The Tigers have signed infielder/outfielder Jahmai Jones to a minor league deal, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. The ACES consumer will obtain an invitation to main league spring coaching and can make a wage of $810K if he cracks the large league roster.
The 27-year-old Jones was as soon as a notable prospect however he hasn’t but had an prolonged large league alternative, regardless of usually performing effectively within the minors. He spent most of 2024 with the Yankees, although in a reasonably restricted position. They claimed him off waivers from the Brewers in February, however he had exhausted his choice years and wanted to stay on the roster. The Yanks stored him round for over 4 months however solely gave him 47 plate appearances in that point. He was outrighted off the roster in early August.
Jones now has a poor .198/.257/.278 batting line in his large league profession, although in 137 plate appearances scattered throughout 4 completely different seasons. After being outrighted by the Yanks, he produced a sturdy line of .304/.390/.490 in 34 Triple-A video games, resulting in a 131 wRC+. This provides him a line of .276/.408/.471 over 564 Triple-A plate appearances previously two years.
He hasn’t been capable of convey that form of manufacturing to the majors but, however there’s no hurt in a minor league deal and he’s a wise man to take a shot on. He was a second-round choose of the Angels in 2015 and obtained some prime 100 prospect love within the years after that. Regardless of the various years which have transpired since then, he’s nonetheless pretty younger and has continued to place up good numbers on the farm.
He could be a high quality match for almost any membership on a minor league deal however he could possibly be an particularly good match for the Tigers, since he’s a right-handed hitter who has principally performed second base and the outfield in his profession. The Tigers have a lefty swinger on the keystone in Colt Keith whereas their outfield combine contains lefties Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows and Akil Baddoo. Additionally they have Jace Jung prone to be at third, Trey Sweeney at shortstop and Zach McKinstry in a utility position, every of these three additionally being left-handed.
Maybe there’s a path for Jones to function a right-handed complement to that group in a multi-positional position. If he ultimately cracks the roster, he’s out of choices however has lower than a yr of service time, that means he might be cheaply retained for future seasons as effectively.
