The Tigers announced they’ve placed right-hander Buck Farmer on unconditional release waivers. Upon clearing the waiver wire, he’ll become a free agent. Farmer was designated for assignment over the weekend.
The move brings to an end Farmer’s eight-year tenure with the Tigers. Selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, Farmer pitched his way to the big leagues by the end of the 2014 campaign. He’s spent a good portion of the past seven years in the Detroit bullpen, often working as a multi-inning option for Tigers managers in addition to a brief look in the rotation in 2017.
While Farmer struggled over his first few seasons, he settled in as a decent middle innings option by 2018. Between 2018-20, Farmer pitched to a 3.92 ERA/4.20 FIP over 158 1/3 frames of relief. He’s struggled mightily this season, though, managing just a 6.37 ERA in 35 1/3 innings. Farmer’s walk rate has spiked to an untenable 12.3% and he’s been tagged for nine home runs (2.29 HR/9).
Farmer signed a $1.85MM contract to avoid arbitration over the winter. The Tigers will remain on the hook for that salary, with any team that signs Farmer owing him just the prorated portion of the league minimum for any time he spends in the big leagues. Given his decent track record coming into the year, the 30-year-old shouldn’t have trouble latching on elsewhere via minor league deal.
Lloyd Emerson
Dollar Fisher is waiting in the wings…
drew1978
Not BUCK Farmer? No…..Buck FARmer.
stymeedone
Will soon be joining Greene in Dodger blue, most likely.
bigguccisosa300
Makes sense… I mean he farms bucks, not tigers.
kenrutka
The Buck stops here. 🙁
Bi Soxual
I think all he really needs is glasses.He could find the strike zone.
Peart of the game
NPB/KBO/CPBL target as a starting pitcher
DarkSide830
definite CPBL material
BSHH
How time flies… I still remember when he was brought up from AA to help a contending Tigers team as a spot starter. It did not go well, but he became a solid reliever for some time. Hopefully he helps another contender soon!
Gruß,
BSHH
GarryHarris
I would bet that he wore a MLB uniform for the last time. His throwing motion doesn’t look the same as it did a couple years ago. I thought he should’ve been cut from MiLB instead of being called up.
Albert Belle's corked bat
The Ray’s are watching
dirkg
Still one of my favorite baseball names. If he and Brooks Pounders were cousins, my life would be complete.
moteus
My favorite baseball name will always be Rusty Kuntz.
No, no: that’s pronounced “Koontz,” not that other word.
Bart Harley Jarvis
Fun name.
warnbeeb
Attended a Yankees-Tigers ST game in Tampa 5-6 yrs. ago and Buck started. He mowed ’em down for 3-4 innings. The Yankee fans around me kept asking, “Who is this guy?”
I liked Bucker ever since. Good luck to him.
sabres3277
The next move should be to release Jimenez. Putting him in the game with anyone on base is like throwing gas on a fire. The Tigers have stuck with this guy way too long and it is time to move on….please.