Tigers make trade with Brewers and reveal bad news for top pitching prospect

The Tigers are in desperate need of some outfield depth, given that theirs has been cut into on multiple levels with injuries for Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling, Wenceel Pérez, and Akil Baddoo. Ryan Kreidler, who the Tigers picked over Justyn-Henry Malloy, is currently playing center field, but if something were to happen to Kreidler as well, Detroit would be severely hurting for solutions.

To partially remedy this, they acquired an outfielder from the Brewers, appropriately named Brewer Hicklen, in exchange for cash considerations. In order to accommodate him on the 40-man roster, they moved Ty Madden, who was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain a few weeks ago, from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.

Hicklen, a seventh-round pick for the Royals in 2017, was DFA'ed by the Brewers on Thursday to make room on the 40-man for Jake Bauers, after Hicklen was optioned to their Triple-A team a few weeks prior. He appeared in three games for Milwaukee last September, but went hitless at the plate with one stolen base (after he subbed in as a pinch-runner).

Tigers trade for OF Brewer Hicklen, but reveal bad news for Ty Madden

Hicklen also appeared momentarily for the Royals back in 2022, but he failed to pick up a hit through six games, and he elected free agency from the organization in 2023 before signing a minor league deal with the Brewers. He's been a decent hitter in Triple-A, batting .246 with an .833 OPS, 22 homers, and 72 RBI last year in 115 games, but clearly hasn't gotten enough play in the majors to make an impression.

The accompanying Madden news is a blow; he might've made the Opening Day roster if he hadn't had the shoulder issue that led him to start the season on the 15-day. Madden is the Tigers' No. 15 prospect this year but struggled in spring training, though he only managed to pitch two two-inning outings before getting hurt.

It's unlikely that Hicklen will surface in the majors with the Tigers unless Kreidler gets hurt or slumps so badly at the plate that the team has no choice but to try someone else in the lineup, but it's a painless pickup for the Tigers to make that will add some reassurance while they wait for Meadows, Vierling, and Co. to be ready to go again.