{"id":724421,"date":"2026-06-13T00:33:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T00:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/724421\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T00:33:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T00:33:18","slug":"detroit-tigers-cut-zack-short-as-kenley-jansen-returns-from-il","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/724421\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Tigers cut Zack Short as Kenley Jansen returns from IL"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND \u2013\u00a0The Detroit Tigers<\/a> made a handful of roster moves before their game on Friday, June 12, including bringing back closer Kenley Jensen and adding\u00a0more speed in centerfield, where the Tigers have been without the two players who primarily manned that spot last season, Parker Meadows and Javier Baez.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A.J. Hinch hopes that James Outman, who was waived by the Minnesota Twins<\/a> on Thursday and picked up by the Tigers,\u00a0will\u00a0provide\u00a0defensive\u00a0range and give him more roster flexibility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In fact, he was penciled into center for Friday’s opener against the Guardians.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Outman will help us in\u00a0center,\u00a0and realign some of the outfield plays,” Hinch said Friday before the game. “You’ve\u00a0seen\u00a0we’ve\u00a0played Z-Mac [Zach McKinstry] out\u00a0there,\u00a0we’ve\u00a0played\u00a0Wenceel\u00a0[P\u00e9rez]\u00a0out there, played [Matt]\u00a0Vierling out there.\u00a0Now\u00a0Outman will factor into that as well.\u00a0He can play all three\u00a0[positions].”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Los<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder James Outman (33) celebrates at the the plate as the go-ahead run on a double off the bat of Will Smith in the ninth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The Dodgers won 5-4.<\/p>\n

JEFF SEIDEL: Tigers prospect Ben Jacobs reminds me of a young Tarik Skubal<\/a><\/p>\n

Hinch said the move was part of a plan to improve the defense in the outfield overall, not just in center. He also said that McKinstry will now be able to play more in the\u00a0infield, including some\u00a0shortstop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I’m\u00a0excited,” Outman said as he stood at his stall in the Tigers clubhouse, a\u00a0Twins logo-adorned toiletries bag tucked into a shelf.\u00a0“I was watching my daughter play in the rain when I got\u00a0the\u00a0phone call.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

It happened quickly, as these things tend to do. The Tigers will no doubt find him a travel replacement for his things soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As for his play on the field, where\u00a0he has\u00a0struggled at the plate?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Timing is the biggest thing,” he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As he tries to find it, the Tigers believe his speed, glove and occasional power can help.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I take a lot of pride in my defense and baserunning, trying to\u00a0impact\u00a0the game on that end when the bat is not there,” he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outman hit 23 homers and stole 16 bases over 151 games as a rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in 2023. As Hinch noted, the power is still there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I know there’s been a lot of\u00a0miss,” Hinch said. “What\u00a0I\u00a0told him is\u00a0try\u00a0to focus on what he is trying to do and not focus on\u00a0avoiding something.\u00a0I’ve\u00a0had\u00a0players in the past swing and miss quite a bit and\u00a0actually\u00a0try\u00a0to not\u00a0swing and\u00a0miss.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

When\u00a0you\u00a0do that?\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You end up swinging and missing,” said Hinch.\u00a0“He put up a nice season as a young player.\u00a0I know\u00a0it’s\u00a0been a couple\u00a0years\u00a0since he\u00a0established\u00a0himself\u00a0… [but] the talent is\u00a0there,\u00a0he can\u00a0impact\u00a0the game.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zack Short designated for assignment<\/p>\n

THURSDAY’S MOVES: Tigers claim Twins OF James Outman, trade for reliever dominating in Triple-A<\/a><\/p>\n

To help make room for Jensen’s return and the addition of Outman and right-handed reliver Jacob Waguespack \u2013 who arrived in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> earlier in the week the Tigers optioned right-handed relievers Beau Brieske and Brenan Hanifee to Triple-A Toledo, and\u00a0designated Zack Short for assignment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With Tarik Skubal expected to start Saturday in his return from the injured list and Casey Mize expected to start Sunday, also in a return from the IL, the Tigers are\u00a0beginning\u00a0to look more like the team they thought\u00a0they’d\u00a0have, Hinch said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As for Waguespack?\u00a0<\/p>\n

“[He has] ability to get some lefties out,\u00a0he’s\u00a0big, we like the fastball, we like some of the secondary pitches, the extension, his overall look is\u00a0different from what we have,” said Hinch. “He can miss a bat.\u00a0He’s\u00a0performed in Triple-A.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

That happened in Nashville this season, where Waguespack put up solid numbers for the Brewers’ top farm club.\u00a0The 6-foot-6 reliever\u00a0has pitched\u00a0for the Toronto\u00a0Blue Jays and\u00a0Tampa\u00a0Bay Rays in the big leagues and spent several years\u00a0in\u00a0Japan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hinch said the Tigers tried to get\u00a0the 32-year-old\u00a0the past couple offseasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Ready to help out,” Waguespack said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The team expects to make corresponding moves over the weekend to\u00a0accommodate\u00a0the return of Skubal and Mize.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Contact Shawn Windsor:\u00a0swindsor@freepress.com<\/a>. Follow him\u00a0@shawnwindsor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers shuffle roster ahead of big series in Cleveland<\/a><\/p>\n