The 2023 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 123rd season and its 24th at
Comerica Park. This was the Tigers' third season under manager
A. J. Hinch. The regular season began on March 30 and ended on October 1.[4] This was the final season for long-time Tigers slugger
Miguel Cabrera, who announced he would retire from playing.[5] The Tigers finished with a 78–84 record, second place in the
AL Central behind the
Minnesota Twins, and failed to make the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.[6]
Announcer changes
The Tigers added several new announcers this season on both television and radio.
Cameron Maybin and
Todd Jones were added as
TV analysts for select games.[1] Maybin was also heard on select
radio broadcasts, in addition to analyst
Bobby Scales and Daniella Bruce as pre-game interviewer and host.[2] Former Tigers outfielder
Andy Dirks has also filled in as analyst for some games on Tigers Radio, as he did in 2022.[7] Carlos Guillén,
Bárbaro Garbey and Mari Montes called 22 games in Spanish on
WXYT 1270 AM.[3]
This was the final season for TV play-by-play announcer
Matt Shepard, who had been in that role full time since September 2018 and had previously served as backup to
Mario Impemba.[8]
The Tigers also lost a longtime announcer this season on August 7, when former Tigers catcher and color commentator
Jim Price died at the age of 81. Price was a member of the
1968 World Series Champion
Tigers team and had been the Tigers radio analyst since 1998. He performed the same role on
TV from 1993–1997.[9]
Roster moves
Coaching staff
On October 7, 2022, the Tigers fired hitting coach
Scott Coolbaugh and quality-control coach
Josh Paul. Third-base coach
Ramon Santiago and assistant hitting coach
Mike Hessman were reassigned and offered minor-league coaching positions.[10]
On December 31, 2022, the Tigers acquired infielder
Tyler Nevin from the
Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations.[13]
On January 3, 2023, the Tigers traded outfielder
Bligh Madris to the
Houston Astros in exchange for cash considerations after previously claiming him off waivers and then designating him for assignment.[14]
On March 27, 2023, the Tigers traded minor league pitcher Carlos Guzman to the
Chicago Cubs in exchange for utility infielder
Zach McKinstry.[16]
On May 30, 2023, the Tigers acquired minor league outfielder
Jake Marisnick from the
Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations. His contract was selected by the Tigers the next day and he was added to the major league roster.[17]
On June 8, 2023, the Tigers acquired minor league infielder
Joe Rizzo from the
Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations.[18]
On June 18, 2023, the Tigers acquired pitcher
Blair Calvo from the
Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations. He was then optioned to AAA Toledo.[19]
On August 1, 2023, the Tigers acquired minor league shortstop
Eddys Leonard from the
Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations. He was then optioned to AAA Toledo.[21]
Releases
On October 10, 2022, pitcher
Drew Carlton elected free agency. On December 10, he signed a minor league contract with the
San Diego Padres.[22]
On October 13, 2022, pitcher
Drew Hutchison elected free agency after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers.[23] On January 6, 2023, Hutchison signed a minor-league contract with the
Toronto Blue Jays.[24]
On October 18, 2022, minor-league catcher
Ali Sanchez was claimed off waivers by the
Pittsburgh Pirates after being designated for assignment.[25]
On November 6, 2022, relief pitcher
Andrew Chafin opted out of the second year of his two-year contract with Detroit, making him a free agent.[26] On the same day, relief pitcher
Daniel Norris and catcher
Tucker Barnhart also elected free agency.[27] On December 29, Barnhart signed a two-year contract with the
Chicago Cubs.[28] On February 15, Chafin signed a one-year deal with the
Arizona Diamondbacks and Norris signed a minor league contract with the
Cincinnati Reds.[29][30]
On November 9, 2022, outfielder
Daz Cameron was claimed off waivers by the
Baltimore Orioles.[27] Third-baseman
Josh Lester cleared waivers and was outrighted to the
Toledo Mud Hens but chose to elect free agency.[31] On December 6, Lester signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles.[32]
On November 10, 2022, the Tigers outrighted shortstops Luis García and
Jermaine Palacios, outfielder
Víctor Reyes and pitchers
Bryan Garcia,
Elvin Rodríguez and
Luis Castillo to their triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens.[27] Aside from Luis Garcia, all of the players elected free agency after rejecting the outright assignment.[33] On December 12, Reyes signed a minor-league contract with the
Chicago White Sox.[34] On December 16, 2022, Castillo signed with the
Chiba Lotte Marines of
Nippon Professional Baseball.[35] On January 19, 2023, Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the
Tampa Bay Rays.[36] On February 7, 2023, Bryan Garcia signed a minor league contract with the
Houston Astros.[37] Luis Garcia was released on July 20, 2023.
On November 15, 2022, the Tigers outrighted pitcher Sean Guenther to Toledo after being designated for assignment. The Tigers also designated pitchers
Miguel Diaz and
Kyle Funkhouser for assignment along with infielder
Brendon Davis and catcher
Michael Papierski.[38] On January 17, 2023, Funkhouser signed a minor league deal with the
Texas Rangers.[39]
On November 18, 2022, the Tigers did not tender contracts to infielders
Jeimer Candelario,
Willi Castro and
Harold Castro, all of whom became free agents. They also non-tendered designated players Diaz, Funkhouser, Davis and Papierski.[40] On November 29. Candelario signed a one-year contract with the
Washington Nationals.[41] On December 30, Willi Castro signed a minor-league deal with the
Minnesota Twins.[42] On January 19, 2023, Harold Castro signed a minor league contract with the
Colorado Rockies.[43]
On December 23, 2022, the Tigers designated
Ángel De Jesús for assignment. He was outrighted to the
Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers on January 6, 2023.[44]
On June 23, 2023, the Tigers released minor league infielder
Brendon Davis.[45]
On July 8, 2023, the Tigers designated infielder
Jonathan Schoop for assignment.[46] On July 14, Schoop was released by the Tigers.[47]
On July 9, 2023, the Tigers designated outfielder Jake Marisnick for assignment.[48] Marisnick refused his outright assignment and became a free agent on July 13.[49] He signed with the
Los Angeles Dodgers the next day.[50]
On August 11, 2023, the Tigers designated pitcher
Chasen Shreve for assignment and he quickly cleared waivers and became a free agent.[51] He signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on August 18.[52]
On August 19, 2023 the Tigers designated catcher
Eric Haase for assignment.[53] Haase was claimed off waivers by the
Cleveland Guardians on August 22.[54]
Signings
On November 2, 2022, the Tigers claimed relief pitcher
Sean Guenther off waivers from the
Miami Marlins. He sat out the entire 2022 season after having
Tommy John surgery.[55] He was outrighted to the
Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers on November 15, 2022.
On November 10, 2022, the Tigers claimed infielder
Andy Ibanez off waivers from the
Texas Rangers.[56] He was outrighted to the
Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers on January 6, 2023.[44] The Tigers purchased his contract and added him to the active roster on April 29, 2023.[57]
On November 18, 2022, the Tigers claimed outfielder
Bligh Madris off waivers from the
Tampa Bay Rays.[58] Madris was designated for assignment on December 21 and ultimately traded away on January 3, 2023.[14]
On November 18, 2022, the Tigers and pitcher
Tyler Alexander agreed on a one-year, $1.875 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[59]
On November 21, 2022, the Tigers re-signed recently non-tendered players Davis, Papierski, Diaz and Palacios to minor-league contracts.[60] Palacios was released by the Tigers on June 8, 2023.[61] Davis was released on June 23, 2023.[45] The Tigers selected Diaz's contract on September 1, 2023, and added him to the roster.[62]
On November 25, 2022, the Tigers and outfielder
Austin Meadows agreed on a one-year, $4.3 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[63]
On December 14, 2022, the Tigers signed pitcher
Matthew Boyd to a one-year, $10 million contract.[64]
On December 14, 2022, the Tigers signed pitcher
Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract.[65]
On December 23, 2022, the Tigers claimed pitcher
Zach Logue off waivers from the
Oakland Athletics.[67] Logue was designated for assignment on December 31. He was outrighted to the
Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers on January 6, 2023.[44] After having his contract purchased in late June, Logue made three appearances for the Tigers before being designated for assignment again on August 7.[68]
On January 9, 2023, the Tigers sign pitcher
Chasen Shreve to a minor-league contract. He made the team out of spring training.[69]
On January 13, 2023, the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $2.2875 million contract with pitcher
José Cisnero, avoiding arbitration.[72]
On January 15, 2023, the Tigers signed pitcher
Trey Wingenter to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.[73] He made the team out of spring training.[74]
On January 30, 2023, the Tigers signed outfielder
Jonathan Davis to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.[75] On May 22, 2023, Davis was traded to the
Miami Marlins for minor-league outfielder Brady Allen.[76]
On February 15, 2023, the Tigers signed pitcher
Jace Fry to a minor-league contract.[77] The Tigers released Fry on June 8.[61]
On February 17, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher
Tyler Holton off waivers from the
Arizona Diamondbacks.[78] After starting the season being optioned to AAA Toledo, Holton was called up on April 15.[79]
On March 14, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher
Freddy Pacheco off waivers from the
St. Louis Cardinals. He was optioned to AAA Toledo, and invited to major league spring training.[80] After being placed on the 60-day injured list to start the season, Pacheco had season ending Tommy John surgery on June 5.[81]
On May 1, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher
Braden Bristo off waivers from the
Tampa Bay Rays. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[82] After pitching in two games for the Tigers, Bristo was designated for assignment on June 18.[19] After clearing waivers, Bristo was outrighted to AAA Toledo.[83]
On May 16, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher
Seth Elledge off waivers from the
New York Mets. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[84] He was designated for assignment on June 18.[85] After clearing waivers, Elledge elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the
Atlanta Braves.[86]
On June 9, 2023, the Tigers claimed infielder
Nick Solak off waivers from the
Atlanta Braves. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[87] Solak was called up the next day.[88]
On June 18, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher
Anthony Misiewicz off waivers from the
Arizona Diamondbacks. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[85] Misiewicz was called up on June 28.[89] He only pitched in one game for the Tigers before being designated for assignment. The
New York Yankees claimed Misiewicz off waivers on July 6.[90]
On June 23, 2023, the Tigers signed minor league infielder
Johan Camargo and assigned him to AAA Toledo.[91] The Tigers released Camargo on August 3.[92]
On August 7, 2023, the Tigers claimed infielder
Isan Díaz off waivers from the
San Francisco Giants. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[68] Diaz cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Toledo on August 28 after being called up and playing in two games for the Tigers.[94] Diaz refused his assignment to Toledo and elected free agency.[95]
On August 19, 2023, the Tigers signed catcher
Carson Kelly to a major league contract.[53]
On July 2, the Tigers hit two
grand slams against the
Colorado Rockies, the first time since May
2009 the team has achieved this feat. The Tigers hit five total home runs in their 14–9 victory.[103]
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts