Detroit Tigers: Prospect Franklin Perez released by the organization

The Detroit Tigers have cut bait with one of the prospects they acquired in the Justin Verlander trade back in 2017. In a flurry of roster moves today within the organization’s levels, the Tigers have released prospect pitcher Franklin Perez.

When the Tigers were tearing things down and stripping themselves for parts, they dumped Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros for Daz Cameron, Franklin Perez, and Jake Rogers. Perhaps one of the more exciting pieces was the addition of Perez to the organization.

Since then, it has been a bumpy road for the Tigers prospect, and now he is no longer in the organization. It has been less than four years since he was acquired, but after he needed another shoulder surgery, the Tigers opted to cut bait.

The issue with Perez was that they could put him on the Injured-List, but then his service clock would start, and he would have to be paid a big-league salary. The Tigers opted to avoid that since he has not pitched above High-A ball since being acquired.

The Detroit Tigers have released prospect pitcher Franklin Perez as he undergoes another shoulder surgery.

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When acquired, there was some excitement around the Venezuelan prospect. But a fair share of arm troubles has had him bouncing around the minor leagues.

He has not played in a minor league game this year and only registered 7.2 innings of work over two starts.  The move may not be the most shocking but is also sort of shocking at the same time.

In one light, cutting bait with a guy who has had a storied career of arm troubles in professional ball to avoid starting his service clock and paying him a big-league salary seems warranted.

The issue is cutting bait with one of the guys that was acquired from the Justin Verlander trade; that one just bites a little more.

While Rogers has not been able to hold his own in the batters’ box and Daz Cameron is still waiting for a more long-term opportunity, the Tigers lost this trade.

While there is hope that the Tigers will be able to bring back the former ace, letting Justin Verlander ride off into the sunset here in the Motor City, the three prospects the Tigers got in return have not amounted to anything as of yet.

I’ll say “yet” since Cameron could still be a serviceable outfielder. Rogers needs plenty of work in the batters’ box, and frankly, it seems like Dillon Dingler has the brighter future already. But, Perez is the first casualty of the trade from 2017.

The Tigers had to make a tough decision, but the organization decided to go with what was best for them currently, given the situation. That being said, Franklin Perez will undergo his shoulder surgery and look to catch on with a new team.