RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Detroit Tigers made another change to their pitching staff Monday, adding a veteran reliever while sending Ty Madden back to Triple-A Toledo.
Detroit signed right-hander Tyler Kinley to a one-year Major League contract , optioned Madden and designated Ricky Vanasco for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster. The moves come as the Tigers open a six-game homestand Monday night against the Tampa Bay Rays with their bullpen undergoing another adjustment. CBS Sports reported the three corresponding roster moves Monday
Kinley, 35, became available after the Atlanta Braves designated him for assignment on Aug. 18 and released him four days later. MLB’s transaction log confirms Kinley’s release from Atlanta
Tyler Kinley Gives Tigers Another Veteran Option
Kinley arrives with extensive Major League experience and will give manager A.J. Hinch another right-handed option in the middle innings.
He posted a 4.01 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 20 walks over 42 2/3 innings for Atlanta this season. His recent results were less encouraging, with a 6.00 ERA and seven walks against seven strikeouts over his first nine second-half innings.
Detroit is betting that a change of scenery can help stabilize those results.
The move also continues a season-long pattern of bullpen turnover. Vanasco, who was called up earlier this season when Will Vest landed on the injured list , made five appearances for Detroit and allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, over 6 1/3 innings before Monday’s designation.
Ty Madden Heads Back to Toledo
Madden’s demotion is the more notable part of the active-roster shuffle.
The 26-year-old owns a 3.46 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 13 walks across 39 innings , but opponents had scored against him in five consecutive appearances. Detroit has moved Madden between starting and relief roles throughout the season, including turning to him as a rotation replacement when Casey Mize went on the injured list earlier this year .
Sending him to Toledo gives the Tigers a chance to reset Madden while inserting a more experienced reliever into the bullpen.
It is not a dramatic overhaul. Kinley was available because Atlanta decided to move on from him, and his recent numbers do not suggest Detroit just uncovered a hidden late-inning weapon.
The Tigers do not need him to be one.
They need dependable outs from a bullpen that has been forced to absorb changing roles and heavy workloads throughout the season. Kinley gets the next opportunity, while Madden will try to work his way back from Toledo.
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