Audy Ciriaco Outrighted to Make Room for Enrique Gonzalez

The Detroit Tigers made official today the active roster they had planned a few days back. Right hander Enrique Gonzalez, who made the club as a non-roster invitee during Spring Training, was added to the 40-man roster. In order to make room on the previously full 40-man, the Tigers removed minor league third baseman Audy Ciriaco from the roster and outrighted him to AA Erie.

Ciriaco was once a highly-thought-of shortstop prospect in the Tigers system, having been added to the 40-man roster following the 2009 campaign in order to protect him from exposure in the Rule V draft that year. Since that time, however, he’s played more third base than short and has been passed over by several other names on the organizational depth chart. The Tigers still like him as a player with great physical tools, but the performance has yet to match the potential.

In outrighting Ciriaco, the Tigers keep his rights. This was a calculated gamble, as other clubs could have made a claim for him, but with Opening Day scheduled for tomorrow, very few, if any, clubs could add a player to their rosters at this point, especially one who wouldn’t be on the major league roster right away.

The active roster was also finalized today with the placing of right hander Joel Zumaya and second baseman Carlos Guillen on the 15-day disabled list. Both players are still recovering from injuries suffered last season. Reports are that Zumaya will begin playing catch next week and that Guillen has resumed taking batting practice. Neither player is expected back before the end of April.

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