Tigers part with former first-round pick in corresponding Tommy Kahnle move

ByEmma Lingan|
Kansas City Royals v Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals v Detroit Tigers | Nic Antaya/GettyImages

If you thought that signing Tommy Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract in free agency was the most shocking thing the Detroit Tigers were going to do today, just wait until you hear about the corresponding roster move.

According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers have cleared a space for Kahnle on their 40-man roster by designating right-handed reliever Alex Faedo for assignment. Faedo, a former first-round pick and top prospect for the Tigers, is out of minor league options in 2025, which reportedly influenced the club's decision to DFA him.

Faedo can be outrighted to Triple-A Toledo if he clears waivers, but it would not be surprising to see him claimed or traded in the coming days.

While the lack of options might make him less appealing as a waiver pickup, but he could still be a valuable depth piece for a pitching-hungry team.

Tigers part with former first-round pick Alex Faedo in corresponding Tommy Kahnle move

The Tigers selected Faedo with the 18th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. The 29-year-old has pitched in each of the past three seasons with Detroit but has yet to cement his spot in either the rotation or the bullpen. He made the club's Opening Day roster for the first time last season.

Faedo's 2024 season was nothing special, but hardly what most would consider worthy of a DFA. He pitched mostly in relief (and as an opener) last season, logging a 3.61 ERA over 57 1/3 innings and striking out 22.4% of opponents while issuing walks at an 11.4% rate. In 64 career MLB games with the Tigers, he has a 4.51 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

Faedo suffered a season-ending shoulder strain in late August of what would have been his first full MLB season, but he was administered a PRP injection and expected to have a normal offseason. If he does clear waivers and ends up in Toledo, he will likely still attend Tigers spring training as a non-roster invitee and have a chance to compete for one of the few remaining spots in Detroit's bullpen.

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