Tigers make more roster-clearing moves as they prepare for busy offseason

The offseason has commenced, and the Tigers kicked theirs off with a trade. Devin Sweet, a journeyman pitcher who Detroit claimed off of waivers back in January, was sent to the Phillies in exchange for cash.

On the same day, the Tigers declined Casey Mize's $3.1 million option for 2025, which will send him back to arbitration with the team after a $25,000 dispute last year.

The 40-man roster is currently full, as the Tigers also reinstated Javy Báez, Alex Faedo, and Sawyer Gipson-Long to the roster from the 60-day IL. Three players got the axe to accommodate those moves: Bligh Madris, Bryan Sammons, and Ryan Vilade were outrighted from the 40-man and returned to the minors.

The Tigers will still have to clear some room if their offseason is as active as we've been led to believe it will be, but some housekeeping was necessary, and Madris, Sammons, and Vilade were easy cuts for a team that needs to get into fighting form for 2025.

Tigers reinstate Javy Báez, Alex Faedo, Sawyer Gipson-Long; outright Bligh Madris, Bryan Sammons, Ryan Vilade

Madris was brought up for a short spell in late July into mid-August and put up decent numbers (.269 average, .682 OPS) off the Tigers' bench and as a temporary fill-in for Spencer Torkelson at first base (during Tork's stint in the minors), but it definitely wasn't enough for the Tigers to guarantee a bench spot for him in 2025 when they have a host of other options.

Sammons was brought up from the minors for his MLB debut when Mize was transferred to the 60-day IL in late July. He pitched 27 1/3 innings out of the Tigers bullpen for a 3.62 ERA and felt like a temporary fix for Detroit's pitching deficit after the trade deadline.

Vilade is seeming more and more like he'll turn into a farmhand for the Tigers much like Ryan Kreidler or Akil Baddoo. Vilade was a former top prospect with the Rockies who appeared in the 2020 All-Star Futures Game, but he's never been able to impress much in the majors. Unfortunately, he'll probably best be remembered for an awful missed catch back in August during a game against the Mariners, which eventually cost the Tigers a win.

It's possible we'll see any three of these players back in the majors in the event of injury for any of the primary position players, but for now, getting them off the 40-man was just the obvious move to make.