Detroit Tigers exercising club option on catcher Carson Kelly

The Detroit Tigers are exercising the club option on Carson Kelly.

Hot stove season is underway as teams bolster their 40-man rosters, and the Detroit Tigers exercised a club option on catcher Carson Kelly, The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen reported Monday. Detroit acquired Kelly after the Arizona Diamondbacks designated him for assignment in August.

Heading into 2024, the Detroit Tigers' decision to exercise their option on catcher Carson Kelly is logical amid speculation that Detroit sought to address the position through a trade, possibly involving Eduardo Rodriguez to the Dodgers. However, details of the potential deal remain unknown.

Kelly, who split time between Arizona and Detroit, batted .206 with a .278 on-base percentage and a .287 slugging percentage in 136 at-bats. Known primarily for his defense, he replaced Eric Haase after Haase's release. Before his release, Kelly was in form, hitting .467 over eight games. He also set a rookie record for home runs by a catcher with 18 in his first full season with the Diamondbacks in 2019.

Scott Harris, the Detroit Tigers' president of baseball operations, praised Kelly, noting that injuries have impeded his performance both defensively and at the plate. Still, he commended Kelly's ability to manage the strike zone.

For now, it looks like Detroit will have Jake Rogers and Carson Kelly as the main catchers for Opening Day.

The current catching depth for the Detroit Tigers

Regarding catchers on the 40-man roster, Donny Sands, whom Detroit acquired in the trade involving Gregory Soto last winter, spent the season in the minors with a .230 average, a .318 on-base percentage, and a .360 slugging percentage. Following Sands, Dillon Dingler, Detroit’s second-round pick in the 2020 draft and eligible for the Rule 5 draft this season, is anticipated to receive consideration for the 2024 roster.

Another favorite within the organization is Eliezer Alfonzo. After playing the majority of the season with High-A West Michigan, Alfonzo quickly acclimated to Double-A Erie, contributing in just two regular-season games and in the postseason with the SeaWolves. He batted .263 overall (5-for-19) and delivered crucial hits against Binghamton in the championship series.

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