Another key cog in Tigers' 2024 run is playing his way off Detroit's roster

A number of heroes from the Tigers' 2024 miracle run no longer with the team or are just floating around in the baseball ether.

Jason Foley, the Tigers' closer in those days, has a 6.00 ERA with the Giants. Andy Ibáñez, who hit the clinching three-run double against the Astros in the Wild Card, is in the Mets' organization, hitting .265 with a .682 OPS in Triple-A. Justyn-Henry Malloy is hitting .158 with a .582 OPS with the Rays' Triple-A team. Jace Jung, Trey Sweeney, Beau Brieske, Sean Guenther, Brenan Hanifee, and Ty Madden are all still in the Tigers' system, but have played very little or not at all in the majors this season due to performance or injury.

That 2024 run feels more and more distant the more uncertain the Tigers' 2026 future looks. They're still six games under .500 and may be gearing up to trade their ace. A split series against the Royals, the third-worst team in the American League, won't cut it.

And the bloom has come off the rose for a lot of the remaining heroes. Matt Vierling, who was heralded as a clubhouse leader and had a career-best 2.8 bWAR in 2024, is one of the biggest disappointments.

In 90 games for the Tigers this season, he's hitting .203 with a .576 OPS, making him one of the worst qualified batters in the game.

Matt Vierling shouldn't be long for the Tigers' roster despite past heroics

The Tigers have always loved Vierling for his defensive versatility, and he put up a decent season in Detroit in 2023 before his folk hero-making one in 2024. He only managed to play in 31 games last season between long stints on the IL, and he hasn't looked the same since.

Vierling is still one of the older position players on the Tigers' roster, and no doubt he's still an important clubhouse presence. But when he strikes out swinging in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on, like he did on Saturday in a Tigers loss to the Royals, fans aren't going to be happy.

The front office has an established loyalty to guys like Vierling and Zach McKinstry, who have been with the team for a long time and can play all over the field — and are cheap. But if the Tigers get through the trade deadline without a major sale and with postseason hopes alive, Vierling should be looking over his shoulder to find Max Clark right behind him.

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