Tigers swipe ex-division rival pitcher from Phillies off waivers to fill 40-man roster

The Tigers' pitching staff has become exceedingly unlucky with pitching injuries as of late. Casey Mize spent some time on the IL, Reese Olson is currently on the IL, Alex Cobb has yet to suit up at all, and Jackson Jobe's rookie season just ended with the announcement that he'll undergo Tommy John surgery.

The bullpen has been without Alex Lange, Ty Madden, and Jason Foley throughout the season, John Brebbia was just DFA'ed, and fans are still waiting on word about Will Vest's pinky after he was pulled from Monday's game against the Reds.

Despite the injuries, the Tigers have usually turned to internal options over the waiver wire. The lone exception was reliever Ryan Cusick, part of the Braves-Athletics Matt Olson trade, but Cusick was once again sent off with a DFA before making a major league appearance for the Tigers. He's since been claimed by the White Sox, DFA'ed by the White Sox, and claimed by the Phillies.

Recently DFA'ed Phillies reliever Carlos Hernández joins Cusick on that very short list. He was DFA'ed on June 11; the Tigers announced that they had claimed him on Monday afternoon to take the last open spot on Detroit's 40-man roster.

Tigers claim relief pitcher Carlos Hernández off of waivers after Phillies DFA

Hernández left Philadelphia with a 5.26 ERA after 25 2/3 innings of work. He was claimed off of waivers by the Phillies just a few days before Opening Day this year after spending five seasons with the Royals. Kansas City employed him as a multipurpose guy throughout his tenure there; he's started 25 games, finished 42, and has pitched as many as seven innings in a single game and as little as 1/3. 2021 was his best season by far. He threw 85 2/3 innings for the Royals for a 3.68 ERA.

Given Cusick's very brief stint with the Tigers, Hernández might not last very long in Detroit, if he appears in the majors at all. If the tests Vest is undergoing on his pinky come back with bad results, Hernández would be an easy call-up to temporarily occupy his place on the 26-man, but we'll hold onto hope that Vest gets cleared.