4.49 ERA, a 3.95 FIP, a 1.47 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts in 102.1 innings. In his rehab at Toledo he made four starts going 0-0 with a 2.63 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.
