The Tigers announced that right-hander Rony García has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo. It was reported earlier today that the club plans to add lefty Chasen Shreve and righty Trey Wingenter to its roster prior to tomorrow’s season opener, which will require them to open two spots. This move creates one opening but another move will still be required.
García, 25, spent the early parts of his career as a starter in the Yankees’ system. In 2019, he reached Double-A but then was left unprotected prior to that year’s Rule 5 draft. The Tigers had the first overall pick in that draft and used it to scoop up the right-hander.
He’s been with the Tigers for the past three seasons, though without much success. He lasted on the roster through the shortened 2020 season despite posting an 8.14 ERA over 21 innings, allowing the rebuilding club to secure his rights permanently. He’s spent the past two years bouncing between the injured list, Triple-A and the majors. He made 16 major league appearances last year, eight of those being starts, tossing 51 innings with a 4.41 ERA. He struck out 23.3% of batters faced, walked 6.3% and got grounders at a 31.2% clip.
García is still young and has a couple of options remaining, but most clubs are making tough roster decisions at this time of year and it seems none of them were willing to exacerbate their crunches by bringing him aboard. Players with more than three years of service time or a previous outright can reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, but García doesn’t qualify in either case and will stay in the Tigers’ system. He’ll give them some non-roster pitching depth and look to work his way back into their plans.