Roster Moves - July 28

[Jason Rice]

Baez is being activated. Valencia becomes the backup catcher as Rogers was DFA'D. 

[Peter Welch]

Wow!  I'm glad we have a better hitting backup for Dingler, but I didn't see this coming.  

I actually would have preferred they kept Rogers and Valencia.

Peter

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From: 'Jason Rice' via Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 3:42 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Roster Moves - July 28

 

Baez is being activated. Valencia becomes the backup catcher as Rogers was DFA'D. 

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[Mike Coveyou]

I am stunned at the Tigers jettisoning Rogers. He has only hit sporadically in recent years, but now they will have only one solid defensive catcher.

I hope Jake gets another shot; he richly deserves it.  (Remember that Dingler displaced him as the starting catcher and he, by reputation at least, has continued to be a model and very popular teammate.

Mike Coveyou

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[Michael W]

Rogers has a $3 million contract this year.  The Tigers might expect he'll clear waivers.

Michael

[Peter Welch]

Damn, Jake is our best reliever.  ;-)

Not saying I agree, but I've read observations that Rogers' defense has declined.  Some fans have been questioning his pitch calling.  I know there was griping from fans the other day on social media about a pitch call from Rogers on a 0-2 pitch from one of the relievers who gave up a

home run, but that could be just as much on the pitcher's poor execution than Rogers' pitch call.

Regardless, I'm sure Rogers is still better defensively than Valencia. 

I don't mind having Valencia on the team, but I'd rather see him play DH/1B and only catch in emergencies.  Teams run like crazy on him.

I actually thought Rogers might be traded at the deadline but his salary is probably too high to draw any interest.

He'll probably clear waivers but I suppose he could choose to become a FA and sign elsewhere.

Peter

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From: Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 4:08 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Cc: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

[Peter Welch]

If somebody claims Rogers on waivers, would it only be a pro-rated part of his salary they owe him for the rest of the season?

Peter

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Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 4:12 PM
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Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

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[Peter Welch]

In 2023 Rogers was rumored to be part of the deadline trade involving E-Rod with the Dodgers that E-Rod ended up vetoing.

The Dodgers wanted a better backup catcher to Will Smith than Austin Barnes, who was Smith's backup at the time.

That was the year Rogers hit 21 homers.

The rumored deal was something like E-Rod & Rogers to the Dodgers for catching prospect Diego Cartaya or maybe Dalton Rushing (or Thayron Liranzo who later got traded to the Tigers anyway in the 2024 Flaherty trade) and one of the Dodgers' pitching prospects at the time.

Peter

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From: Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 4:08 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Cc: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

[Jeffrey Withey]

Rogers has really been hurt offensively by very sporadic playing time. If he were playing every day he wouldn’t be Dingler level but also wouldn’t be awful for a catcher. Keeping Outman makes zero sense. Then again, much of what the management of this team does makes little sense. 

Jeff

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Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 15:27:26
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Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

[EXTERNAL]

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[Peter Welch]

If Rogers leaves the organization that leaves 35-year-old crusty veteran Carlos Perez (who recently signed with Toledo) as the next in line behind Valencia.  Josue Briceno and Thayron Liranzo at Erie are still considered the Tigers' top catching prospects but they aren't anywhere close to being ready for the majors, plus Liranzo might never hit well enough and Briceno might end up at 1B.

Peter

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From: 'Jason Rice' via Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 3:42 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Roster Moves - July 28

 

Baez is being activated. Valencia becomes the backup catcher as Rogers was DFA'D. 

[Peter Welch]

Rogers works well in a platoon situation.  He's done ok vs. lefties in his career (.749 OPS).

But he's not in a platoon with team MVP Dingler (they're both righty hitters anyway) so his playing time has been severely reduced.

Maybe Jake wants to move to another organization where he might get more playing time.  The Tigers might have been trying to trade him but found no takers.

Peter

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From: Jeffrey Withey <jwi...@med.wayne.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 4:44 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>; detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

[Peter Welch]

Funny, I was just looking at the Dodgers' list of top 10 prospects in 2023 when the Tigers were trying to trade E-Rod to them.  James Outman was #9.  LOL!

Peter

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[Jeffrey Withey]

Further evidence the rankings are nonsense and should not be used as any kind of evaluation tool. 

Jeff

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 15:57:25

To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

[EXTERNAL]

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[Paul Meloche]

Outman had a pretty good rookie season in 2023 so the ranking looked reasonable at the time. But he's been one of the worst hitters in baseball since 2024.

And, the #9 prospect in an organization at a given time isn't exactly a billboard flashing FUTURE STAR. I'd be happy to be proven wrong by anyone who wants to do the research, but I'd suspect Outman's career trajectory isn't an outlier for someone ranked where he was at the age he was. i.e. some players have gone on to better careers, others never even made the majors.

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[Jeffrey Withey]

Even the number 1 and 2 prospects are largely a crapshoot. 

Jeff

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From: Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 17:02:43
To: Jeffrey Withey <jwi...@med.wayne.edu>
Cc: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>; Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

[Roger King]

I’m pretty sure picking up Rogers would only cost a team the minimum salary. The Tigers would be on the hook for the rest.

And of course, there’s only two months left of that $3 million anyway. 

I could be wrong, but I doubt there’s some plan to have Jake be the Toledo catcher. Seems like they’re parting ways and giving Valencia a chance to ease into the backup role.  if that’s the case, this is perhaps a more subtle but still noteworthy way the Tigers are signalling they’re moving on for the future and not going for it this year. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t risk throwing Valencia in there at this point. 

Roger King
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[Paul Meloche]

I don't think the team would DFA their longest tenured player, solid defender, clubhouse favorite, and Skubal buddy if they felt like they were realistically in contention.

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[Roger King]

Yes exactly. Though Valencia has homered tonight so maybe the Tigers are planning to contend and just think he’s the better option going forward! 😆

I mean, we have been begging them to do something to add more offense so…

6-0 Tigers in the 3rd. 

Roger King
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(416) 515-7195

[Peter Welch]

Valencia should improve the offense whether he plays catcher or 1B/DH so if the Tigers still want to try to make the playoffs having Valencia in the lineup helps with that goal.

I actually think Valencia could outhit Tork and this year's version of Carpenter.

Peter

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Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 19:34:47
To: Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Cc: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>; Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

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[Peter Welch]

I’d be surprised if Rogers accepts an assignment to Toledo.  I think they are parting ways but maybe I’m

wrong. 

Peter

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Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 19:20:18
To: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
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Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

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[Michael W]

Roger, no the claiming team has to pick up the salary.  That’s, for example, how you can sometimes sneak players through after the trade deadline.  As you said, it’s only for what’s left of the season, but that’s still a million bucks.

Michael 

[Michael W]

Interestingly Rogers has 5.04 years of service time.  You need at least five in order to reject a minor league assignment without forfeiting your remaining salary.  So he just qualifies.

Michael 

[Peter Welch]

I wonder if Tigers' management calculated the timing of this to do Jake a favor.

Just a guess, but I think the Tigers might have been shopping Rogers around but couldn't find any takers.

Peter

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Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 10:39 PM
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[Jason Rice]

I think if Rogers gets claimed on waivers, then that team takes on the original contract. If he clears and signs somewhere as a free agent, then he can sign for the veteran minimum and the Tigers are on the hook for the difference.

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[Peter Welch]

The Tigers also have 21-year-old catcher Edian Espinal in their list of catching prospects.  Espinal just got promoted from Lakeland to West Michigan and went 2-3 with 2 singles and a walk in his West Michigan debut yesterday.

Espinal hit .311/.436/.467 with 7 homers in 225 AB for Lakeland.

I don't know the scouting report on Espinal's defense.  He could be another victim of Nichols' Law.  

The Tigers also drafted high school catcher Michael Oliveto in the 1^st round (comp round) last year.

So the organization has some depth at catcher with Valencia, Liranzo, Briceno, Espinal and Oliveto.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 4:48 PM
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Subject: Re: Roster Moves - July 28

 

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[Peter Welch]

The 19-year-old Oliveto made his Lakeland debut yesterday and was 2-5 with a double and an RBI.

He hit .246/.373/.377 with 1 homer in 69 AB for the FCL Tigers.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>

Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 11:07 AM

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[Cal Lord]

It all depends on what management told him. They could have said he will be called back later.

Cal

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