DETROIT -- The sight of Javier Báez back at Comerica Park was a boost to morale in the Tigers’ clubhouse. His return to Detroit’s lineup on Tuesday, playing center field against the Orioles, provides a potential spark to a team desperately needing one. The corresponding move, however, was a gut punch.
While the Tigers reinstated Báez from the 60-day injured list after three months out with a high right ankle sprain, they opened a roster spot as catcher Jake Rogers was designated for assignment, parting ways with the popular backstop, one of their longest-tenured players and one of their informal team leaders.
Báez last played on April 28, when he suffered a severe sprain. He aggravated the injury later during the rehab process, which slowed the recovery timeline. He went 3-for-4, including a single in his first at-bat, with a run scored as the Tigers scored in every inning in their 14-0 rout of the O's at Comerica Park.
“I’m really excited to be back on a big league field,” Báez said, “and ready to help the team.”
Báez’s absence had several impacts on a Tigers roster now fighting to stick together ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline. Kevin McGonigle took over primary duties at shortstop, while center field became a revolving door, most recently waiver pickup James Outman and Matt Vierling. Báez provides above-average defense at both, while adding an impact right-handed bat for a team that has struggled against lefties all season.
“He has that presence,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He has also been an immense impact on just our whole vibe. He is an energy provider. He is somebody to look forward to every day. He does incredible things on the field. I think that impact is felt from the minute that he walks through the doors on a daily basis, all the way to the end of the games. You just don’t know what he’s going to bring today that’s going to spark you.”
Báez went 6-for-12 (.500) with three doubles over four games on a rehab assignment between Triple-A Toledo and Single-A Lakeland. Three of those doubles came in his first game for the Mud Hens on Saturday. He reported to Comerica Park on Monday, but the Tigers wanted a day to evaluate and rest him before activating him. Thus, Detroit called up slugging catcher/first baseman Eduardo Valencia on Monday when Kerry Carpenter went on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
With Báez back, the Tigers opted to keep Valencia and cut Rogers, who has spent his entire six-year Major League career with Detroit after coming over from the Astros’ system in 2017. He was the last piece from the Justin Verlander trade, and made his MLB debut in 2019. Among current Tigers, only Keider Montero and Wenceel Pérez had been in the organization longer, having signed as teenagers in 2016.
Rogers became Detroit’s primary catcher in 2023, following his return from Tommy John surgery, and made an immediate impact as a 21-homer slugger. His game-calling skills and chemistry with pitchers Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, having caught both since they were teammates in the Tigers’ farm system, created a natural fit as they emerged in Detroit’s rotation. Rogers was Skubal’s catcher throughout his first American League Cy Young Award season in 2024.
“We’ll always have a special connection,” Skubal said. “For both of us, 2024 is a season that I’ll never forget. He helped guide and navigate me to my first Cy Young. That’s something I’ll always appreciate. And he always held me accountable, anything on the field, off the field. He always kept me in check.”
Rogers moved into a backup role last year with the emergence of Dillon Dingler, and he struggled to hit in part-time duty. With free agency looming at the end of the season, Rogers was expected to be among the Tigers on the trade market ahead of Monday’s Deadline. He’s now available for any team to trade or claim, and he can become a free agent if he goes unclaimed.
“I love Jake. Jake’s been here as long as I’ve been here,” Hinch said. “[President of baseball operations] Scott [Harris] and Jake and I met [Monday] night after the game and did everything from walk down memory lane and just explain the timing and how decisions get made. We’ve been very consistent with giving opportunity when we feel like it’s earned, and obviously, we love what Valencia did when he was up here. We wanted to try to maximize that roster spot the best we could.”
Valencia becomes Detroit’s backup catcher for the stretch run. He batted 5-for-12 with two home runs and three RBIs in his first big league stint earlier this month, but he only caught in one game. Valencia will now get a longer look as the Tigers begin to look at the future, potentially an overriding theme following the Trade Deadline.
“It’s a business, right? You understand the decision,” Skubal said. “I’m not worried about him and his career. He’s going to land somewhere. I’d already left before that happened, so I didn’t have a chance to say bye, which kinda stinks.”