Tigers select longtime farmhand pitcher as Detroit makes predictable Will Vest move

Will Vest went onto the 15-day IL for the second time this season on July 1, but an eventual move to the 60-day was inevitable. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his elbow after a visit with Rangers surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, who determined that he won't need surgery but will need time and rest.

The Tigers have yet to provide an update aside from "Will Vest is completing rehab daily," which is basically their way of saying that he hasn't taken any notable steps toward a return.

On Sunday, they officially moved him to the 60-day IL and selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Troy Watson.

Watson has been in the Tigers organization since August 2024, when he was DFA'ed by the Blue Jays and traded to Detroit for cash.

He's ridden a rollercoaster within the organization: he elected free agency at the end of 2024 but ended up re-signing a minor league deal with Detroit. He was demoted to Double-A for a spell in 2025 but improved enough to earn a non-roster invite to spring training in 2026, but he ended up starting the season on the IL and returned on May 9.

Per Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, Watson had an opportunity overseas, which prompted the Tigers to select his contract.

Tigers move Will Vest to the 60-day IL, select righty pitcher Troy Watson's contract

Watson's looked pretty good in Triple-A since coming off the IL, pitching 46 innings for a 3.33 ERA. The Mud Hens tend to use him in a kind of Tyler Holton-ian way. He's made eight starts since returning to Toledo and three long relief appearances ranging from three to five innings.

If the Tigers were to call him up — maybe even on Tuesday ahead of their second game against the Cubs, given that AJ Hinch used five relievers on Monday — they would almost certainly use exclusively him out of the bullpen, but he could also be a prime doubleheader, 27th man candidate should the Tigers get a postponement at any point before Vest is healthy.

It's notable that the Tigers decided to keep Watson, as they recently let go of a couple other pitchers who exercised upward mobility clauses. He might not end up being a major league factor for the Tigers at all this season, but it's good for the Tigers to have option-able arms on the 40-man in the event of injury or underperformance.

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