After veteran pitcher Alex Cobb signed a one-year, $15 million contract on Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers made a big move. The Tigers designated outfielder Akil Baddoo for assignment in order to make room on their 40-man roster for Cobb. Baddoo’s time with the Tigers, which started with great expectations as a Rule 5 pick, may come to an end as a result of this decision.
After being taken by the Tigers in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, Baddoo first showed promise. He has, however, disappointed with his performance over the last three seasons. Baddoo has failed to live up to expectations throughout his tenure with the Tigers, managing just a.619 OPS in the major leagues. He spent a large amount of the previous season in Triple-A, where he recorded a.736 OPS and a.238 batting average.
The move to designate Baddoo for assignment comes as the Tigers look to make room for Cobb, a right-handed pitcher who joins the rotation in hopes of bolstering the team’s pitching staff. For Baddoo, the road ahead is uncertain. If he clears waivers, he could be outrighted to the minors or potentially claimed by another team in need of outfield depth.
Baddoo’s tenure with the Tigers has been uneventful, with extended struggles interspersed with flashes of genius. His future in Detroit or elsewhere could be decided in the coming days as the Tigers try to restructure their roster for the 2017 campaign.
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