Chafin will report to Trriple-A Toledo after the Tigers informed him Wednesday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster and will be reassigned to the minors, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Even though the Tigers unexpectedly had an extra spot in the bullpen available with Jason Foley surprisingly getting optioned to Triple-A coming off a 28-save season with Detroit, Chafin wasn't able to make the cut. While the 34-year-old lefty boasts a fairly long track record of success in the majors, a poor spring in which he yielded eight earned runs on seven hits and six walks over six Grapefruit League innings kept him from winning an Opening Day spot. Brenan Hanifee instead appears to have clinched the final opening in the Detroit bullpen.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Jockeying for MLB roster spot
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Chafin is still in the mix for Detroit's final bullpen spot to begin the regular season, along with Brant Hurter and Brenan Hanifee, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Chafin was invited to camp on a minor-league deal and is not on the 40-man roster, so the Tigers would have to clear room for him if they want to keep him around, but the veteran southpaw could give the team a boost against left-handed hitters. Hurter is also a lefty while Hanifee, a righty, posted a sub-2.00 ERA for Detroit last season, so the team has a tough decision to make. Ultimately, all three players could see time in the MLB bullpen at various points during the 2025 season, but none of them figure to have huge fantasy impacts.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Re-ups on MiLB deal
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Chafin signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
A 34-year-old lefty, Chafin had a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 56.1 innings in the majors last season split between Texas and Detroit. Tyler Holton and Sean Guenther are the Tigers' top left-handed relievers on big-league deals.
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Andrew Chafin: Headed to free agency
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The Rangers declined Chafin's 2025 team option Monday.
Chafin signed a one-year deal with the Tigers in December of 2023, but he was dealt to the Rangers in late July. Across 62 regular-season outings with both organizations, Chafin posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 70:31 K:BB across 56.1 innings. The 34-year-old southpaw should get plenty of interest on the open market from teams looking to add some veteran, left-handed pitching to its bullpen.
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Rangers' Andrew Chafin: Dealt to Rangers
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The Tigers traded Chafin to the Rangers on Tuesday in exchange for Joseph Montalvo and Chase Lee, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Chafin has been one of the Tigers' top bullpen arms this season, logging a 3.16 ERA in 37.0 innings with eight holds and 50 strikeouts. The southpaw will join a righty-heavy bullpen in Texas and could be used as a setup man for closer Kirby Yates.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Records first save
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Chafin earned a save against the Reds on Saturday by striking out the only batter he faced.
Detroit held a three-run lead heading into the ninth inning and turned the ball over to closer Jason Foley. However, the right-hander wasn't effective, giving up a leadoff homer to Spencer Steer and a two-out single to Noelvi Marte. Chafin was subsequently brought in to get the final out of the contest and did so by fanning Santiago Espinal on six pitches. Chafin recorded a career-high eight saves with Arizona last year, but this was his first save this season.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Earns win Sunday
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Chafin (3-1) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Sunday's 8-4, 10-inning victory over the Red Sox. He walked two and struck out two.
Chafin got the last out of the bottom of the ninth inning, escaping a bases-loaded jam in a 4-4 game. Detroit then scored four times in the top of the 10th, setting the lefty up to close things out for his third win of the year. Chafin has had an up-and-down season, as he came into Sunday having allowed at least a run in his previous three appearances, but the veteran should remain in a key bullpen role despite his middling 4.58 ERA.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Struggles in first loss
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Chafin (2-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out to take the loss Friday against the Astros.
Chafin came on in the eighth inning with Detroit up 2-1 but he couldn't hold Houston in check and got saddled with his first loss of the season. The lefty has now allowed runs in consecutive appearances, which has pushed his ERA from 1.35 to 3.86. That's closer to the 4.73 ERA Chafin posted with Arizona and Milwaukee last year, though he was better in his last stint with the Tigers back in 2022, when he posted a 2.83 ERA.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Earns first win of season
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Chafin (1-0) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts to earn the win in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Rangers.
Chafin continued his strong play, as he now has a stellar 1.42 ERA across 6.1 innings this season, and he picked up his first win in the process. However, the lefty seems to be a secondary option to close out games, as Jason Foley recorded the save Tuesday to give him five for the season, while Chafin has yet to record a save. That makes Foley the best fantasy asset in Detroit's bullpen at the moment, though Chafin has some value in deeper formats, particularly those that count holds.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Wraps up quiet spring
Rotowire
Chafin recorded a 5.06 ERA across 5.1 innings this spring and is set for an Opening Day bullpen role in Detroit.
The veteran lefty didn't need a ton of work in spring training, and despite so-so results, he'll slot into a high-leverage role for the Tigers. Chafin struggled a bit last year, posting a 4.73 ERA across 63 games for the Diamondbacks and Brewers, though he was better in 2022, when he recorded a 2.83 ERA across 64 games with this same Detroit squad. His ability to pitch frequently and not wear down has served him well across a 10-year MLB career, and he should once again see plenty of work in 2024.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Back with Detroit
Rotowire
Chafin agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Tigers on Sunday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Pressreports.
The deal includes a $6.5 million club option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout. Chafin split last season between the Diamondbacks and Brewers, and he posted an underwhelming 4.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 63:28 K:BB across 51.1 innings. Milwaukee then declined his $7.25 million club option for 2024. The veteran lefty delivered a 2.83 ERA in 64 outings for Detroit in 2022, and the organization is likely hoping he'll rediscover that form.
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Andrew Chafin: Club option declined
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The Brewers declined Chafin's $7.25 million club option for 2024 on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Chafin will take a $725,000 buyout as he moves to the open market. The 33-year-old journeyman left-hander was a steady relief option for the Cubs, Athletics and Tigers in 2021-22 before stumbling to a 4.73 ERA across 51.1 innings this past season between Arizona and Milwaukee.
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Brewers' Andrew Chafin: Struggles with command in loss
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Chafin (2-4) took the loss Tuesday against Colorado. He allowed four runs (three earned) on one hit and two walks while failing to record an out.
After the Brewers had already used Elvis Peguero, Joel Payamps and Devin Williams out of the bullpen, Chafin was called upon to handle the 10th inning. The recently acquired lefty walked Michael Toglia to begin the frame, then surrendered a bunt single to Brenton Doyle and walked Cole Tucker to score a run before exiting the game with the bases loaded. Abner Uribe came in to finish off the inning, but not before allowing all three inherited runners to score. Chafin now holds an 8.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP through nine innings across his last 11 appearances.
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Brewers' Andrew Chafin: Sent north to Milwaukee
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The Brewers acquired Chafin from the Diamondbacks on Tuesday in exchange for Peter Strzelecki, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Chafin spent time in the closer role for Arizona earlier this year, accumulating eight saves, and he's more than just a situational lefty. In fact, Chafin has held opposing right-handed hitters to a .185/.267/.370 line so far this season. The 33-year-old will pitch important innings for Milwaukee down the stretch as the club looks to overtake the Reds in the NL Central.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Chafin: Returns from paternity leave
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Chafin was activated from the paternity leave list Friday.
The veteran left-hander is back in the bullpen after tending to more important matters. Chafin has collected a 3.06 ERA and 45:15 K:BB over 32.1 innings out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen this season.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Chafin: Placed on paternity list
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Arizona placed Chafin on the paternity list Tuesday.
Chafin will miss at least a portion of the Diamondbacks' three-game series in Atlanta as he welcomes a new addition to his growing family. Luis Frias has been called up from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Chafin: Can't hold lead
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Chafin (2-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss Wednesday. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning against the Mets.
Chafin got the first two outs and nearly had the third, but catcher Carson Kelly couldn't hang on to Francisco Alvarez's foul tip. Given a second life, Alvarez drilled a game-tying home run to right-center field, and Chafin blew his third save in 11 chances. Two batters later, the Diamondbacks were down a run. Chafin had been the primary closer to the start the season, but he hadn't been used in a close-out situation since May 29, as Scott McGough emerged in that role. This was the third time in the last week the bullpen failed the Diamondbacks late in a game.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Chafin: Back in action
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Chafin (ankle) struck out two over a scoreless and hitless inning in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Nationals.
Chafin rolled an ankle Tuesday and was unavailable to pitch the last two days. He pitched the eighth inning Thursday while Scott McGough recorded the save, his third in as many appearances. Chafin's last save came May 29, though he remains a trusted late-inning arm.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Chafin: Rolls ankle
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Chafin rolled his ankle during batting practice prior to Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Michael McDermott of SI.com reports.
Chafin sustained the injury while shagging flyballs. He was scheduled to throw a bullpen session before the game, and it's unclear if he was available Tuesday. Chafin didn't pitch in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to Milwaukee.
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Diamondbacks' Andrew Chafin: Nabs eighth save
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Chafin earned a save over the Rockies on Monday, retiring the only batter he faced via strikeout.
Drey Jameson pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in relief and nearly closed the game, but Chafin was summoned to record the final out after Randal Grichuk stroked a two-out single in the ninth. Chafin got Elehuris Montero to go down swinging on a slider to finish off the victory and earn his eighth save. The lefty reliever has nabbed four saves in May and appears to be sharing the closer role with Miguel Castro, who also has four saves this month.
