The Tigers claimed left-handed pitcher Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Angels, according to announcements from both teams. As a corresponding move, Detroit designated utility infielder Nick Maton for assignment. In additional Tigers news, the team announced that right-handed pitcher Devin Sweet has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Toledo.
Ingram was initially selected by the Tigers in the 37th round of the 2019 draft. However, his time with the organization was short-lived. The southpaw was released in July 2020, having made just 15 appearances in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He signed a new deal with the Angels ahead of the 2021 season and eventually worked his way up to the majors in 2023, pitching 5 1/3 innings across three separate stints with the big league club. Although his MLB numbers were disappointing (8.44 ERA, 5.21 SIERA), his performance between Double- and Triple-A was far more impressive. In 61 innings, he pitched to a 2.95 ERA with a 30.2% strikeout rate and a .189 batting average against. He figures to compete with fellow lefty Joey Wentz, as well as righties Miguel Díaz, Beau Brieske, and Brendan White for a spot at the back end of Detroit’s bullpen. The fact that Ingram has option years remaining could work against him; both Díaz and Wentz are out of options.
Maton came to the Motor City as part of the trade package the Tigers acquired from the Phillies in exchange for Gregory Soto. In his lone season with Detroit, Maton appeared in 93 games, primarily at third base but also at second and shortstop. While his versatility was helpful for manager A. J. Hinch, the 26-year-old struggled to contribute at the plate. In 293 plate appearances, he slashed .173/.288/.305, good for a paltry .593 OPS and 67 wRC+. By FanGraphs’ calculation of Wins Above Replacement, only six AL players were less valuable to their clubs in 2023.
Despite his struggles, not all is lost for Maton. In fact, there are several reasons to believe he is due for some positive regression. Both his 13.0% walk rate and 24.9% strikeout rate last season were significantly better than his career totals to date. He also increased his barrel rate from 6.7% to 8.4%. What’s more, his .206 BABIP was unusually low, and he can expect that number to rise in future seasons. Finally, his poor performance at third base, a position he had limited experience playing before this season, dragged down his defensive metrics, and therefore, his overall WAR. For a team in need of a lefty-batting second baseman who can fill in at shortstop, third base, and the corner spots in a pinch, Maton could be worth a shot.
Sweet, a right-handed reliever, made his MLB debut last summer for the Mariners. He was designated for assignment a few weeks later, after which he landed with the Athletics for the final month of the season. Overall, he made seven appearances at the MLB level, where he gave up 10 runs in 8 2/3 innings, and 36 appearances in the minors, where he posted a much prettier 2.25 ERA. The Giants claimed him off of waivers from the A’s in December, and the Tigers subsequently claimed him off of waivers from the Giants a month later. He was designated for assignment again last week to make room for top prospect Colt Keith on the 40-man roster after Keith signed a six-year extension. After bouncing around between four different organizations over the past year, Sweet has finally cleared waivers and will remain in the Tigers organization as additional pitching depth.
Crazy how fast they are already moving on from Miggy.
???
Back where it all began.
Nicky Bats back to Philly as the LH off the bench. Thanks J.C. for the memories!
I would actually take a look at claiming Nick, yeah.
Now Nick can join his brother in Tampa
Nice move. Maton had no future with the team. He is maxed out at AAA.
Best of luck to Nick.
Ingram? Really? Obviously, the Tigers know something about him, but what?
I like the retention of Sweet. I’ll be rooting for him.
And finally, Wolfie Maton. I think he has ML talent. He mashes RH’d fastballs. He just struggles unbelievably with off speed stuff. He gets so fixated on hitting sliders that pitchers then blow the fastball by him. I kinda of hope he passes through waivers and the Tigers can keep him, but suspect someone will snatch him and fix his approach at the plate. I think he will be back in the ML’s.
Maton was handed 3B last season and couldn’t handle it offensively or defensively. He really didn’t even have his moments. He had a 5-game hitting streak in early April. After that, his longest “streak” was three games.
He could take a walk really well and had some power. He wasn’t all bad. But…he couldn’t get a hit and the rest of his game was meh.
I thought he was bad, especially to his backhand side, at third base. His arm was unpredictable too. Vierling, and especially McKinstry are far better defensively. Ibanez is fine at 3rd .but better at 2nd and is the best hitter of the 4.
Maton’s real future plays best as an OF’er. I suspect he’ll always struggle vs lefties, but if he can figure out the crooked pitches from right handers he can find a place in the bigs.
The worst part of Maton with the Tigers was Hinch insisting he bat in the middle of the order. Maybe he would have performed better lower in the lineup. He sure sucked in the heart of it.
So, it’s basically the Angels trading Ingram to the Tigers for Cisnero.
I wonder who will win that trade? Never mind, just kidding,
We all know it won’t be Minasian.
Ingram seems to have nice minor league numbers. I’m more excited about them keeping Sweet who looked really interesting. One site actually ranked him as the Tigers #27 prospect. Too bad about Maton. He couldn’t hit ML pitching, just like Nevin. At least Maton could take a walk though.
Granted, Maton’s 2023 performance and lack of remaining options likely made the decision easy, but credit still to Harris to DFA one of his first trade acquisitions.
That’s a very insightful comment. It takes a lot of fortitude to admit you made a mistake.
Maton wasn’t the focus of the trade I don’t think, Vierling was. Still, point taken in that Harris isn’t going to hang on to someone just because he once valued him more than he probably should have. I’d love to hold onto Maton for depth but it’d be no great loss if he was claimed.
Agree. I was afraid Harris might cling onto “his” players at first a la Randy Smith, but Harris appears to be able to discard objectively.
Maton’s wolf act would have been much more enjoyable if he could play, but he was poor offensively and defensively. I think he could use some time in the gym. I don’t think he has nearly enough bodily strength, although his ability to pull for power is a threat. .
This is the second dfa from that waste of a trade. Sands was dropped last month. Now Maton. That means HARRIS traded a two time All-Star, LH closer, who can top 100mph, for a right handed platoon player. And you want to give him credit for noticing that his scrap stinks?
Was Soto an all star closer in Philly? Nope. He was serviceable, still wide and his replacement Tyler Holton was pulled off the scrap heap, pitched very well and got ROY votes. Seems to have worked out okay, just not how one might expect.
And Sands is still in the org and Maton likely will be as well.
I think Maton could be a serviceable MLB player. I’ve seen in the past how a position change can mess up your hitting. Maybe he plays 2B and gets his stroke back? I actually hope he stays in the organization and gets another chance at a different position.
Yeah, I saw glimpses of a decent player at times. I agree he profiles better as a 2B. He just seemed overpowered at the plate. I think he needs to increase his overall strength – arms, core, legs, everywhere. More strength, better bat control, better bat speed.
Thank you Jedi Mark Cuban may the force be with you saving us from the evil Moreno Empire the true identity of dark Vader
Interesting the angels instead of getting younger getting older hmmmm
We need infield depth. This should’ve just been a trade.
Mondesi could be a decent add on a minor league deal. They definitely need to add atleast another utility player.
Ingram will blossom this or next year.
Been singing No Doubts Just a Girl and when I took my slippers off of my feet they smelled from slipper sweat
I’m surprised Harris gave up on Maton this quickly. I’m also surprised he was DFA’d before Mason Englert.
I think Englert is still on the 40-man. The Tigers still have Wingenter too and he’s not on the 40-man.
Wingenter is good. He’s also big and can’t stay healthy.
I think Harris is good at risking out who won’t get claimed (like just hapoened with Devin Sweet). Maton might well clear waivers and get another chance.
I’d sure like to see Tigers add a veteran bat… Urshela or Chapman on a one -year deal would cool off the pressure to rush Keith, or Belt would be a nice DH/1B option…
Urshela hit 2 HRs last year and is no better than the in house options (Ibanez. MCkinistry, Vierling). If they could get Chapman on a short term contract great, but doubtful. DH is crowded as it is, although Belt has been sneaky good in his career. I agree that a veteran bat would be good, IF it is an impact bat.
Historically, his BA has always been better than every Tiger on this team.
Urshela, was also out for the season with a freak injury. Still think he’s capable of hitting .280 with 15 homeruns.
Less than 2 weeks to convince me, this is the BEST Tigers team ever. If not, I’ll say the FO has not put thier best foot forward.
Could have hired Urhsella (3rd base, great BA), could have hired Anerson (Ss,2nd base, BA champion with only 1 season below .300), could have traded for Arraez (2nd base, 1st base, BA champion, doesnt hit below .300).
Could have hired some top pitchers to trade, RYyu to a minor league deal….trade, trade, trade, build, build ,build….Not wait and see…..
Could have hired the Superfife and had a dynasty….a nasty dynasty, WELCOME TO THE DETROIT ZOO
YEAH, THE SUPERFIFE WOULD HAVE SOLD A LOT OF GOODWILL AND GENERATED INTEREST. HARRIS REALLY HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE IS DOING OR EVEN THE WHAT FOR.
Meanwhile, World Wildlife Federation is getting screwed by Chris Illich too.
Tell me he cares.
The Superfife cares.
2 fn batting champions available…..crickets, fn crickets….Harris is young. He needs advice.
Could a had a V-8.
A diesel tractor doesn’t exactly have the same feeling, you know?
Some rebuild.
Dude, the only thing you said that made any sense is go get Arraez. Anderson was the only hitter worse than Baez in the league!
Yeah. I had forgotten, you said that before. Sorry.
All good dude. You are entitled to your opinions and I love your Arraez idea!
Englert was rushed as a rule 5 pickup, and still has options. He may not work out, but too early to say that. He will now get more development time in the minors.
Good Luck, Wolf!
40 man roster spaces not being given to tradable FAs, as usual with the Tigers.
They better win it all this year. Rumor is…. it’s OK. We make big bucks off these fools and they don’t notice.
I for one, never expected to viewing stats of hopefuls TEN YEARS LATER. This team should be stacked by now.
They should have hired…..
somebody other than they did.
Come on Harris, you can still take this division. Sign Matt Chapman for third and sign Snell to be the ace of the staff.
Indians and Twins have a bunch of left bats… Having Snell and Skubal striking them out would be huge.
Royals got better… Twins are looking good… Guardians are always a threat. Come on, make some moves!!!
Can’t be any worse than Wentz, can he ?
Not surprised on Maton. It was inevitable as he is out of options. If someone claims him they will have to keep him on the 40 man, which could happen I guess, but this time of year, a lot of people are likely set. Decent chance he clears and goes to Toledo.
Great deal. Maton was gone anyways, and they got a pitcher back too. Detroit’s 6 core of Tork, Greene, Kerry,Parker, Jake, and Keith are looking pretty darn good. Baez is here for 4 unless he gets worse. That leaves 6 spots up for grabs. How will baseball handle the eclipse ? Play ball !