Cleaning Up: Lyon, Scotty Pods, DFAs

The trade became official yesterday around 4:30 pm.  Unfortunately, that was just as I was leaving work, so I didn’t catch the presser.  I’ll be spending the majority of my morning today reading up on it.  If I find anything of note, I will point you to it.

As we noted at the time, the trade was going to put the Tigers over the 40 man limit on the roster, so changes had to be made.  I was expecting to hear another trade announced, but talks for Juan Pierre didn’t materialize.  Now it appears as if the Tigers are targeting Scott Podsednik.  What did happen was two players were designated for assignment to clear spots for the four players brought it via trade.  Dusty Ryan and Freddy Dolsi got the bad news.  If they clear waivers, the Tigers can re-assign them within the organization, but I would think that a team with an open roster spot may put in a claim, especially for Ryan.

Ryan is a big, strong-armed catcher that has spent two stints in Detroit.  He has good power and appears to have the tools needed to make a career in the big leagues.  For whatever reason, Jim Leyland steadfastly refused to play him last season which prompted the promotion of Alex Avila.  I would assume he will be claimed by someone willing to give him the shot he never really got in Detroit.  UPDATE: The Royals have just cleared two spots on their roster and have been looking for catchers, could this be the landing point for Ryan?

Dolsi, on the other hand, will probably slip through unclaimed and head to camp with the Tigers as a non-roster invitee.  I am basing that opinion strictly on the fact that no one claimed Zach Simons earlier in the week.  Simons has more upside than Dolsi, so it’s likely he stays as well.

Brandon Lyon’s tenure in Detroit came to an end last night as well.  Lyon agreed to a three year, $15 MM deal with the Astros, where presumably, he will get at least a chance to close games.  The Tigers would have liked Lyon to return, but I’m sure they didn’t want to match the three year length of the deal he got.  Lyon will be missed for sure.