Detroit Tigers Part Ways With Pitcher Daniel Schlereth

The Detroit Tigers did not offer pitcher Daniel Schlereth a contract today, making him a free agent. The pitcher was acquired in a trade by the Tigers and pitched well in 2011. Schlereth struggled in 2012 and became expendable by the club.

The Tigers relied on Schlereth in the 2011 season as a setup man. Schlereth saw work in 49 games and pitched a total of 49 innings. Schlereth posted a 2-2 record with seven holds. Daniel’s 3.49 ERA and 44 strikeouts showed promise going forward.

In 2012, Schlereth had a horrid 10.29 ERA in six MLB games pitched. Schlereth threw six strikeouts in the seven innings he pitched and posted a WHIP of 2.71. It appears that Schlereth’s decline started with the 2011 Playoffs. In three games, Schlereth had a 16.20 ERA through only 1.2 total innings.

Schlereth was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2008 MLB Draft. The Diamondbacks took Schlereth with the 26^th overall pick. The Oakland Athletics previously drafted Schlereth in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB Draft, but he decided to stay in college. The Diamondbacks traded Daniel to the Tigers in a trade that also saw Max Scherzer become a Tiger. The Tigers traded Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson at the time to acquire both pitchers.

The Tigers have had to make some tough contract decisions in this offseason. After reaching the World Series, the Tigers look to load up their team with dependable players. Schlereth wasn’t cutting it for the Tigers or their farm teams.