The Tigers released right-handers Heath Hembree and Trevor Rosenthal, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News (Twitter link). Rosenthal signed a minor league contract with Detroit in March, while Hembree inked a minors deal of his own in May.
Neither player saw any action for the Tigers this season at the big league level, in large part due to injury. Hembree made only six appearances (pitching six innings) with Triple-A Toledo, after spending more than a month on the injured list — Toledo just activated him from the IL on Friday. As for Rosenthal, he tossed three minor innings before undergoing elbow surgery in mid-June.
This elbow procedure is the latest in a series of injuries that has plagued Rosenthal’s career for well over five seasons. Since the start of the 2018 campaign, Rosenthal has thrown only 39 innings in the majors, due to such varied injuries as a Tommy John surgery, thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, and a hip surgery. The nature of this latest elbow surgery isn’t known, but it is fair to wonder if it could be one setback too many for Rosenthal, and whether or not he might be considering retirement at age 33.
Hembree signed a minors deal with the Rays during the offseason and pitched in one game for Tampa before being designated for assignment. The 11-year veteran had enough service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency, which led to his signing with the Tigers. Best known for his seven seasons with the Red Sox from 2014-2020, Hembree has since pitched for a whopping seven different teams, appearing at the MLB level with all of those clubs except Detroit.
Braves should kick the tires on Rosenthal. Give him a 2 year minor league contract don’t even need to put him on the 40 man roster and see what he can do late in the season or next year. And at worst he is right where he’s is.
But richer.
No offense Braves Butt-Head, but the way the Braves are playing now, does it look like AA needs your help? Or anyone’s help? Dude has the gold touch…
Rosenthal when healthy can be very good, if he also has control… sometimes he lacks that? And when not healthy I can see it being bad… especially with the latest being hip surgery… hips are vital for mechanics bad mechanics = bad control
Exhibit A Ryan Helsley
Your picture looks like a more husky version of Kenneth Pinyan.
I said the same thing for Detroit when they signed him. It’s a low risk move. Just didn’t work out in Detroit. Best of luck to him at his next stop
Still no word on Austin Meadows??? What is going on with him?
He’s in Lakeland getting treatment and working out. Doesn’t seem to be that close to coming back to Detroit.
He’s never coming back.
Avoid Scott Boras clients like Rosenthal; they want to be paid to not play.
I’m somewhat humored by the fact that Heath Hembree is 26th on the Red Sox’ all-time games pitched list.
If he goes back, he can shoot for 25th!
Enough already. Go home, Trevor. Spend time with your family.
All those surgeries and IL stints he’s been paid and been home for the last five years.
Bullpen options available, with major league experience! What a concept!
But they were never really options.
Ooh! Two more castoffs for the Mets to cycle through their bullpen!
Remember when people were writing that Jeff Brigham had solidified the Mets pen?