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Detroit Tigers Finally Release Steven Moya, but He Clears Waivers

By Kristen Bentley

Feb 28, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Steven Moya (33) misplays a pop fly from New York Yankees Clint Frazier (not pictured) in the fifth inning of a baseball game during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Steven Moya (33) misplays a pop fly from New York Yankees Clint Frazier (not pictured) in the fifth inning of a baseball game during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers fans like me were crying tears of joy at the news that Steven Moya was released on outright waivers.

But those tears of joy were short-lived because Moya is still with the Detroit Tigers organization.

At one point the Detroit Tigers held the tall outfielder in high regard, but he failed to show growth at the plate and on the field.

It may just be that baseball is not for him.

According to Anthony Fenech with the Detroit Free Press, the reason that the Tigers let him go was:

"“He hasn’t shown the kind of progress at the plate or in the field that would warrant a team taking a lottery ticket on him.”"

This about sums up the last few seasons and spring training seasons with Moya on the team.

Detroit Tigers
Aug 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Erick Aybar (15) and center fielder Tyler Collins (18) celebrate after the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Moya was signed out of Puerto Rico by the Tigers in 2009 when he was just 17 years old. He played for every team in the Tigers minor league system as well as in the Dominican Winter League and the Arizona Fall League.

Statistically, he performed better in the foreign leagues. But, each year as he moved up in the minor league ranks his number declined. In 2014, he hit 35 home runs in Double-A Erie. In 2015, he hit 23 in Lakeland and Toledo combined. But, in 2016, he never hit more than 20 home runs.

He was put on waivers due to his mediocre performance. In the organization, he had a career batting slash of .256/.297/.453 with an OPS of .750. While these are not horrible numbers, they just aren’t good enough to stay in the bigs.

Along with Moya’s drop in batting stats over the years, his outfield playing ability just isn’t good enough either. He can only play one field – right. This limits his playing time, especially with someone like J.D. Martinez at least in that position for now. With players like JaCoby Jones and Andrew Romine available to the Tigers every single day, Moya just doesn’t pass the eyeball test. He isn’t fast enough and he doesn’t have that attitude that makes him a player who is good enough for the MLB.

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It’s just too easy to see that he doesn’t have that je ne sais quoi that professional athletes have. Remember when he cried in a game at Comerica Park last year? I do. I also remember when J.D. Martinez broke his elbow, still made the play, and walked off the field. No tears were shed. And he was in pain. Could you imagine Moya doing that? No, me either.

Sadly, for Moya none of the other MLB teams wanted him, so he actually cleared waivers and is still with the Tigers organization. He will start the season in Toledo. But, if he does ever return to the Tigers, he will have to go through the entire waivers process again if the team wants to send him back down.

Next: New and Improved Nicholas Castellanos

At 6’7 and 260 pounds, maybe he could try out for the NFL. I hear the draft is coming up. Is it too late to enter his name?

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