Garrett designated for assignment, Baez recalled

DETROIT -- The Tigers’ pitching struggles cost them their Rule 5 Draft selection. Reed Garrett, the hard-throwing reliever selected out of the Rangers' farm system last December, was designated for assignment after Thursday’s loss.

Garrett had a stingy first month pitching in low-leverage situations, but he gave up runs in each of his last six outings, including a four-run inning on Thursday. He battled command throughout, putting up more walks (13) than strikeouts (10) over 15 1/3 innings.

“He’s got a wonderful arm, but we have to have innings out of him,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “And right now, he can’t get through an inning without exactly what has happened. We love the kid’s arm, but right now, he’s just a kid, and he has to learn the strike zone. It’s unfortunate, but with the way our situation is, we have to have people that can throw it over and get us off the field.”

Garrett goes on waivers, where any team that claims him would have to keep him on its roster for the season like any other Rule 5 Draft pick. If Garrett goes unclaimed, he can be offered back to Texas for $50,000, half of what Detroit paid to draft him. If the Rangers decline, the Tigers can take him back and put him in their farm system.

Replacing Garrett will be Sandy Baez, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo. The big right-hander pitched in nine games out of Detroit's bullpen last year, allowing eight earned runs on 12 hits over 14 1/3 innings with nine walks and 10 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with a 7.58 ERA in 16 appearances for the Mud Hens this year.