Even though the Detroit Tigers have had a successful season, their roster is still being worked out. The Tigers are in a close race with the Toronto Blue Jays for the No. 1 slot in the American League, but they have a commanding lead in the American League Central with a 77-53 record going into Saturday’s game.
Because of this, Detroit is unable to slow down because it must find a way to consistently field its best team every day going forward. That prompted them to make an unexpected trade on Friday that included left-handed bullpen pitcher Drew Sommers and experienced utilityman Ryan Kreidler.
Tigers Release Ryan Kreidler, Promote Drew Sommers
The Tigers have spent much of the year maximizing production across their roster, but Ryan Kreidler has been an exception. In 17 early-season games with Detroit, Kreidler struggled badly at the plate, hitting just .105 over 38 plate appearances before being sent down to Triple-A.
His performance in Toledo has been better he’s batting .251 with four home runs and 37 RBIs but it hasn’t been enough to earn a call back to the majors. And now, his future with the organization is uncertain. To clear space for a roster move, Detroit designated him for assignment, signaling that if he plays in the big leagues again, it likely won’t be with the Tigers.
That roster spot was needed for left-handed pitcher Drew Sommers, who earned his first-ever major league promotion after an impressive season in the minors. Splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, Sommers posted a 4-1 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 63 strikeouts in 57 innings out of the bullpen. His strong showing earned him a chance to contribute to Detroit’s relief corps as the team pushes toward the postseason.
Although Kreidler was designated for assignment, he hadn’t been on the active MLB roster. Instead, reliever Alex Lange was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Sommers on the big-league squad. The Tigers’ PR department announced the move on X, noting: “LHP Drew Sommers has been selected from Triple-A Toledo. Sommers, who will wear uniform number 51, joins the first major league roster of his career. RHP Alex Lange was optioned to Triple-A yesterday. To make room for Sommers on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Ryan Kreidler has been designated for assignment.”
Tigers Making Push to Hold onto the No. 1 Seed
Drew Sommers’ first taste of major league action didn’t go quite the way he hoped. The rookie left-hander lasted just a third of an inning, issuing two walks while recording only one out. Still, a shaky debut is hardly unusual for a pitcher making his first appearance under the bright lights, and the Tigers believe that with the jitters now behind him, Sommers has the potential to settle in and grow into an important bullpen piece moving forward.
Meanwhile, Detroit continues to show why they’ve been the class of the American League this season. While Toronto has been playing some of its best baseball over the past couple of weeks, the Tigers have consistently set the standard across the league. After defeating Kansas City on Friday, they were in position to claim another series win on Saturday, holding a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning.