Detroit Tigers add Jeff Ferrell, designate Edward Mujica for assignment

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jeff Ferrell has returned to the Majors. The right-hander had his contract selected on Sunday. Edward Mujica was designated for assignment to make room.

Detroit Tigers fans will see a familiar face return to the team in the form of relief pitcher Jeff Ferrell.

Ferrell, a former 26^th-round pick of the Tigers in the 2010 draft, is making his return to the Majors after appearing in nine games for Detroit in 2015.

The 26-year-old allowed 12 hits, eight earned runs, four walks and three home runs in 11.1 innings in for the Tigers that season. He also struck out six.

All told, Ferrell’s ERA finished at 6.35. His FIP checked in at 6.58.

Now, the pitcher returns to the Majors after making just nine minor league appearances in 2016.

The Tigers announced the move to bring back Ferrell in a tweet on the team’s official Twitter account on Sunday morning.

Detroit tweeted:

“The #Tigers designated RHP Edward Mujica for assignment today & selected the contract of RHP Jeff Ferrell from Toledo. He will wear No. 66.”

More on Ferrell

Ferrell spent four of his first five minor league seasons as a starter, but has work exclusively as a reliever in 2017.

In 49 relief appearances (55.1 innings) between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, the right-hander owns a 2.28 ERA and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

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He also did a solid job limiting damage, with just 2.4 walks and 0.3 home runs allowed per nine innings.

Ferrell gives the Tigers a fresh arm in the bullpen.

Detroit used four relievers in both Friday and Saturday’s games, including Daniel Stumpf and Joe Jimenez, who threw in both contests.

Edward Mujica

Ferrell takes the place on the active roster and 40-man roster of Edward Mujica, who threw in five games for the Tigers in his return to the Majors.

Similar to Ferrell, Mujica hadn’t pitched at baseball’s highest level since 2015. An 11-year veteran with stops in Cleveland, San Diego, Florida, St. Louis, Boston and Oakland, the right-hander owns a career 3.92 ERA.

His lifetime FIP sits at 3.94, but Mujica wasn’t able to turn in similar results with the Tigers.

In 6.1 innings, the reliever allowed 11 hits and seven earned runs. He did strike out seven, but had trouble with the long ball—surrendering four home runs.

40-man roster implications

With Mujica now off the 40-man roster, the Detroit Tigers still have an open spot to work with.

That 40-man roster spot could be used to take a flier on a player let go elsewhere or to promote a minor league player not on the 40-man unit to the Majors.

Current minor league players in Toledo who could fit that bill include bullpen prospects Bryan Garcia and Zac Reininger as well as fellow reliever Ruben Alaniz and starter Joshua Turley.

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Infielder Omar Infante is another potential candidate for the open roster spot.