Looking to strengthen their roster depth, the Detroit Tigers have brought in an experienced infielder with close to 700 career games.
Per Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, the Tigers signed utility player to a major contract.
Top star, 32, opened his stint with the organization at Triple-A Toledo, starting at shortstop on Saturday and posting a 2-for-5 performance with two runs scored and an RBI.
Kevin Newman hit just .202/.209/.481 across 57 games with the Angels this season, adding two homers and 11 RBIs.
Though his bat has been inconsistent, Newman’s defensive flexibility remains an asset. He’s logged time at every infield spot this year, including 32 games at third, 14 at shortstop, eight at second, and two at first.
A former top prospect, Newman has suited up for the Pirates (2018–22), Reds (2023), Diamondbacks (2024), and Angels, compiling 562 hits with a .259 career average and .656 OPS over 672 games.
His peak season came in 2019 with Pittsburgh, when he hit .308 with 12 home runs, 16 steals, and an .800 OPS.
While power isn’t his strength, Newman puts the ball in play and brings above-average defense across the infield, giving him potential value as a versatile bench option for a contending club.
How Can Kevin Newman Impact the Tigers?
The Tigers (78-53) hold the best record in the American League and an 11.5-game cushion in their division, but shortstop remains a position of need.
Trey Sweeney has handled most of the work there, with Zach McKinstry moving around the infield, but Sweeney is batting just .211 with a .595 OPS over 256 at-bats.
Newman, meanwhile, hit .278 with a .311 on-base percentage for Arizona in 2024 and posted seven Outs Above Average defensively, underscoring his value in the field.
Though not assured a spot on Detroit’s big-league roster, Newman could earn a call-up if he performs well at Triple-A.