Have the Tigers ever made Christmas roster moves? History of holiday transactions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers have been one team most talked-about teams around the Major Leagues this offseason. Tarik Skubal is popping up in trade rumors, and the Tigers could also be major buyers as well.

Advertisement

While the Skubal roster decision will be one every team is paying extra close attention to, the Tigers are still in need of making a few other key roster moves this offseason. And with Christmas now here, the Tigers could gift their fans a quality signing or trade.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Tigers make a move on Christmas, whether it be Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. According to Baseball Reference’s database, the Tigers have been active during the holiday season, including beginning the Christmas Eve trend.

Tigers’ history of Christmas roster moves dates back over 100 years

For starters, while the Tigers are active during the holiday season, they’ve never made a roster move on Christmas Day itself. Scott Harris has a chance to change that this season, but for now, the Tigers’ history of roster moves revolves around Christmas Eve.

Advertisement

The most recent Christmas Eve signing from the Tigers came in 2013, when they signed Kevin Russo to a free agent deal. He never played for the Tigers in the Majors, only playing 31 games for the New York Yankees in 2010.

After that 2013 signing, the next most recent Christmas Eve transaction occurred in 1927, almost 100 years ago. But it’s not a simple move, as it was a two-part trade.

The Tigers acquired Harry Rice (4.6 bWAR in 2.5 seasons), Elam Vanglider (2.1 bWAR with a 4.08 ERA in 44 appearances), and a player to be named later from the St. Louis Browns.

More: Tigers tabbed as trade suitor for Diamondbacks’ $105 million All-Star second baseman

Advertisement

Going to the Browns in this trade were Lu Blue (10.2 bWAR in three seasons) and Hall of Famer Heinie Manush (12.4 bWAR in 2.5 seasons).

This trade was made before December 24th, but on Christmas Eve, the final piece of this trade was completed, when Chick Galloway (0.1 bWAR in 53 games) was sent to the Tigers to complete this trade.

But that’s not the only Christmas Eve trade the Tigers have made. Though back in 1905, in the first recorded roster move on Christmas Eve, the Tigers traded for Red Donahue (4.4 bWAR) from the Cleveland Napoleons for Happy Townsend (-0.5 bWAR).

Townsend was, fittingly, from Townsend, Delaware, and made his way from Detroit to Cleveland as part of the very first recorded Christmas Eve roster move. The Tigers were surely happy with this trade, though Cleveland might not have been with the bWAR disparity.

Advertisement

More Tigers News: