KANSAS CITY, Mo. — To clear the roster path for lefty Andrew Sears’ big-league debut, the Tigers before the game Aug. 23 optioned lefty Enmanuel De Jesus to Triple-A Toledo.
To add Sears to the 40-man roster — his contract was purchased from Toledo — outfielder James Outman was designated for assignment.
Outman had cleared concussion protocol and played two rehab games in Toledo, going 0-for-8 with six strikeouts.
The emergence of Max Clark as the everyday center fielder was the precursor for Outman’s release.
But Outman, whom the Tigers got from the Twins early in June, played a key role in the Tigers’ surge back into contention through June and July. He came at a time when Matt Vierling, Javier Báez and Wenceel Perez were either injured or struggling and he helped solidify the outfield defense.
He didn’t hit much (.183 in 100 plate appearances) but he contributed five homers and the Tigers were 28-17 in the games he played.
As for Sears, who had pitched 9⅔ scoreless innings at Toledo, manager AJ Hinch said that this wasn’t going to be a one-and-done debut. The plan is to give him some runway down the stretch. What is unclear is in what role? Starter or long relief.
“He’s going to get extended outings and he’s going to get an extended look,” Hinch said. “That’s whether he pitches to start the game or in the bullpen. Where he pitches will be a case-by-case, series-by-series decision.”
The rotation for the upcoming series at Comerica Park against the Rays Aug. 24-26 has been set with Framber Valdez, Jackson Jobe and Troy Melton.
“We have some off days, too,” Hinch said. “There’s plenty of time to sort that out.”
On deck: Rays▶ Series: Three games at Comerica Park, Detroit
▶ First pitch: Monday-Tuesday — 6:40 p.m.; Wednesday — 1:10 p.m.
▶ TV/radio: All games on DSN/97.1, 107.9
▶ Probables: Monday — RHP Drew Rasmussen (13-5, 3.01) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (8-8, 4.35); Tuesday — LHP Ian Seymour (9-4, 4.17) vs. RHP Jackson Jobe (1-1, 4.50); Wednesday — RHP Freddy Peralta (5-11, 5.33) vs. RHP Troy Melton (7-2, 1.60)
▶ Rasmussen, Rays: He was on a run of five straight starts allowing two runs or fewer until the Blue Jays chipped him for five in five innings. But this guy is a tough day at the office for hitters. He’s carving Xs on all quadrants of the plate with 2,500-rpm, 95-96 mph four-seamers, 2,600-rpm cutters and 2,400-rpm sinkers. Lefties get to deal with his changeup and righties his sweeper. He has one of best strikeout to walk ratios in baseball (9.2 strikeouts per nine, 1.7 walks per nine) and his 0.945 WHIP is lowest in the American League.
▶ Valdez, Tigers: The good version of Framber Valdez showed up in Pittsburgh, but it only lasted five innings before he suddenly lost his command in a four-run sixth. That’s been the story of his first season in Detroit. He’s shown flashes of the pitcher the Tigers thought they were getting with for three years and $115 million, but he hasn’t been able to sustain consistency from start to start or, like last time out, within a start. His sinker has been part of the problem. It’s the pitch he throws the most and opponents are hitting .308 against it with a 51.7% hard-hit rate.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers DFA James Outman to clear roster path for rookie Andrew Sears
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