The Detroit Tigers have made a roster move, optioning reliever Brenan Hanifee to Triple-A Toledo. This move makes room for the highly anticipated arrival of veteran starter Charlie Morton, who is set to make his debut with the team.
Morton Set to Start Sunday
Charlie Morton, the final of three recent acquisitions to join the Tigers, is scheduled to start in Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia. His arrival is expected to bring experience and stability to the Tigers' pitching rotation.
Hanifee's 'Tough-Luck' Situation
Brenan Hanifee, who was named the Tigers' co-reliever of the month in July, pitched in a high-leverage situation on Friday night. Despite his recent success, the Tigers decided to send him down to the minors. Manager A.J. Hinch described it as a “tough-luck scenario” for Hanifee.
Hanifee's minor-league options allow the Tigers to make this move without exposing him to waivers. According to Hinch, the configuration of the pen and rotation, and the need to give new right-hander Luke Jackson a longer look, made Hanifee the odd man out.
Manager's Confidence in Hanifee
Despite being charged with two runs and making a critical throwing error on Friday, Hinch emphasized that this wasn't the sole reason for the decision. Hinch expressed confidence in Hanifee, stating, “I showed how much I trusted him yesterday. It didn’t work for him, but I don’t want it to feel like a penalty that he got sent out, as much as the situation we’re in.”
Hinch anticipates Hanifee's return to the team, saying, “We’ve had some new guys come here. We’re going to use our whole roster, so I expect him to be back and I expect him to be ready.”
Hanifee's Season Stats
Hanifee, 27, has a 3-3 record with a 3.10 ERA in 52 1/3 innings this season. He has recorded 35 strikeouts and 12 walks. Hinch concluded by saying, “He’s been one of our better relievers in different parts of our season, and I want him to believe in that and know that he’s still going to impact this team, even though he got some tough-luck news.”