Tigers trading Jake Rogers actually paved way for insane history nobody expected

The Detroit Tigers deciding to move on from backup catcher Jake Rogers had more ramifications than usual when a team DFAa and subsequently trades a secondary backstop. Yet, that move set off a chain of events that hasn’t been seen in over 100 years.

First off, getting rid of Rogers closed the book on the Tigers’ disappointing return from the Justin Verlander trade. Rogers was the only prospect acquired from the Houston Astros who remained on the roster and it was a reminder of how that trade did not pan out for Detroit at all.

Dealing Rogers also foreshadowed the Tarik Skubal trade, a Rogers would often catch Skubal whenever he was on the mound. Sure enough, Skubal was gone a few days after Rogers.

Those were the immediate effects, but less than a month later, Rogers has played for four different big league teams including the Tigers. After Detroit moved on from him, he went to the Baltimore Orioles, then the Boston Red Sox, and he’s currently with the Chicago White Sox. 

Rogers’ journey has been a real odyssey over these last several weeks. He made history by becoming the first player to play for four separate MLB teams in a span of 21 days, breaking Frank Huelsman’s record from back in 1904.

Jake Rogers broke a record no one even knew existed

That is absolutely remarkable. It’s not uncommon for backup catchers to bounce around throughout a season. It seems like most of the players DFA’d and picked up are catchers, but to be with that many different teams in such a short amount of time has to be such a weird feeling for Rogers. He may not even know where he is or what team he’s playing for right now.

It’s not like he’s just come in and caught an inning for each of these teams. He’s had at-bats with all of them. After hitting .161/.266/.301 with Detroit, he went 1-for-5 with Baltimore, 3-for-6 with Boston (including two doubles), and has gone 1-for-10 so far with the White Sox.

We will have to see if he stays put with Chicago for a while, but odds are he may not be done bouncing around this year. At this point, he should just be intentionally trying to get DFA’d so he can set some absurd record. Why not 10 different teams in the last month of the season?

For Rogers’ sake though, he probably just wants to settle down somewhere so he can catch his breath. At this rate, he might end back up with the Tigers eventually, so at least he’s making some history while also familiarizing himself with a good chunk of the American League. 

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