Tigers reach deals with McKinstry, Ibá?ez, claim LHP from Boston

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch earned American League Manager of the Year consideration in part with his ability to play matchups and platoons to his advantage time after time. He’ll go into 2025 with two of his key matchup infielders back in the fold.

The Tigers on Friday reached deals on one-year contracts with infielders Zach McKinstry for $1.65 million and Andy Ibáñez for $1.4 million, while tendering contracts to the rest of their arbitration-eligible players, including AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Jake Rogers, Will Vest, Jason Foley, Matt Vierling and Beau Brieske.

The Tigers’ only player non-tendered leading into Friday night’s deadline was a prospect. Right-hander Wilmer Flores, a former MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect, was designated for assignment and non-tendered after an injury-shortened season at Triple-A Toledo, though the team could sign him back on a Minor League deal.

McKinstry was seemingly a name to watch ahead of Friday’s deadline. A first-time arbitration-eligible player, the former Central Michigan great has a .220/.285/.357 slash line over parts of five Major League seasons. But with his versatility, defensive consistency, left-handed bat and smart baserunning -- including 16-for-16 on stolen bases this past season -- he has forged a valuable role on Detroit’s roster, especially with third base uncertain and the shortstop position in flux following Javier Báez’s hip surgery. McKinstry also had an extra-base hit in all three games he started in the postseason, going 3-for-7 with two doubles and a solo home run. The game-tying homer came in Game 4 of the AL Division Series at Comerica Park.

What McKinstry means from the left side, Ibá?ez provides from the right. The 31-year-old slugger, who forged a role in Detroit by pounding left-handed pitching in 2023, struggled a bit overall this past season but still hit lefties for a .292 average and .802 OPS. He became a hero in the postseason with a go-ahead, bases-clearing double in Game 2 of the Tigers’ AL Wild Card Series win at Houston. With the Tigers’ lineup currently heavy with left-handed hitters, Ibá?ez could be critical for maintaining balance.

Flores, a non-drafted free-agent signing in 2020, seemed ticketed for Detroit at some point this past season after overpowering hitters out of the bullpen in Spring Training. But after battling command for the first six weeks of Triple-A Toledo’s season, Flores went on the injured list with a shoulder sprain, sidelining him until late August. He struggled upon his return and was later scratched from an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.

Infielder Eddys Leonard and right-handed relievers Brendan White and Ricky Vanasco were also non-tendered after being designated for assignment earlier in the week to make room for prospect additions to the 40-man roster.

Flores’ move opened a 40-man roster spot for the Tigers to claim left-handed reliever Bailey Horn off waivers from the Red Sox. The 26-year-old southpaw, a former fifth-round pick by the White Sox, bounced around the Minors before getting his first big league stint with 18 games out of the Boston bullpen down the stretch in 2024. He allowed 13 runs on 22 hits over 18 innings, walking 10 and striking out 13, but he showed potential with a high-spin sweeper that features above-average movement. He also throws a mid-90s fastball, while mixing in an occasional curveball and cutter.

The Tigers have until Jan. 9 to agree to terms with Skubal, Mize, Rogers, Vest, Foley, Vierling and Brieske. If they can’t, they’ll have to exchange arbitration figures.