When James Outman is ready to return, the Tigers are going to have a roster decision on their hands - and it should not be a tough one.
Outman was hit in the face by a fastball while pinch-hitting for Corey Julks in the bottom of the seventh last Wednesday. He remained in the game, but the next day he landed on the IL with a concussion. His stay there has already moved along quickly, though, and he began a rehab assignment on Thursday.
That timeline suggests he may not be away long. And when he’s back, Detroit will have to clear space.
The easy move would be to option Brett Callahan back to the minors. That would be the cleanest path, especially since the Tigers appear to value Outman - and Julks, too - for what they bring defensively. But from a fan perspective, that’s not the right answer.
The better call is to DFA Outman.
Since joining Detroit on a waiver claim from the Twins, Outman has hit .183 with a .606 OPS. He has struck out 42 times in 93 at-bats, which works out to a 45% strikeout rate. His defense and speed still have some value, but that’s not enough to justify keeping him around while Callahan is swinging a hot bat.
Callahan was in a slump in Triple-A before his promotion, but that changed immediately once he reached the majors. And the bigger picture matters here, too. The Tigers’ offense has been steady lately, and it’s also offering a glimpse of the group that could be in place for years.
Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Hao-Yu Lee, Eduardo Valencia and Callahan are all part of that picture in some way, and Detroit shouldn’t slow any of their major league development just to keep a below-.200 hitter whose best selling point is maybe, kind of, sort of decent outfield defense.
If the Tigers want another alternative, DFA’ing Julks would at least be defensible. He has barely been used since coming up to replace Greene on the roster. But whichever way Detroit goes, the rookies should stay put.
In Other News...
Tigers Fans Are Split Over What The Numbers Say About Torkelson
Spencer Torkelson has become one of those players who can split a fan base without even changing positions. At first base, the advanced numbers have not been kind, with Statcasts Outs Above Average and Fielding Bibles Defensive Runs Saved both painting an unflattering picture, but plenty of viewers who watch him every day see something different. Broadcasters and some fans argue that he looks steadier and more reliable than the metrics suggest, which is part of why the discussion around his defense has been so lively.
That divide says as much about first base defense as it does about Torkelson. It remains one of the harder spots on the field to quantify cleanly, and the metrics used to judge it are still evolving, which leaves room for disagreement when the eye test and the numbers do not line up. For the Tigers, the bigger question is not whether the debate exists, but how much weight to give a stat line that many around the game still believe does not fully capture what happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Just Put James Outman In A Tough Spot
James Outmans latest stop with the Tigers turned into a brief one, even after Detroit brought him back from the seven-day concussion injured list. The club activated the outfielder and then designated him for assignment, a roster squeeze that came as Detroit selected left-hander Andrew Sears from Triple-A Toledo and sent Enmanuel De Jesus down.
Outman had already logged 45 games with the Tigers, but the bat never really caught up, leaving him vulnerable once the team needed room for Sears and his expected Major League debut. For Detroit, it was a straightforward organizational move on paper, but for Outman it leaves his next step hanging as the club recalibrates its pitching depth. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Are Giving A Promising Lefty A Real Chance To Stick
Andrew Sears is getting a legitimate look at the major league level, and it comes at a time when the Tigers are always searching for useful arms they can trust in the middle of a long season. The 23-year-old lefty, drafted in the 10th round in 2023, has worked his way back from an elbow injury and put together strong stretches at Triple-A Toledo, where his sinker-slider mix has played well and his changeup has kept moving in the right direction.
Now the Tigers are planning to use Sears as a bulk reliever in an upcoming bullpen game, which gives him a chance to show he can handle more than just a cameo. For a club that values pitchers who can miss bats and throw strikes, the recent gains in his command and strikeout rate make this a meaningful test, even if the assignment itself is only temporary for now. [Read more 🡒]