DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have traded onetime prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.
Malloy was designated for assignment on Dec. 21 when reliever Kyle Finnegan was added to the roster. He spent an unusually long time in DFA limbo before Tuesday’s trade due to the league’s holiday break.
Malloy, who turns 26 in February, hit .322 with a .955 OPS in 329 plate appearances with Toledo in 2025, but never got on track during sporadic big-league opportunities.
Most notably, he hit only one home run in 127 MLB plate appearances in 2025, compared to eight in 230 in 2024.
His lack of power, lack of a defensive position, and the emergence of Jahmai Jones as a right-handed platoon bat all combined to make Malloy expendable.
Malloy’s outfield defense has always been a question mark, so the Tigers gave him extra work at first base last spring. But the resurgence of Spencer Torkelson closed off any opportunity at that position, and Malloy remained largely a DH and pinch-hitter in 2025.
Malloy was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Joe Jimenez trade after the 2022 season. The New York native was a sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech in 2021.
TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (40)
Left-handed pitchers (6): Tyler Holton, Bailey Horn, Brant Hurter, Jake Miller, Tarik Skubal, Drew Sommers.
Right-handed pitchers (15): Drew Anderson, Beau Brieske, Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Brenan Hanifee, Kenley Jansen, Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Dylan Smith, Will Vest.
Catchers (4): Dillon Dingler, Thayron Liranzo, Jake Rogers, Eduardo Valencia.
Infielders (9): Javier Báez, Trei Cruz, Jace Jung, Colt Keith, Hao-Yu Lee, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.
Outfielders (6): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, Matt Vierling.