The Tigers' outfield situation has gotten so dire that Detroit went out and grabbed a player who was hitting.167 in the minors and had just been let go by another team. Outfielder Michael Siani agreed to a minor league deal with the Tigers and will report to Triple-A Toledo, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Siani isn't a name casual fans know, and that's kind of the point. He's a 27-year-old, 4th-round pick from 2018 who has bounced through the Reds, Cardinals and Orioles organizations as a glove-first, bat-second fourth outfielder. In 161 career MLB games he's hit.220 with 2 home runs and 21 stolen bases. Baltimore claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers back in May, called him up for 2 games, played him in exactly 1 as a defensive sub, then outrighted him. He was slashing an ugly.167/.281/.242 in the minors this year before Detroit came calling.
Why bother with a player in that kind of slump? Because Detroit's outfield is falling apart in real time. Riley Greene landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain and James Outman went on the concussion IL after taking a fastball to the chin against Cleveland, with his wife reportedly helping the team catch delayed symptoms once he got home. Add in nicks to Kerry Carpenter, Wenceel Pérez, Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows, and Detroit has had 6 outfielders banged up at once, already forcing call-ups like Trei Cruz and Corey Julks from Toledo.
That's where Siani fits. Nobody's counting on him to hit. He's an excellent defender and baserunner who had a brief run as the Cardinals' everyday center fielder in 2024, and right now Detroit needs exactly that: a guy who can catch everything hit near him while the big league roster waits on its actual outfielders to heal.
For now this is pure organizational depth, not a roster spot. But with Detroit still fighting down the stretch and its outfield thinned out this badly, don't be shocked if Siani's glove earns him a September look at Comerica Park before this is over.