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Detroit Tigers: 3 players they should ditch before the All-Star break

By Matthew Scheidel

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 23: Eric Haase #13 of the Detroit Tigers looks on against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of the game at Target Field on May 23, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 23: Eric Haase #13 of the Detroit Tigers looks on against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of the game at Target Field on May 23, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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C/OF Eric Haase

Detroit Tigers' catcher Eric Haase
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 16: Eric Haase #13 of the Detroit Tigers tries to score from second base on a single by Miguel Cabrera but is tagged out by catcher Jonah Heim #28 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Comerica Park on June 16, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Haase was a really cool story last season. After being a career minor leaguer for the Cleveland Guardians, Haase came up as a 28-year-old rookie for his hometown club and hit 22 home runs. A lot of the underlying numbers suggested regression was coming for him in 2022, and well, they were right.

Haase is slashing .191/.248/.309 with just two homers so far in 2022. In fact, he’s only hitting .193 since Aug. 1 of last season. The league has clearly figured him out, and Haase hasn’t been able to adjust.

For his career, the Westland native is a .213/.267/.403 hitter. That’s a .670 OPS. It’s hard to keep a guy around with those numbers and only half a season’s worth of big league success.

His defense has been lacking this season as well, which seems like a mental thing more than anything. Everyone remembers his gaffe back on April 26 against the Minnesota Twins, where he threw a ball into the outfield after catching a runner in a rundown, leading to a walk-off win for the Twins.

He’s played a bit of left field this season, and he hasn’t looked terrible thanks in large part to his surprisingly high sprint speed. He hasn’t gotten as much playing time as last season, and it’s possible he could be better with more regular at-bats, but it is what it is.

Haase seems like a very likable guy and is a leader in the clubhouse. He was quite vocal after the team held a players-only meeting after Wednesday’s beatdown at the hands of the Chicago White Sox.

But the team can’t keep giving a roster spot to a journeyman who’s hitting .191, and with the Tigers claiming catcher Ali Sanchez off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals today, perhaps they are already preparing to say farewell to the local folk hero.

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