Jul
We had a brief period of enjoyment. Following the Detroit Tigers‘ defeat by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night, Evan Petzold of the Freep reported that the team would finally designate veteran infielder Jonathan Schoop for assignment on Saturday. This move aligns with the return of outfielder Riley Greene from the 15-day injured list.
By cutting Schoop, a spot opens up on the active roster for Greene, and it also creates a 40-man roster spot for Beau Brieske, presumably. The right-hander might be sent to Toledo, where he has been undergoing rehab for the past few weeks after a procedure for ulnar nerve entrapment earlier this season. However, his assignment is coming to an end.
The Tigers will still be responsible for around $3.5 million remaining on Schoop’s two-year, $15 million extension, which he signed in August 2021. If another team is unwilling to take on that contract and he clears waivers, Schoop will be free to sign with any team that is interested.
Schoop, a 31-year-old infielder, initially joined the Tigers for the 2020 season. He had two impressive seasons in 2020 and 2021 before his performance declined significantly in 2022. This season, Schoop has only had 151 plate appearances, playing sporadically. He hasn’t hit a home run since September 2022 and holds a batting line of .213/.278/.272.
The Tigers have given Schoop ample time to turn his performance around, but the decision to designate him for assignment had to be made. While there is a possibility that he can revitalize his career with another team, his lack of plate discipline and potential decline in bat speed have likely contributed to his struggles. Schoop has been trying to bounce back for a season and a half now without success. He has been a well-liked member of the Tigers and provided some excitement during a challenging period for the team. We certainly wish him the best.
Another consequence of this move is that Jake Marisnick, who has performed well in center field and contributed offensively, gets a temporary respite. Without Schoop, there is ample playing time available for Zack McKinstry and Andy Ibáñez in the infield. Matt Vierling has reportedly been taking ground balls at second base before Friday night’s game. Although the Tigers have five outfielders in Greene, Vierling, Baddoo, Kerry Carpenter, and Marisnick, if Vierling can handle infield duties, they can utilize Carpenter as the designated hitter and field a strong defensive outfield against any opponent. Hopefully, the team can maintain good health for an extended period, allowing us to thoroughly evaluate their capabilities in the second half of the season.
