Cabrera to consult specialists about sore knee

DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera was back in the Tigers' lineup for Monday’s series finale against the Orioles, having missed one game with the sore right knee that forced him out of Saturday’s win. He’ll play through the soreness as much as he can over these final two weeks, just as he has for most of the season.

Cabrera does not want to have to play through the same knee issues for a full season. So when the season is over, he said he plans to work with the Tigers' medical staff and consult with specialists to see what his options are for improving his knee, surgical and otherwise.

What options he’ll get from doctors is anyone’s guess; he’s open to ideas. All that has been made public about Cabrera’s knee is that he’s dealing with chronic changes as a result of wear and tear over the course of his long career. When that was announced in June, Cabrera said surgery wasn’t an option, at least in-season.

Cabrera has revamped his swing since then, taking pressure off his right knee and putting it on his healthier left knee. He has taken to the adjustment surprisingly well for an in-season swing change, posting a slash line of .291/.350/.779 since June 4 and .321/.489/.880 since July 29.

Cabrera has said multiple times this summer that he wants to strengthen his knee enough to be able to play first base on occasion. He likes being involved in the entire game instead of being in the dugout while his team is out on defense. Whether that goal is realistic remains to be seen.

Whatever Cabrera’s options, it’s in his interest, and that of the Tigers, to find a workable solution. He has four more guaranteed seasons -- $30 million next year and 2021, then $32 million in '22 and '23 -- on the contract extension he signed in '15. He’s on pace to reach 500 career home runs and 3,000 hits in the next couple years.

Tigers claim reliever off waivers, place Stumpf on IL

The Tigers made their second prospect waiver claim in two weeks, claiming right-handed reliever Marcos Diplán from the Twins. Diplan, who split the season at the Double-A level between the Brewers' and Twins' systems, will not join the Tigers for the stretch run.

The Twins designated Diplan for assignment a few days ago after acquiring him from the Brewers in a July 31 trade for cash. The 22-year-old Dominican was a top international signing by the Rangers in 2013 before going to the Brewers along with Corey Knebel in the Yovani Gallardo trade two years later.

Like fellow waiver claim David McKay, Diplan is a hard-throwing right-hander with high strikeout and walk rates. He fanned 73 batters over 68 2/3 innings between Biloxi and Pensacola this season, but also walked 44 and threw nine wild pitches.

To make room for Diplan on the 40-man roster, the Tigers placed lefty Daniel Stumpf on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow strain. The move ends what has been a frustrating season for Stumpf, and could do the same for his tenure with Detroit.

The 28-year-old Stumpf struck out 28 batters over 29 innings in 48 appearances for the Tigers this year, but allowed 35 hits and 15 walks. Though left-handed hitters batted .255 (14-for-55) with 17 strikeouts off him, right-handers batted .344 (21-for-61) against him with 10 walks and three home runs. He was optioned to Toledo in late July, allowing a lone earned run on eight hits over 15 1/3 innings with 24 strikeouts for the Mud Hens before rejoining Detroit this month.

Stumpf is expected to be eligible for arbitration this offseason, giving the Tigers a decision to make with him and Blaine Hardy as they evaluate their bullpen. With the emergence of fellow lefties Nick Ramirez and Gregory Soto, and Major League Baseball expected to institute a three-batter minimum for pitchers next year, Detroit might have to look at lefties differently.

Tigers part ways with Minor League coaches

The Tigers have started the process of evaluating their farm system. Vice president of player development David Littlefield confirmed Monday that they’ve informed five coaches they won’t be re-signed for next year: Triple-A Toledo third-base coach Basilio Cabrera, Double-A Erie hitting coach Brian Harper, Class A West Michigan coach Eddie Dennis, Gulf Coast League East manager Luis Lopez and GCL East pitching coach Jose Parra.

Minor League infield coordinator Bill Dancy has also been told he won’t be retained. Lynn Henning of the Detroit News first reported the moves.

The Tigers have not yet made decisions on their Minor League managers, according to Littlefield. Those are part of their end-of-season meetings currently ongoing at Comerica Park, and will likely be announced around season’s end. Mike Rabelo, who led Erie to the brink of the Eastern League playoffs, is expected to be back at some post; he was sent to the Arizona Fall League to serve as manager of the Mesa Solar Sox, leading prospects from the Tigers, Indians and Cubs, among other organizations.