Tigers Make Surprising Move, Sending Team’s Closer to the Minors

After a 28-save season as the team's closer in 2024, Detroit Tigers reliever Jason Foley has had a tough Grapefruit League this past month, and now surprisingly has paid the price by being sent to the minors to start the season.

Jason Foley has been optioned to AAA Toledo
— Tigers Torkmoil (@bythewaybro) March 26, 2025

Foley will make $3.5 million this year, but after a spring in which he posted a 6.14 ERA with 10 hits allowed and five earned runs in 7.1 innings, he'll have to start his 2025 at Triple-A.

Last season, Foley had a rousing start to the year with nine saves in April, then another nine in September to finish with 28 saves, along with a 3.15 ERA. His control was in question all season, as he finished with a mediocre 46:20 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 60 innings.

Also sent to Triple-A in another surprising move was 11-year veteran lefty Andrew Chafin. He had a 3.51 ERA with a 70:31 K/BB ratio across 56⅓ innings last season split between the Tigers (41 games) and Texas Rangers (21 games). He's on a minor league contract, with some opt-out dates that he could use if he's not back in the majors soon. He also had a rough spring, posting an ERA of 12.00 by allowing eight earned runs in six innings. He also handed out six walks.

The moves were made to make room for impressive young right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee, who had a wonderful 29 innings in the 2024 season's final two months. He posted a 1.84 ERA and a 23:6 K:BB ratio. He solidified his spot with 10⅔ scoreless innings with three walks and nine strikeouts in nine games during spring training.