Tigers lose 1 pitcher, recover some depth as 2 players pass through waivers unclaimed

The Detroit Tigers lost one arm to the waiver wire this week, but quietly managed to recover some organizational depth at the same time.

While right-hander Grant Holman was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies after being designated for assignment, Detroit successfully passed both Yoniel Curet and Zack Short through waivers unclaimed. Curet will remain in the organization after being outrighted to Triple-A Toledo, while Short has the option to elect free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment.

For a Tigers pitching staff that has been stretched thin by injuries lately, keeping Curet around matters more than it might initially seem. He is still just 23 years old and has the kind of raw stuff teams are always hesitant to give up on entirely.

The right-hander was once viewed as one of the better pitching prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system, ranking as high as No. 11 in the Tampa Bay organization according to Baseball America in 2024. The appeal is obvious: upper-end velocity, swing-and-miss potential and a strikeout profile that still intrigues evaluators.

The problem with Curet, as it has been throughout his development, is command. That issue immediately resurfaced during his lone appearance with Triple-A Toledo, when he walked three of the six hitters he faced. Detroit designated him for assignment shortly afterward to clear room for Ricky Vanasco, but no other club decided to take a shot on him.

That allowed the Tigers to essentially stash a lottery-ticket arm back in Toledo without losing him entirely.

Tigers lose Grant Holman on waivers but recoup pitching depth with Yoniel Curet

Holman’s departure is a little more notable simply because of how many organizations have now shown interest in him. Since February alone, the 26-year-old has bounced from the Athletics to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tigers and now Phillies via waiver claims.

The Tigers were clearly intrigued by the same thing everyone else has been: Holman's unusual combination of strikeout ability, ground-ball tendencies and dominant minor-league production. He posted a microscopic 0.87 ERA in the minors dating back to the beginning of 2024, though some of that came with obvious warning signs, including a high walk rate. His major league results with the A's were far less impressive, as he posted a 4.66 ERA with shaky strikeout and walk numbers across 38.2 innings.

Still, losing Holman does trim some upper-level pitching depth from the organization at a time when Detroit’s bullpen picture remains largely unsettled. But by retaining Curet — a younger arm with upside remaining — the Tigers at least avoided turning this week’s waiver shuffle into a total organizational loss.

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