The Tigers signed catcher Tomas Nido to a minor league deal, per the workforce’s transaction log at MLB.com. Nido was introduced within the lineup for the Triple-A Toledo MudHens in the present day, so the signing is clearly already official. Nido, an ACES consumer, was with the Cubs and Mets earlier this season however was minimize free by Chicago on the finish of August. Since he’s signed properly into September, he gained’t be eligible for postseason play within the occasion that the surging Tigers qualify, however he’ll give them some glove-first depth behind the plate within the season’s last couple weeks.
Nido, 30, has appeared in 49 video games between the Mets and Cubs this season however struggled to a .192/.219/.315 batting line in 140 journeys to the plate. As regular, he’s drawn robust grades for his protection at catcher. Nido’s 23% caught-stealing price is healthier than league-average (21%), and he grades properly by way of blocking pitches within the filth. Nonetheless, that is his second straight season with a sub-.200 batting common and an OBP south of .220.
Whereas Nido’s bat has cratered the previous two seasons, he’s nonetheless not far faraway from being a extremely serviceable backup with the Mets. From 2020-22, he hit .236/.275/.338 in precisely 500 plate appearances and did so whereas grading out as one of many premier defensive backstops within the recreation. His offense throughout that point was about 28% worse than that of a league-average hitter, by measure of wRC+, however catchers are typically lighter hitters than the usual massive leaguer. The common catcher tends to be round 10% to 12% worse than par with the bat, so Nido’s shortcomings on the plate throughout that three-year run weren’t as evident as they’d have been at one other place — notably when coupled together with his defensive contributions.
The Tigers traded Carson Kelly to the Rangers previous to the deadline and haven’t gotten any actual offensive manufacturing out of Jake Rogers and rookie Dillon Dingler behind the dish. That stated, Rogers himself is an elite defender at his place and has a minimum of managed to pop 10 homers and 15 doubles on the season. Nido may get a glance if both participant requires a late journey to the injured checklist, however he’ll in any other case seemingly grow to be a minor league free agent at season’s finish.
