The Tigers have designated catcher Dane Sardinha for assignment. He played in 5 games for the Tigers this season and he was 3 for 18 (.167 avg, .445 OPS) with 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. Sardinha will probably just go to AAA instead of becoming a free agent because he’s knows that he’s only an injury away from the majors in Detroit. Brandon Inge has been activated from the D.L. to replace Sardinha on the roster. Inge has played in 52 games with the Tigers this season and he is 31 for 144 (.215 avg, .728 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 6 homers and 23 RBIs.

The Tigers have traded 27-year old righty reliever to the Pirates for 23 year old righty reliever Kyle Pearson. Pearson has pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in A+AA ball this season and he is 1-1 with 4 saves, a 6.85 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. He has walked 16 batters in 22.1 innings this year. Bautista pitched in 16 games (0 starts) with the Tigers this year and he was 0-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

Bautista got caught in a numbers game in Detroit and it didn’t help matters walking 14 batters in 19 innings this season. Bautista pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this season and he was 0-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He will likely hook on with another team because of his arm strength but the Tigers won’t lose any sleep over him being gone.

The Tigers have called up righty reliever Fernando Rodney from his rehab assignment in AAA and they have sent Aquilino Lopez to the minors to make room for him. It’s a shame that Lopez is going to the minors as he has been one of the best relievers for the Tigers this season. He has pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this season and he is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Lopez will attempt to convert into a starting pitcher in AAA where the Tigers have a huge need now. Rodney should help tighten up the bullpen of the Tigers working late in games. He has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) in AAA on his rehab assignment and he was 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The 31-year old Rodney has pitched in 197 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-19 with 20 saves, a 4.12 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Tigers also hope to have Joel Zumaya in the bullpen this coming weekend as long as he does well in rehab this week.

The Tigers have decided to designate Francisco Cruceta partly because of his wildness as he walked 10 batters in only 11.2 innings for them and that’s devastating for a relief pitcher. Cruceta pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this season and he was 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. The Tigers have called up 30-year old lefty Casey Fossum to replace Cruceta in the bullpen and on the roster. Fossum has pitched in 11 games (4 starts) in AAA ball this season and he is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He has only allowed 21 hits in 46 innings in AAA this season while whiffing 48 batters. Fossum has pitched in 203 games (120 starts) in his major league career and he is 37-52 with 2 saves, a 5.46 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Don’t expect miracles out of Fossum.