Detroit Tigers add utility player Jamie Westbrook from Milwaukee Brewers

The Detroit Tigers have made their first in-season trade of the season. While it’s not the announcement of acquiring Frankie Montas, which I still hope the Tigers consider, it was a true trade.

It was announced that the Detroit Tigers have acquired utility player Jamie Westbrook from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. By no means is it a huge move, but it likely adds some depth as the team struggles with injuries early on.

He’s a minor leaguer but will add some depth to the Tigers roster. He’s been in the minors since the 2013 season. Westbrook is yet to make his big league debut but is someone the team can stash in Toledo and keep him around if needed.

It’s a move of insurance for the Tigers. They have been battling injuries already, with Derek Hill getting injured before the season, Robbie Grossman straining his groin in the Red Sox series, and now Javier Báez nursing some hand soreness.

While they may not be huge injuries or really lengthy ones, but having Westbrook get added to the organization is beneficial.

Detroit Tigers add Jamie Westbrook in trade with Brewers.

The key factor for Westbrook that makes him valuable is his ability to play multiple positions. Being an outfielder and second baseman allows him to slot in where needed and serve as a viable utility man option for the Tigers.

Even though, the Tigers are already boasting some versatility which is much better than it has been in prior seasons. While Westbrook has not made an appearance in a big-league game, he’s been in and around the minor leagues since being drafted and is kind of a journeyman in that regard.

He’s someone who has the experience and has shown this during his time with the different affiliates along the way. At just 26 years old, he’s logged 873 games across nine seasons in the minors.

Westbrook is coming off of a season where he played in 89 games between the Brewers Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. He slashed .281/.353/.456 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI for the two teams along the way.

The trade is not very significant at the end of the day but allows the Tigers to add some insurance to the minor league roster. Westbrook will add depth to the organization if the injuries keep piling up in the big leagues to help handle the injury absences.

It also marks the first trade of the 2022 season for Al Avila in the Tigers’ front office.