When spring training started this season the Tigers didn’t have a closer. Now they don’t have to worry about one because 32-year old righty Fernando Rodney has snapped up the job. Rodney has pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this season and he is 2-3 with 29 saves, a 3.28 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Rodney has only allowed 47 hits in 57 2/3 innings so far this season while whiffing 54 batters showing that the stuff is certainly there. But he needs to tighten up his control as he has walked too many batters (27) for a closer. Skeptics in Rodney’s ability to stay strong all year as the closer point to his career numbers coming into this season. Rodney pitched in 235 games (0 starts) in his career coming into this season and he was 13-25 with 33 saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

The Tigers have lost 26-year old lefty swinging 1B/3B Jeff Larish for the season due to surgery on his right wrist and hand. Larish played in 32 games for the Tigers this season and he was 16 for 74 (.216 avg, .790 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers and 7 RBIs. But, he also whiffed 25 times with the Tigers and that’s way too much. He also played in 61 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 56 for 211 (.265 avg, .809 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 6 homers and 26 RBIs. The Tigers were likely going to call up Larish on September 1st when rosters expand but that won’t happen now.

The Tigers have designated 26-year old righty reliever/starter Chris Lambert for assignment. Lambert pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this season and he was 0-1 with a 14.85 ERA and a 2.70 WHIP. Lambert pitched in 10 games (3 starts) in his career with the Tigers and he was 1-3 with a 7.90 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP. The Tigers won’t miss Lambert much as he’s not too talented.

UPDATE: The Orioles have claimed Lambert off waivers.

The Tigers have acquired 32-year old lefty swinging 1B/DH/OF Aubrey Huff from the Orioles for 22-year old righty reliever Brett Jacobson. Huff played in 110 games for the Orioles this season and he was 109 for 430 (.253 avg, .725 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 13 homers and 72 RBIs. Huff has now played in 1,282 games in his career and he is 1,371 for 4,830 (.284 avg, .818 OPS) with 646 runs scored, 201 homers, 739 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Huff will likely be the starting DH for the Tigers the rest of the season with Carlos Guillen moving to the LF. Getting Huff was not cheap however as Brett Jacobson was the Tigers’ #10 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. He has pitched in 35 games (0 starts) this season in A-ball and he is 1-3 with 6 saves, a 3.74 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

24-year old righty reliever Zach Simons was the #28 rated prospect in the Tigers’ system heading into this season according to Baseball America…..but he’s moving up quick. Simons has pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 1-1 with 2 saves, a 2.43 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He has whiffed 56 batters in only 55 2/3 innings this season while allowing only 36 hits showing what kind of stuff he has. Simons will get called up when rosters expand in September if not before as long as he keeps pitching well.