While the MLB draft was grabbing everyone’s attention, the Tigers slipped in a small move of their own, claiming right-handed reliever Andre Granillo off waivers from the Nationals.
Detroit optioned Granillo to Triple-A, and the move also brings the Tigers’ 40-man roster to capacity. On paper, it’s a minor transaction buried in the middle of a major baseball event. But given the way the Tigers tend to operate, Granillo could still surface in the big leagues before long if injuries open a door or if Scott Harris decides he wants more from the bullpen later in the season.
Granillo has already logged 9 1/3 major league innings for Washington this year, and the results were rough: a 9.64 ERA. His last outing came on May 5, when he worked two innings and allowed four runs against the Twins. He was optioned the next day and then designated for assignment on July 4, setting up the Tigers’ claim.
There’s at least some pedigree here. Granillo was a 14th-round pick by the Cardinals in 2021 and ranked as St.
Louis’ No. 30 prospect in 2023 and No. 28 in 2024. He made his MLB debut in June 2025 and ended up throwing 21 innings between trips back to the minors, finishing with a 4.71 ERA.
St. Louis later dealt him to Washington in February for pitcher George Soriano.
The appeal for Detroit is obvious enough: Granillo was much better in Triple-A last year, posting a 1.29 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 42 innings in the Cardinals’ system. The production dipped after he got to Washington, where he recorded a 6.82 ERA in 31 2/3 innings.
So the Tigers took a shot. Maybe there’s something left to tap into. They’ve already gotten an unexpected bullpen success story this season in Jacob Waguespack, who didn’t carry the same prospect buzz Granillo once had.
Anyway, back to the draft.
In Other News...
Tigers First Round Track Record Looks Very Different Than Fans Think
The Tigers first-round draft story has not followed the tidy script many fans might assume when they hear about a wave of premium picks. A look back from 2022 through 2025 shows a front office that has mixed upside, patience and a few uncomfortable questions, with Jordan Yost, Bryce Rainer, Max Clark and Jace Jung all sitting at very different points on the development curve. Some are still climbing through the minors, some have already reached the majors, and the overall picture is less about one clean success story than a collection of separate bets still being sorted out.
Jordan Yost, the clubs 2025 first-rounder, is already drawing a C+ grade and leaving observers to wonder what Detroit sees in him. Clark remains in Triple-A, where the Tigers want him to keep developing while also preserving his PPI eligibility for 2027, even as the big-league temptation grows louder. And with the 2026 MLB Draft approaching, Detroit will have four picks after forfeiting its third-round selection by signing Framber Valdez, a reminder that the pipeline is still being shaped not just by who the Tigers choose, but by the roster decisions that come before the draft board ever turns. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Are Rolling And This Phillies Win Changed The Feeling Fast
The Tigers wasted no time turning a tight game into a loud one Friday night at Comerica Park, burying the Phillies 10-2 in the opener of a three-game series. Detroits offense broke through in a big sixth inning, then kept stacking on runs in the seventh, with Eduardo Valencia, Zach McKinstry, James Outman, Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson all part of the surge that changed the tone fast.
Jack Flaherty helped set the stage by giving Detroit six innings and allowing two runs, giving the club another steady start to lean on as the lineup came alive behind him. The bigger question now is whether this was just one of those nights where everything clicked, or another sign that the Tigers are starting to look a lot more dangerous when a game gets into the middle innings. [Read more 🡒]