Tigers a no-go in Bartolo pursuit

BALTIMORE -- Yes, the Tigers need pitching help as injuries take their toll in Detroit and Triple-A Toledo. But no, they are not signing Bartolo Colon.

Though a report from Dominican journalist Santiago Martinez said the popular, portly Dominican right-hander was heading to the United States to sign a Minor League contract with the Tigers, a club source called the report “not true.”

Colon, who turned 46 last Friday, has not pitched since last season, when he made 24 starts and four relief appearances for the Rangers. He went 7-12 with a 5.78 ERA, including 32 home runs over 146 1/3 innings. He did, however, post a complete game in a loss against the Tigers on July 6 at Comerica Park.

Colon was previously tied to the Tigers in rumors a month ago. Those, too, were denied.

Given the Tigers’ pitching injuries, the links weren’t necessarily crazy. The Tigers are missing four members of their projected Opening Day rotation. Michael Fulmer (Tommy John surgery) and Matt Moore (knee surgery) are out for the season, while Jordan Zimmermann (flexor pronator strain) and Tyson Ross (ulnar nerve neuritis) are currently on throwing programs in hopes of returning in the coming weeks. Zimmermann is scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday in Atlanta.

Add in injuries at Triple-A Toledo to pitching prospects Kyle Funkhouser and Beau Burrows, and the Tigers are well down their flow chart of fill-in starters. Detroit signed former Reds starter Tim Adelman out of independent ball earlier this month; he tossed six scoreless innings in his Mud Hens debut May 17 before yielding five runs over six innings six days later.

For now, at least, that’s the extent of the Tigers’ starting pitcher dealings. Ryan Carpenter is sticking in Detroit’s rotation for now as the Tigers’ fourth starter; he’ll start Wednesday against the Orioles on short rest after throwing 56 pitches over five strong innings last Saturday against the Mets. The Tigers don’t need a fifth starter until June 8, when Gregory Soto will be eligible to return from Toledo.

Tigers claim Adams, sign Torres

The Tigers did add a pair of big league veterans over the weekend, but both are relievers. Austin Adams joined the club Monday in Baltimore after Detroit claimed him off waivers from Minnesota a day earlier.

The 32-year-old right-hander joins his third American League Central organization, having spent the bulk of his 10-year pro career in the Indians' system. Adams signed a Minor League deal with the Twins last August after spending most of the summer in independent ball working his way back from injury. The Twins called him up earlier this month.

Adams tossed two scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his Minnesota debut May 18 at Seattle, then allowed five runs on three hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning five days later. The Twins designated him for assignment after that.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity and very thankful for the organization to give me a chance,” Adams said. “It’s been a crazy past few years.”

Adams pitched in Cleveland’s bullpen from 2014 to 2016, including a career-high 28 appearances in 2015. He went 2-0 with a 3.78 ERA that year, allowing 37 hits and 13 walks over 33 1/3 innings.

The Tigers also signed veteran National League reliever Carlos Torres to a Minor League contract after the 36-year-old opted out of his Minor League assignment with the Padres earlier this month. Torres has 358 Major League appearances over nine seasons, including 10 with the Nationals last year.

Torres is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo. Considering how many pitchers have shuttled back and forth between the Mud Hens and Tigers over the last month, a strong stretch with Toledo will probably put Torres on a path back to the big leagues.

“We don’t have enough down there in the Minor Leagues that can really come up and do anything right now,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “They’re not ready for this. They don’t throw it over. We’re trying to get people [who can do that]. Adams’ history so far hasn’t been throwing it over, but he’s another guy that throws 95 miles an hour. He’s had a lot of pitches and innings, too.

“It’s tough. We even went into Double-A bringing up people, and we’re still trying to finagle our way through. We’re signing older guys. We’re just trying. All the staff is trying to find people to help us get through it. They know what’s been going on, and it all boils down to those four starters [injured]. We’re retooling.”