RENATO NUNEZ

When the Detroit Tigers signed Renato Nunez just before spring training, some thought he would end up being the club’s regular first baseman. He played nearly every day for the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 and 2020, blasting 43 home runs in 815 plate appearances. Now he’s heading overseas for a big payday and more opportunities. The 27-year-old native of Venezuela has signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, according to multiple reports, including Yahoo Japan. The Tigers already had Miguel Cabrera on the roster, and with just a three-man bench for most of the season, Hinch needed someone with more flexibility, rather than someone who just duplicated Cabrera’s role.

Akil Baddoo will rejoin the Detroit Tigers this week in St. Louis. Baddoo was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in advance of Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals. To make room for Baddoo, the Tigers designated right-handed pitcher Drew Hutchison for assignment. Outfielders (6): Akil Baddoo, Daz Cameron, Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill, Victor Reyes, Jacob Robson. * on the 10-day Major League injured list** on the 7-day minor-league injured listCatcher Jake Rogers (right arm soreness); left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd; (left arm discomfort) and right-handed pitchers Julio Teheran (right shoulder strain), Rony Garcia (knee) and Spencer Turnbull (right forearm strain) are on the 60-day injured list, which removes them from the 40-man roster.

Cleveland rookie Ernie Clement hit the first two homers of his career while Miguel Cabrera stayed one drive short of No. 500 as the Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4.

The Indians (56-58) snapped a three-game win streak for the Tigers (57-61), who had drawn even in the standings one night earlier. Tigers starter Tyler Alexander allowed four runs in five innings of work. Indians starter Zach Plesac went 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine without a walk. Tigers rookie left fielder Jacob Robson went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts but made a nice sliding catch in foul territory in his first career start. Up next: The Tigers and Indians meet again on Saturday at 6:10 p.m. Right-hander Wily Peralta (3-2, 3.48 ERA) will pitch for the Tigers.

BALTIMORE -- Miguel Cabrera watched from the dugout as his teammates, including two countrymen, took care of business Thursday afternoon at Camden Yards. The Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 to complete a three-game sweep. The Tigers play a three-game series with the Indians beginning Friday night in Detroit. Orioles ace John Means held the Tigers scoreless through three innings, but faltered in a five-run fourth. pic.twitter.com/tcvFI6jMpk — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 12, 2021Robbie Grossman added a solo home run in the fifth.

BALTIMORE -- After wrestling with the issue overnight, Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Miguel Cabrera will not play in Thursday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. That means his chase for 500 home runs is likely to resume on Friday in Detroit, when the Tigers open a six-game homestand against the Cleveland Indians. Cabrera hit his 499th career home run on Wednesday and expressed his desire to play again Thursday to help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles. Hinch will address the media before Thursday’s game, but there are thought to be two primary reasons for the change.

The Detroit Tigers have announced four new roster moves, including Akil Baddoo and Derek Hill going on the injured list after a nasty collision in the outfield.

Airport athletic director Tom Oestrike is leaving to take the same job at Hazel Park.

The Detroit Tigers are 29-22 since May 8, which is the best two-month stretch (by far) since 2016. Although it would be hard, almost impossible, to envision a scenario in which the Tigers would trade Torkelson, let’s address it as a hypothetical. Torkelson is playing some third base now, but will probably end up as a first baseman in the big leagues. If Torkelson just hits well in the big leagues, he will have a nice career like C.J. So maybe the Tigers would be tempted to listen if a team offered a package of players for Torkelson.

Detroit Tigers continue to receive good news about Matthew Boyd's left knee tendinitis. He seems lined up to return next weekend against the Twins.

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers manager A.J. For all those reasons and more, it’s likely the Tigers will hold off on any major decisions at least until mid-May. Detroit Tigers catcher Grayson Greiner plays catch during a workout in Lakeland, Fla., on Feb. 17, 2021. (Allison Farrand / Detroit Tigers) (Photo used by permission from Detroit Tigers)2. Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones makes a catch for an out on a fly ball from Kansas City Royals' Hanser Alberto during the second inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Saturday, April 24, 2021.

DETROIT -- First baseman Renato Nunez will stick around with the Detroit Tigers in hopes of getting another chance at the big-league level. Nunez passed through waivers unclaimed by any other team and was outrighted to the alternate training site in Toledo, the Tigers announced on Monday. Nunez failed to make the team out of spring training but joined the club from Toledo after Miguel Cabrera suffered a left biceps injury on April 10. Nunez has been previously outrighted, so he had the right to reject his assignment to Toledo and become a free agent. He had the same opportunity after spring training.

Detroit Tigers rookie Zack Short, who has spent most of his career at shortstop, will make his Major League debut on Wednesday at third base. Short, 25, played all over the infield in spring training but has only 22 minor-league starts at third base. Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will start Game 1 against Pirates lefty Tyler Anderson (1-2, 4.02). Zack Short making his MLB debut at third base in Game 1 of today's doubleheader. UPDATE: The Tigers released an updated lineup before the game.

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers slugging first baseman Renato Nunez has been designated for assignment just 10 days after he joined the team. The Tigers also announced that infielder Zack Short was being recalled from the alternate site in Toledo to take Nunez’s spot on the active roster. Nunez failed to make the team out of spring training but joined the club from Toledo after Miguel Cabrera suffered a left biceps injury. He did well in his first spring training with the Tigers, going 5-for-19 with five walks and playing solid defense. TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (39)Players in bold are on the 26-man active roster.

Detroit Tigers rookie outfielder Akil Baddoo, who hit his third home run and came very close to hitting his fourth, is back in the lineup Tuesday night. The Tigers (4-6) play the Houston Astros (6-4) in the second of a three-game series at 8:10 p.m. at Minute Maid Park. Baddoo will once again play center field and bat eighth. Wilson Ramos, who served as designated hitter on Monday, will catch Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd for the third time this season. No Tigers has faced Odorizzi more than Schoop, who is hitting .353 (12-for-34) against him in his career.

Akil Baddoo did it again. Only this time, the ball traveled 450 feet, and the blast came against a potential Hall of Famer.

Rookie Akil Baddoo hit another home run and Casey Mize threw seven scoreless innings in the best start of his young career as the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 6-2 Monday night at Minute Maid Park. “That was a good night for us,” said Tigers manager A.J. It was the longest home run by a Tigers rookie since Statcast was unveiled in 2015. After his home run, Baddoo hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth and then doubled off the wall in the seventh. Up next: The Tigers (4-6) and Astros (6-4) meet again at 8:10 p.m. on Tuesday.

Renato Nunez will make his first start at first base when the Detroit Tigers open a three-game series with the Houston Astros on Monday night at Minute Maid Park. Regular catcher Wilson Ramos, who has hit a team-high four home runs, will be the designated hitter and bat cleanup. Rookie outfielder Akil Baddoo will start in center field after getting Sunday off. He was on the mound for Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, which was the last time Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was at Minute Maid Park.

CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Tigers placed slugger Miguel Cabrera on the 10-day injured list with a left biceps strain Sunday morning. “I told him I didn’t want him to keep fighting it.”To replace Cabrera, the Tigers have selected the contract of first baseman Renato Nunez. He goes on the injured list with 2,869 career hits and 488 career home runs. Here's how we line up for the series finale.#DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/ZQvZrtTPGh — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 11, 2021Nunez is a native of Venezuela who grew up idolizing Cabrera. Infielders (9): Miguel Cabrera*, Jeimer Candelario, Harold Castro, Willi Castro, Niko Goodrum, Renato Nunez, Isaac Paredes, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Short.

DETROIT – Even though a playoff race isn’t in the cards for the Detroit Tigers this season, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this team ahead of Opening Day. READ: Meet all 26 members of the Tigers’ rosterWe came up with 22 questions we can’t wait to learn the answers to over the coming months. Nobody knew who he was when the Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft, mostly because he missed the entire 2020 season and hasn’t played above High-A ball. An underrated part of the shortened 2020 season was Soto’s hot start. Daniel Norris #44 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the game at Target Field on September 22, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Renato Nunez is sticking with the Detroit Tigers. We wanted him to stay with us and ultimately come up to the big leagues at some point. He loves this team and he loves the fit....He can be part of the solution here.”The Tigers opted to keep a flexible bench bat, namely Harold Castro, instead of the more one-dimensional Nunez. That means the Tigers might reconsider in the weeks to come, and that possibility was apparently enough to get Nunez to stick around. He seemed like a perfect fit for the Tigers, who were without a true first baseman, but Hinch opted for flexibility in building his roster.

But it is surprising that the Tigers turned away someone who would almost certainly lead the team in home runs for....Harold Castro? Here are six questions and answers about what this means for the Tigers now and going forward1. Jeimer Candelario will be the primary third baseman, which will leave Niko Goodrum, Harold Castro and, of course, Miguel Cabrera at first. The best bet is that Cabrera plays in the field once or twice a week and the Tigers essentially platoon Harold Castro and Goodrum on the other days. What is it about Harold Castro?

The Detroit Tigers have informed first baseman Renato Nunez that he will not make the Opening Day roster. That means utility men Harold Castro and Niko Goodrum will make the club as bench players and the Tigers will use a rotating cast of players at first base. Barring a late injury or waiver acquisition, the Tigers’ 26-man roster is now set. You guys can do it, too.”TIGERS’ OPENING DAY ROSTER (26)Position players (13)Catchers (2): Grayson Greiner, Wilson Ramos. Infielders (6): Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario, Harold Castro, Willi Castro, Niko Goodrum, Jonathan Schoop.

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers sent prospect Isaac Paredes to minor league camp this week, scrambling the starting infield with Opening Day less than a week away. Robbie Grossman, LFSpring stats: .243/.364/.486 (.850 OPS), 2 HR, 3 doubles, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts in 37 at-bats. AdSince the day the Tigers signed Grossman, he’s felt like the best fit atop the lineup. Well, this spring he’s strengthened that case with a .364 on-base percentage. 8 slot behind Wilson Ramos, but so far this spring, Hinch has had him above the catcher in the lineup.

The Detroit Tigers optioned infield prospect Isaac Paredes to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, ending the 22-year-old’s bid for an Opening Day roster spot. The Tigers also optioned catcher Jake Rogers to Toledo. Greg Garcia — Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) March 25, 2021While Paredes made his Major League debut last season, Rogers actually debuted in 2019. Right-handed pitchers (10): Jose Cisnero, Buck Farmer, Michael Fulmer, Bryan Garcia, Rony Garcia, Joe Jimenez, Casey Mize, Julio Teheran, Spencer Turnbull, Jose Ureña. * LHP Ian Krol, RHP Wily Peralta and RHP Erasmo Ramirez officially remain on the camp roster but have been informed they will not make the team.

After that point, the Tigers will start gearing up in earnest for the regular season and Opening Day on April 1. And if they happen, this might be the best Tigers’ team since 2016. Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal watches a practice at the club's spring facility in Lakeland, Fla., on February 24, 2021. The other option, of course, is just to send Mize and Skubal down to Toledo to start the season.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Detroit Tigers outfielder Victor Reyes has been cleared and will be a full participant in camp for the first time on Sunday. Jonathan Schoop, who had been delayed in Curacao, is also in Lakeland and beginning the intake process. Both Reyes and Schoop should make the team, but Nunez will be competing for a roster spot and is likely eager to get some at-bats. Perez, 23, was once the Tigers’ top prospect but has not pitched much over the last two years due to injury. New arrivals: The Tigers have added outfielder Parker Meadows and infielder Ryan Kreidler to the minor-league minicamp in Lakeland.

TIGERS IN 2021: This is the eighth in a series of profiles on the Detroit Tigers’ organizational depth heading into the 2021 season. We might not know the answer to that question until the end of spring training. “For Nunez, obviously his ability to play first base is going to be key,” Tigers manager A.J. Non-roster invitees to spring training: Renato Nunez, Daniel Pinero (utility), Aderlin Rodriguez (also plays third). Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera bats during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo.

General manager Al Avila said the Tigers were still looking for pitching, probably a starter, on a Major League or minor-league deal. “We’re definitely looking for more pitching as we speak,” Avila said. Avila said the Tigers have discussed using a six-man rotation in 2021 as one strategy to handle the transition from a 60-game to 162-game season. Hinch do with so much pitching, especially if the Tigers add one more arm to the mix in the coming days? “You might see more players being brought up and optioned as you need fresh arms from week to week,” Avila said.

Cron, whose 2020 season with the Detroit Tigers was ended prematurely by a knee injury, has signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies. The Tigers signed former Baltimore Orioles first baseman Renato Nunez to a minor-league deal two weeks ago, effectively ending any chance of a reunion with Cron. Cron signed a one-year, $6.1 million contract with the Tigers prior to the 2020 season but was forced to settle for a minor-league deal in what has been a chilly free-agent market, especially for mid-tier players. Cron is the last of five Tigers’ Major League free agents to sign a deal. Catcher Austin Romine signed a big-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, while right-handed pitcher Ivan Nova signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and Jordan Zimmermann signed a minor-league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have had a busy offseason in free agency, making a number of minor moves to improve the current roster and potentially be more competitive in 2021. AdINF Greg GarciaDetails : Signed to minor league dealLast season : .200/.279/.250 (.529 OPS) with 3 doubles, 7 walks, 18 strikeouts in 35 games. OF Robbie GrossmanDetails : Signed a 2-year, $10 million dealLast season : .241/.344/.482 (.826 OPS) with 12 doubles, 9 home runs, 21 walks, 38 strikeouts in 51 games. C Wilson RamosDetails : Signed 1-year, $2 million dealLast season : .239/.297/.387 (.684 OPS) with 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 10 walks, 31 strikeouts in 45 games. RHP Jose UrenaDetails : Signed 1-year, $3.25 million dealLast season : 5.40 ERA, 6.06 FIP, 1.500 WHIP, 15 strikeouts, 13 walks in 23.1 innings.

We don’t know for a fact that Renato Nunez will end up as the Detroit Tigers first baseman. It’s a safe bet he wouldn’t have signed with the Tigers without a clear path to the first base job. Why did he have to settle for a minor-league contract? Take Nunez’s numbers and put him at shortstop and he’s making millions (or tens of millions if he’s a good defender). That’s why he’s in Detroit now, and that’s why he’s a good bet to make the roster.

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have agreed to minor league deals with free agent power bat Renato Nunez and veteran utility infielder Greg Garcia. The Tigers have agreed to terms with INF’s Greg Garcia and Renato Núñez on Minor League contracts. (2020 Getty Images)He’s not considered a strong defender or a plus base runner, but Nunez has undeniable power in his bat. Garcia, 31, posted a .529 OPS in 35 games with the San Diego Padres last season. Garcia owns a career .354 on-base percentage, but his hit tools have limited him to a career .693 OPS.

The club announced Wednesday that they had signed Renato Nunez to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. Nunez couldn’t find a big-league deal this winter, but the minor-league contract with the Tigers offers a plausible path to the Opening Day roster. The Tigers don’t have a true first baseman on the roster, aside from veteran Miguel Cabrera, who has served primarily as DH over the last three seasons. Nunez originally signed with the Oakland Athletics out of Venezuela in 2010. TIGERS’ FREE-AGENT SIGNINGSMajor League (4): RHP Jose Urena, OF Robbie Grossman, C Wilson Ramos, IF Jonathan Schoop.