​The Detroit Tigers wasted no time filling the final vacancy on their 40-man roster. On Saturday, the club claimed 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Andre Granillo off waivers from the Washington Nationals and assigned him to Triple-A Toledo. This move came after the Tigers had created an opening by designating outfielder Jahmai Jones for assignment on Thursday, leaving space to add Granillo without delay.
Granillo, who leans on a slider as his primary offering, complements a 94-mph four-seam fastball. He is not new to major league action; he debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals last season and has spent time with the Nationals this year as well. In eight major league appearances with Washington, Granillo posted eight walks and three strikeouts over 9.1 innings. While his upside includes a fastball-slider combination that could play up in various roles, his results at the MLB level have been limited, and his performance in the minor leagues has also been a backdrop to the Tigers’ decision to take a closer look.
In Triple-A this season, Granillo faced challenges of his own. At Rochester, he recorded a 6.82 earned run average and a 1.54 WHIP across 31.2 innings. Those numbers suggest he has work to do to regain his form and command, but the Rays know that a fresh environment and a new opportunity can spark a turnaround for pitchers who show potential but have struggled to translate it consistently at higher levels. For the Tigers, adding Granillo provides depth in the bullpen and a chance to evaluate him within their system, with Triple-A Toledo serving as the immediate proving ground.
The acquisition aligns with Detroit’s broader approach to shoring up their pitching depth and identifying potential risers from waivers who may benefit from a different coaching plan or a more favorable organizational fit. Granillo’s arsenal—headlined by a mid-90s fastball and a slider that can be deployed off that heater—gives the Tigers another arm to monitor, particularly as they balance needs within their 40-man roster and the wider pitching staff.
From a tactical standpoint, Granillo’s assignment to Toledo suggests that the Tigers are prioritizing immediate development and evaluation. The Triple-A assignment allows the club to monitor his progression, refine his command, and determine how best to deploy him if and when a call to the majors becomes necessary. For Granillo, the move offers a new opportunity to reestablish himself within a new organization’s developmental framework, take advantage of improved coaching, and demonstrate his ability to contribute at higher levels.
This transition also underscores the ever-shifting nature of roster management in modern baseball. Teams routinely navigate waivers, designations for assignment, and 40-man roster implications to seize upside from the player market, sometimes opting for a developmental path in the near term. In Granillo’s case, Toledo becomes the next stage in his professional journey, a place to rebuild momentum, regain command, and potentially position himself for another opportunity with Detroit or elsewhere in the majors.
The Tigers’ decision to add Granillo to their 40-man roster, even on a waiver claim with an immediate Triple-A assignment, reflects their ongoing strategy to evaluate a broad pool of pitching talent and identify pieces that might contribute in the near or distant future. As the season progresses, Granillo will have the chance to showcase his skill set within the Tigers’ organization, and Detroit will monitor his adjustments to determine whether he can help stabilize or augment their pitching depth in the days ahead. The club’s front office and coaching staff will be watching closely as Granillo works to translate his tools into effective performances, both in Toledo and, if given the opportunity, at higher levels.
For further context, this move followed the Tigers’ designation of Jahmai Jones for assignment, which opened the 40-man spot now occupied by Granillo. The outcome of that designation, plus Granillo’s performance in the coming weeks, will contribute to Detroit’s ongoing assessment of their roster construction and long-term strategy for strengthening the pitching staff. As always, the organization will be evaluating whether Granillo’s slider-and-fastball combination can be harnessed effectively within their system and whether he can become a valuable asset, either as a depth option for the major league club or as a high-upside arm who can contribute down the road.
This latest roster maneuver illustrates how teams continuously reassess talent in search of players who can deliver when given opportunity. Granillo’s immediate assignment to Toledo marks the start of a new chapter in his career, and the Tigers will be hopeful that the change of scenery, coupled with the right coaching and development plan, can unlock the potential that has kept him on major league radars since his debut with the Cardinals and subsequent stint with the Nationals. The results of this approach will unfold over the coming weeks and months as Granillo faces the challenge of regaining form and proving he belongs in the organization’s long-term plans.
Note: This article was reported with information available from the Detroit News and reflects the team’s transaction regarding Andre Granillo and the corresponding move involving Jahmai Jones. The Detroit News contributed to the original reporting on this transaction.