The Tigers have re-signed right-hander Wilmer Flores and infielder/outfielder Eddys Leonard to minor league deals, reports Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Flores will make $1MM if he is in the majors while Leonard would get the $760K league minimum.
Neither player has any major league experience but both were on the Tigers’ 40-man roster until recently. Both of them suffered through injury-marred seasons this year before being non-tendered by the Tigers last month. That sent both to free agency without being exposed to waivers but each has now returned in a non-roster capacity.
Flores, not to be confused with his older brother of the same name, is a right-handed pitcher who turns 24 in February. He posted some strong numbers as a starting pitcher as he climbed the minor league ladder and got added to the 40-man roster a year ago to prevent him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft. That was despite the fact that he struggled late in the 2023 season as his velocity dipped.
He was moved into a primary relief role in 2024 but didn’t take to it immediately. As noted by Petzold, he missed over three months due to a shoulder injury and the numbers weren’t pretty when he was on the mound. He tossed 25 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level, allowing 8.53 earned runs per nine. His 18% strikeout rate was subpar and his 18.8% walk rate disastrous.
For Leonard, he was once a Dodger prospect, getting added to that club’s roster ahead of the 2021 Rule 5 draft. He was designated for assignment in the summer of 2023 and flipped to the Tigers for cash. Per Petzold, a left oblique strain put him to the IL early in the year, followed by a right hamstring strain later on. He only got into 67 Triple-A games and hit .263/.326/.455, which amounted to a 101 wRC+. He exhausted his final option year in the process.
The Tigers weren’t willing to keep either player on the roster after they struggled in 2024, but they still like both of them enough to bring them back and see if things can get back on track in 2025. Flores gives the pitching staff some non-roster depth while Leonard does the same for most of the rest of the roster. He has experience at all three outfield spots and the three infield positions to the left of first base.
“Wilmer Flores, Not to be confused with his older brother with the same name” ….why tf would you name your sons the same name?
Idiotic parents.
Does it make you feel like a big man to call someone you don’t know idiotic?
I knew a family where all the brothers were named Charles and were known by different nicknames. Similarly, I don’t think you’d call out George Foreman to his face for doing the same thing.
Already one. Call em like I sees em.
I have and would do it again.
Zlee’s size is not matched by their desire to learn about the customs and cultures of others.
Yeah, let’s malign a culture with something more obviously explained by simple idiocy/ base arrogance.
There’s actually *three* of them named Wilmer Flores. Just like George Foreman and his five sons named George Foreman.
The new version of Dr. Seuss’ “Too Many Daves”….. “Too Many Wilmers”
Charlie Villanueva the former NBA player had multiple brothers named Robert. It is common in some cultures to give multiple children the same first name.
I think it would be rather confusing at times. But who am I to judge what other cultures do or how people name their children.
Wilmer Flores (SF) also has a son who is named Wilmer Flores.
This is my brother Darrel, and this here’s my other brother Darrel.
@Joggin that’s the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this.. We must be old.
Newheart was so good.
“…not to be confused with his brother of the same name.”
Should say to be forever confused with his brother with the same name. That’s literally what is going to happen when you name your kids the same thing.
My 5 sons are also named Wilmer.
My dad watched “My Three Sons” He was a fan of William Demarest.
What does Wilmer’s parents call his brother?
A product of too much Tequila?
Sounds like lazy parenting. At least George Foreman had multiple blows to the head to use as an excuse for naming all of his sons “George”
There are lots of judgmental comments here. Welcome to Murica.
Take a pill there chief. Nothing wrong with laughing in this country. As a matter of fact we could all do a little more of it IMHO.
The whole world is laughing at us.
Was*
Easy to remember… C’meer Wilmer.
Bobo Newsom called everyone Bobo
Babe Ruth called everyone Hey Kid
Wilmer, where are youse?
FINALLY!!! After all these years, I think I used that correctly!
Glad they signed them both and kept them in the organization. Still lots of potential for both.
Love the sarcasm. LOL
Nope. Leonard almost made the team out of spring training and they both got hurt so why wouldn’t they still have potential.
Wait…you weren’t joking? This is even funnier!!
Wait, are YOU joking BadMojo? Or are you just being a jerk? Can’t tell but I agree with Beach Bum. Wilmer was a top prospect and it was a surprise to many that are not “new to baseball” that he was removed from the 40-man recently.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all when a 23 year old, who has never been above A ball nor had any real minor league success is taken off the 40 man.
That’s EXACTLY who you remove from the 40 man. He doesn’t seem remotely MLB ready. Doesn’t seem like a major leaguer at all.
* never had any success above A ball.
Agree! I am actually surprised that both came back. That bodes well for the front office if it means they are establishing and maintaining good relationships with players and then communicating with them or their agents that if they don’t get claimed then they really want them back. I have been a little bit concerned on that front (player/agent relationship) for Scott Harris. Hopefully this means that these players liked being in the Tigers organization and wanted to come back.
These 2 moves may be the biggest ones for Boy Wonder Harris and Chris Tightwad Illitch…very disappointing start to the offseason for the Tigers so far and don’t see it getting much better…
There is no reason to get disappointed with the offseason yet friend. And honestly if you’re not the Dodgers or the Angels then you’ve basically done the same thing as the Tigers. The dominoes will begin to fall when Soto puts his name to paper.
Little happens before the Winter meeting so lots of time left.
Everyone should follow this guy, he’s super funny. Thank you for the laughs. Much needed.
Sure troll. Happy to oblige.
I am sorry I really thought you were joking. You must be a new fan of baseball. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. New fans are awesome!! You people keep the game alive.
There’s some of that sarcasm you were talking about. Good job heres a cookie.
You know what is not awesome? People who post only to be a condescending pain rather than add to the conversation. You people keep nothing alive!
SenorSmoke is back!
Sunday night, let the hyping begin. M,L.B TV coverage of the meetings is always a hoot. That catcher first baseman opened a lot of eyes in the A.F.L. The Tiger farm looks like it’ll produce players for quite sometime. No need to panic in Detroit.
can’t tell your players without a scorecard
You know who they should have hired?
You do, don’t you……
No. Who? You?