Tigers Sign Trevor Rosenthal to a Minor League Contract
By Brian Cass
After being released by the Washington Nationals last week, the Detroit Tigers are offering a lifeline to reliever Trevor Rosenthal, signing the veteran to a minor league deal.
The once-great closer has struggled this season during his time in the nation's capital, but the Tigers are hoping they can get some value out of the 27-year-old.
The Tigers today announced that they have agreed to terms with RHP Trevor Rosenthal on a Minor League contract. Rosenthal will be assigned to Triple A Toledo.
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) June 29, 2019
With the Tigers season seemingly already over, as they carry a 26-51 record, the team is likely bringing in Rosenthal in hopes that he can have a few solid outings to garner some value on the trade block.
Rosenthal signed a one-year deal with the Nats prior to this season, hoping he would be able to cash in this offseason during free agency. But that plan hasn't panned out for the closer, as he allowed 16 runs in 12 appearances for Washington before being cut.
His unworldly 22.74 ERA is even more impressive given that he didn't surrender a single home run. He just was unable to get batters out as his control simply wasn't there.
The struggles continue for Trevor Rosenthal, who walks all 3 batters he faced tonight and now has an ERA of 22.74 in 12 outings.
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) June 23, 2019
That is the highest ERA by any player in his first 12 outings of the season since earned runs became official in 1913.
Before signing with Washington, Rosenthal was an All-Star closer for the St. Louis Cardinals. Through six season with the team, Rosenthal notched 121 saves to go along with a 2.99 ERA in 325 innings.
We've yet to see this type of production out of Rosenthal since he left St. Louis, so who knows if he'll be able to conjure up some of his former magic when he takes the mound for Detroit, should he reach the major league team.