After acquiring four players in yesterday's blockbuster trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Tigers needed to clear two more spots on their 40-man roster. And with the deal becoming official this afternoon, the team designated pitcher Freddy Dolsi and catcher Dusty Ryan for assignment to accommodate the bushel of young talent coming to Detroit.
Dolsi pitched in only nine games with the Tigers this season, compiling a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings. (In 2008, he appeared in 42 games.) His last outing with Detroit was rather awful, giving up three hits and three walks in just 1.1 innings against Boston.
Ryan appeared in 12 games, batting.154/.267/.192 with four RBIs. Despite a pretty strong finish to 2008 (.880 OPS in 50 plate appearances), he could never break his way into the lineup. Perhaps defense was the main concern, as Jim Leyland leaned heavily on Gerald Laird throughout the season. But once Alex Avila was called up, and showed some impressive power, there was no room for Ryan.
If both players clear waivers, they could return to the Tigers organization. But the question now becomes whether or not the Tigers will make another move to clear a spot or two before tomorrow's Rule 5 Draft.
(via Jason Beck and Mark Anderson on Twitter)