The final cuts have been made. The opening day roster has been set and because of a quirk in MLB transaction rules the Tigers will begin the season with just 24 men on the big league roster. There were not a lot of surprises but after learning that starter Justin Verlander and relief pitcher Bruce Rondon would begin the year on the disabled list there was some intrigue as to who would lock down the final spots for the Tigers pitching staff.
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Blain Hardy and Kyle Ryan were in the running for bullpen spots but were optioned to Triple A Toledo Friday Morning. The Tigers also reassigned Josh Wilson to minor league camp to get them down to the 25 man limit.
Of course that is 25 men with Verlander who has yet to be placed on the disabled list. That will likely happen tomorrow and be retroactive to his last start.
Chris Iott of Mlive.com explains why the Tigers cannot carry an additional relief pitcher while JV sits on the DL.
“If the Tigers carry a relief pitcher on the roster to start the season, they would not be able to promote a starting pitcher to pitch in Verlander’s place for 10 days. So the Tigers might want to see how Verlander fares this weekend — he is scheduled to throw a bullpen session — before naming a replacement for him.”
Verlander is scheduled to pitch April 12 and if he remains on schedule for that return the Tigers can simply survive shorthanded till then or once that is more official than can bring up an additional bullpen arm.
There are some rumors of the Tigers looking to trade for an additional reliever but that would seem to be a separate issue for now. The Tigers open the season on Monday with David Price talking the mound for his first Opening Day start with the team.
Source : Christian Post