The Detroit Tigers were buyers at the MLB trade deadline, adding to a roster that is at the top of the AL Central entering the month of August.
With Detroit in the thick of things for the top record in the American League, the arms race is in full swing. These additions will, ideally, bring the Tigers closer to returning to the World Series for the first time since 2012 as Detroit hopes to lay claim to its first championship since 1984.
While the focus of fans in the Motor City is fixated on this team and what they will do to close the season, one former Tigers outfielder who was let go by the front office following a stint on the 10-day IL is still looking for his next opportunity in the league.
Ex-Tigers CF Manuel Margot Still Unemployed After MLB Trade Deadline
After signing a one-year, $1.3 million contract with Detroit at the beginning of the regular season, veteran center fielder Manuel Margot saw a bout with knee inflammation prematurely end what he hoped would be a solid fit. That one-year pact between Margot and the Tigers ultimately lasted just over three months and a handful of games played for the big league club in Detroit.
In six games with the Tigers, Margot hit .316 with three RBIs. The knee inflammation issue reared its ugly head at that point, though, and Margot never made it back to the Tigers' active roster as a result. Upon successfully rehabbing the knee inflammation issue, Margot was sent to the team's AAA affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, where he would remain until ultimately being released on July 8.
The 10-year veteran has been looking for work since and remains available on the free agent market as of this writing. With previous stops with the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, and Tampa Bay Rays, Margot is a known commodity in the bigs.
In 923 games at the major league level, Margot has recorded 748 total hits, 56 home runs, and 96 stolen bases while carrying a career batting average of .254. Those numbers don't necessarily jump off the page.
However, his aggressive approach to base running could be enough to draw the intrigue of a team desperate to score runs down the stretch and into the playoffs. Margot owns a career extra base taken percentage of 54.5, which is much higher than the MLB average of 41.5. Whether he finds a job remains to be seen, though he's got the underlying profile to suggest there should be a market.