Detroit Tigers sign 17 minor-league free-agents
The Detroit Tigers beefed up their bench over the weekend, signing 17 free agents to minor-league deals.
The team officially announced the signings on Friday, which include six spring training invitees: left-handed pitcher Drake Britton, right-handers Rafael Dolis, Preston Guilmet and Lendy Castillo, catcher Miguel Gonzalez and infielder Tommy Field.
Britton, 26, pitched in 25 games for the Red Sox in 2013 and 2014, striking out 21 batters over 27 2/3 innings. He was claimed off waivers by the Cubs in February and went 7-8 with a 5.08 ERA in 28 appearances for Triple-A Iowa this past season.
Guilmet, 28, pitched for four different Triple-A organizations in 2015: Buffalo, Durham, Oklahoma City and Colorado Springs. In 39 appearances he was 2-2 with a 2.15 ERA and 46 strikeouts. He also made five major-league appearances between the Rays and Brewers, allowing nine runs over 7 1/3 innings with four walks and six strikeouts.
Castillo last pitched in the majors in 2012, when he made 12 appearances for the Cubs. The 26-year-old split time between Class A Advanced and Double-A ball in the Rangers and Blue Jays organizations last season, allowing 26 earned runs with 39 strikeouts and 27 walks over 49 innings.
Gonzalez, 25, returns to the Tigers after hitting .242 with 18 doubles, two homers and 26 RBI between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo last season. Field has played in 47 major-league games over four seasons for the Rockies, Angels and Rangers, hitting .214 with a .538 OPS.
The others signings were right-handed pitchers Ruben Alaniz, Endrys Briceno, Jake Brigham, Edgar De La Rosa, Eduardo Figueroa,, Cory Riordan, Ross Seaton and Thad Weber, left-handed pitcher Anthony Fernandez, catcher Albert Cordero and outfielder Jiwan James.
