As expected when the Detroit Tigers designated Zach Miner for assignment last week, the team officially announced that it will not tender him a contract for next season.
Miner missed all of last season after suffering an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. For his career, he has a 25-20 record and 4.24 ERA in 157 appearances (35 starts) with Detroit.
The Tigers could still bring Miner back, however. It’s likely he would sign a minor-league deal and would try to make the team in Spring Training. Both sides say they want to reach a new agreement for next season.
Detroit did tender contracts to pitchers Armando Galarraga and Joel Zumaya.
There was some question as to what the Tigers would do with both pitchers. Galarraga will have "Super Two" status in arbitration, putting him in line for a raise in salary. However, as the current favorite for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, Detroit was likely to bring him back.
Zumaya, of course, has a rather full injury history over the past four seasons. He’s averaged only 27 appearances while battling problems with his shoulder, finger and elbow. But Zumaya is still one of the team’s best strikeout pitchers when healthy, something every bullpen needs. Had the Tigers let him go, another team surely would’ve picked him up.
Last season, Galarraga finished with a 4-9 record and 4.49 ERA. Zumaya compiled a 2.58 ERA, with 34 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings.