Tigers Roster Moves: Familiar Faces Return on Minor League Deals, Javy Báez Keeps the Fire Burning in Winter Ball
The Detroit Tigers have been busy reshaping the edges of their pitching depth chart this offseason, and while some familiar arms have moved on, a few are circling back to the organization. After a flurry of November roster cuts - seven pitchers let go in a matter of days - the Tigers are starting to rebuild some of that depth with a mix of returning players and new minor league signings.
Among the names making their way back to the Tigers’ system are Tanner Rainey, Sean Guenther, and Jack Little - all re-signed to minor league deals. Rainey, who originally joined Detroit on a MiLB deal in July, was non-tendered on November 18 but quickly re-upped with the club just a few days later. Guenther and Little have now followed suit, according to the Tigers' official transaction log.
A Look at the Arms Coming Back
Sean Guenther might not have been a household name heading into 2024, but Tigers fans will remember how vital he was during the team’s late-summer surge. He became a kind of Swiss Army knife for manager A.J.
Hinch - used in every inning from the third through the ninth, sometimes for just two outs, sometimes for multiple frames. Guenther’s versatility was a key piece of the bullpen puzzle during that stretch.
But the magic didn’t carry into 2025. A 5.23 ERA by late May saw him optioned to the minors, and he wasn’t called back up.
Still, there’s value in what he showed during that 2024 run. If he can rediscover some of that form - and if the Tigers can find the right spots to use him - Guenther could again be a useful piece in a bullpen that’s always looking for reliable left-handed depth.
Jack Little, meanwhile, is a more recent addition. Claimed off waivers from the Pirates on November 6, his big-league experience is limited - just three innings with the Dodgers this past season, during which he allowed two runs.
That’s a small sample size, but the Tigers clearly saw enough to give him another look. At 25, he’s still developing, and Detroit has shown a knack in recent years for getting the most out of under-the-radar arms.
As for Tanner Rainey, he’s the most experienced of the trio. The right-hander has big-league innings under his belt and, when healthy, has flashed late-inning stuff. The Tigers bringing him back on another minor league deal suggests they still believe there’s something to unlock - whether as bullpen depth or a potential midseason call-up if injuries strike.
Dugan Darnell and Tyler Mattison, two others who were cut loose in the November shuffle, remain unsigned for now.
Javy Báez: Still Grinding, Still Entertaining
While the front office is busy working the margins of the roster, Javy Báez is making sure he stays sharp - and keeps fans entertained - during the offseason. The Tigers’ shortstop is spending his winter in Puerto Rico, suiting up for the Cangrejeros de Santurce in Winter League ball. And in true Báez fashion, he’s not just playing - he’s putting on a show.
During a team-organized Home Run Derby, Báez launched bombs from both sides of the plate, including some absolute moonshots from the left side. Yes, the left side.
Tigers fans have seen glimpses of this before - he’s taken lefty swings in spring training and even notched a major league double from that side. But seeing him go yard like that, even in a fun setting, is a reminder of the raw, unpredictable talent Báez brings to the table.
Let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean Báez is about to become a full-time switch-hitter. But it does show that he’s staying locked in, working on his game, and - maybe most importantly - still having fun with baseball.
That’s good news for a Tigers team that saw Báez catch fire early in 2025, only to cool off down the stretch along with much of the lineup. He’s openly said he’s still chasing the version of himself that once electrified Wrigley Field. And while the $140 million contract still looms large, Báez has shown flashes - like that walk-off three-run homer against the Red Sox - that he can still deliver magic.
The Tigers don’t need Báez to be perfect. They need him to be dangerous. And if he can bring some of that Winter League swagger back to Detroit in 2026, it could go a long way in keeping the Tigers competitive - and keeping fans on their feet.
What It All Means
These aren’t blockbuster moves, but they’re the kind that build the foundation of a long season. Re-signing arms like Guenther, Little, and Rainey gives the Tigers options - and in today’s game, bullpen flexibility is everything. Meanwhile, Báez’s offseason work is a reminder that even veterans with big contracts can still grind, still surprise, and still have something left to prove.
As the Tigers continue shaping their 2026 roster, it’s these smaller stories - the depth signings, the winter workouts, the flashes of power in a December derby - that will quietly set the tone for what’s to come.