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DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 20: Jake Rogers #34 of the Detroit Tigers looks on from the field during the game against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park on August 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Astros 7-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well this is a peculiar first move for trade deadline season. Jake Rogers, the longest tenured Detroit Tigers player, has been designated for assignment. Eduardo Valencia was recalled on Sunday and will be taking over the backup catcher duties. Rogers’ roster spot will go to Javier Báez, who returns from a three-month absence after suffering a high ankle sprain at the end of April.
The 31-year-old Rogers made his major league debut with the Tigers back on July 30, 2019 after coming to the Tigers in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros in August of 2017. He finally became the Tigers primary catcher in 2021 before tearing his UCL and requiring reconstruction surgery that cost him all of the 2022 season. In 2023 and 2024 Rogers put together good seasons based around his defensive ability, plate discipline, and the occasional burst of home run power. He was worth 4.7 fWAR across those two years, but since that point his offensive contributions collapsed as Dillon Dingler took over the everyday catching role. This season, Rogers’ defense finally showed real signs of cracking as well. He’s hitting .161/.266/.301 for a 60 wRC+ which ranks him 48th out of 59 catchers with 100 plate appearances or more this season.
Despite his struggles, two part-time White Sox catchers, and numerous others, are even worse offensive players than Rogers. 11 catchers with 100 plate appearances or more have a lower wRC+ than he does. It won’t be a surprise if he gets claimed, and the Tigers will probably get a lottery ticket prospect of little value in return. The problem for Rogers going forward is that his defensive numbers have declined this year and he’s finally grading out below average. Whether that’s partly the result of lack of playing time is hard to say, but hopefully he’ll be claimed somewhere. If he clears waivers and is outrighted the Tigers will still be on the hook for the rest of his $3.05M salary for 2026. That’s not much, but every dollar matters with the team over the payroll threshold.
Valencia is far and away a better hitter than Rogers, so that should provide a little support to the offense. On the other hand, Valencia isn’t that good behind the plate, particularly in terms of holding opponents’ running game in check. Still with Rogers defensive numbers in decline, perhaps Valencia won’t do worse. The Tigers will probably just lean into Dingler catching most days down the stretch either way after trying to keep him somewhat rested with plenty of DH days so far this year.
Getting Báez back could be pretty helpful to the Tigers although it’s just funny to look at Báez as a way to trim strikeouts in the lineup by taking over some of the workload from James Outman. It will be interesting to see how he’s deployed. With Kerry Carpenter out with a foot injury, the outfield needs help. It needed help anyway. We’ll see if Báez is back to full speed and can get back to playing a solid enough center field. If he’s back to 100 percent, that also gives the Tigers options, with Báez getting some time at shortstop and around the infield to get another right-handed bat into the lineup. Either way, it’s good to have Javy Báez back, and hopefully further support for the outfield isn’t too far away as Max Clark will be available to be called up without spoiling his 2027 rookie eligibility as long as the Tigers wait until mid-August.
Perhaps Rogers will clear waivers and just end up accepting an assignment back in Triple-A. He’s obviously very well liked in the clubhouse and has had future coach written all over him for a long time. We’ll see if there’s still major league work left for him as a catcher, or whether it’s time to start thinking about moving over to the instructional side. Probably a team will pick him up on the cheap, at least for a little while. Either way, best of luck to the Sheriff.
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