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]
The Detroit Tigers drew an average home attendance of 20,946 in 77 home games in the 2023 MLB season, the 25th highest in the league. The total attendance was 1,612,876.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
On December 31, 2022, the Tigers acquired infielder Tyler Nevin from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations.[14]
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.[15]
On March 27, 2023, the Tigers traded minor league pitcher Carlos Guzman to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for utility infielder Zach McKinstry.[17]
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.[18]
On June 8, 2023, the Tigers acquired minor league infielder Joe Rizzo from the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations.[19]
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.[20]
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.[22]
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.[23]
On October 13, 2022, pitcher Drew Hutchison elected free agency after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers.[24] On January 6, 2023, Hutchison signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[25]
On October 18, 2022, minor-league catcher Ali Sanchez was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates after being designated for assignment.[26]
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.[27] On the same day, relief pitcher Daniel Norris and catcher Tucker Barnhart also elected free agency.[28] On December 29, Barnhart signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.[29] On February 15, Chafin signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Norris signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.[30][31]
On November 9, 2022, outfielder Daz Cameron was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[28] Third-baseman Josh Lester cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Toledo Mud Hens but chose to elect free agency.[32] On December 6, Lester signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles.[33]
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.[28] Aside from Luis Garcia, all of the players elected free agency after rejecting the outright assignment.[34] On December 12, Reyes signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[35] On December 16, 2022, Castillo signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball.[36] On January 19, 2023, Rodriguez signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.[37] On February 7, 2023, Bryan Garcia signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.[38] 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.[39] On January 17, 2023, Funkhouser signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers.[40]
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.[41] On November 29. Candelario signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals.[42] On December 30, Willi Castro signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins.[43] On January 19, 2023, Harold Castro signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.[44]
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.[45]
On June 23, 2023, the Tigers released minor league infielder Brendon Davis.[46]
On July 8, 2023, the Tigers designated infielder Jonathan Schoop for assignment.[47] On July 14, Schoop was released by the Tigers.[48]
On July 9, 2023, the Tigers designated outfielder Jake Marisnick for assignment.[49] Marisnick refused his outright assignment and became a free agent on July 13.[50] He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers the next day.[51]
On August 11, 2023, the Tigers designated pitcher Chasen Shreve for assignment and he quickly cleared waivers and became a free agent.[52] He signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on August 18.[53]
On August 19, 2023 the Tigers designated catcher Eric Haase for assignment.[54] Haase was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians on August 22.[55]
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.[56] 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.[57] He was outrighted to the Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers on January 6, 2023.[45] The Tigers purchased his contract and added him to the active roster on April 29, 2023.[58]
On November 18, 2022, the Tigers claimed outfielder Bligh Madris off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.[59] Madris was designated for assignment on December 21 and ultimately traded away on January 3, 2023.[15]
On November 18, 2022, the Tigers and pitcher Tyler Alexander agreed on a one-year, $1.875 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[60]
On November 21, 2022, the Tigers re-signed recently non-tendered players Davis, Papierski, Diaz and Palacios to minor-league contracts.[61] Palacios was released by the Tigers on June 8, 2023.[62] Davis was released on June 23, 2023.[46] The Tigers selected Diaz's contract on September 1, 2023, and added him to the roster.[63]
On November 25, 2022, the Tigers and outfielder Austin Meadows agreed on a one-year, $4.3 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[64]
On December 14, 2022, the Tigers signed pitcher Matthew Boyd to a one-year, $10 million contract.[65]
On December 14, 2022, the Tigers signed pitcher Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $8.5 million contract.[66]
On December 23, 2022, the Tigers claimed pitcher Zach Logue off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.[68] Logue was designated for assignment on December 31. He was outrighted to the Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers on January 6, 2023.[45] After having his contract purchased in late June, Logue made three appearances for the Tigers before being designated for assignment again on August 7.[69]
On January 9, 2023, the Tigers sign pitcher Chasen Shreve to a minor-league contract. He made the team out of spring training.[70]
On January 13, 2023, the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $2.2875 million contract with pitcher José Cisnero, avoiding arbitration.[73]
On January 15, 2023, the Tigers signed pitcher Trey Wingenter to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.[74] He made the team out of spring training.[75]
On January 30, 2023, the Tigers signed outfielder Jonathan Davis to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.[76] On May 22, 2023, Davis was traded to the Miami Marlins for minor-league outfielder Brady Allen.[77]
On February 15, 2023, the Tigers signed pitcher Jace Fry to a minor-league contract.[78] The Tigers released Fry on June 8.[62]
On February 17, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher Tyler Holton off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.[79] After starting the season being optioned to AAA Toledo, Holton was called up on April 15.[80]
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.[81] After being placed on the 60-day injured list to start the season, Pacheco had season ending Tommy John surgery on June 5.[82]
On May 1, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher Braden Bristo off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[83] After pitching in two games for the Tigers, Bristo was designated for assignment on June 18.[20] After clearing waivers, Bristo was outrighted to AAA Toledo.[84]
On May 16, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher Seth Elledge off waivers from the New York Mets. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[85] He was designated for assignment on June 18.[86] After clearing waivers, Elledge elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[87]
On June 9, 2023, the Tigers claimed infielder Nick Solak off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[88] Solak was called up the next day.[89]
On June 18, 2023, the Tigers claimed pitcher Anthony Misiewicz off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[86] Misiewicz was called up on June 28.[90] 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.[91]
On June 23, 2023, the Tigers signed minor league infielder Johan Camargo and assigned him to AAA Toledo.[92] The Tigers released Camargo on August 3.[93]
On August 7, 2023, the Tigers claimed infielder Isan Díaz off waivers from the San Francisco Giants. He was optioned to AAA Toledo.[69] Diaz cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Toledo on August 28 after being called up and playing in two games for the Tigers.[95] Diaz refused his assignment to Toledo and elected free agency.[96]
On August 19, 2023, the Tigers signed catcher Carson Kelly to a major league contract.[54]
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.[104]
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