Detroit Tigers Transactions: A pair of former Mud Hens head to Korea

Toward the end of the season, a large group of Detroit Tigers minor leaguers appeared likely to head elsewhere in search of better opportunities. (24 to be exact) So far, the Tigers have made only one notable move to counter that trend: Detroit re-signed right-hander Tanner Rainey to a minor league deal. Other than that, activity has been minimal on the Tigers side. Here is the entire list of players who declared free agency, courtesy of Baseball America:

RHP Jordan Balazovic (AAA)

RHP Austin Bergner (AA)

RHP Ryan Boyer (AA)

RHP Blair Calvo (AA)

RHP Jhoan De Los Santos (DSL)

RHP Randy Dobnak (AAA)

RHP Woo-Suk Go (AAA)

RHP Richard Guasch (AA)

RHP Wilkel Hernandez (AAA)

RHP Jesus Mejia (DSL)

RHP Freddy Pacheco (A+)

RHP Esmerlin Peguero (DSL)

RHP Erinson Reyes (DSL)

RHP Nick Starr (AA)

LHP Andrew Magno (AA)

LHP Nick Margevicius (AAA)

LHP Carlos Pena (AA)

C Eliezer Alfonzo (AA)

C Brian Serven (AAA)

1B Jake Holton (AA)

2B Kevin Newman (AAA)

3B Carlos Mendoza (AA)

SS Andrew Navigato (AAA)

SS Riley Unroe (AAA)

For clarification, Randy Dobnak's $6 million dollar option was not picked up by the Tigers after he was picked up from Minnesota in the Chris Paddack trade. Instead, per Jason Beck of MLB.com, the Tigers bought out the reminder of his contract at $1 million dollars.

But for those on the move, Carlos Mendoza, the utility player who spend time in Toledo and Erie in 2025, signed with Toronto. Two players who were a part of the 2024 Erie SeaWolves championship roster, in catcher Eliezer Alfonzo and left-hander Andrew Magno, also found new homes. Alfonzo signed with the Dodgers and Magno with the Orioles, which includes an invitation to spring training.

Wilkel Hernandez, who was acquired back in 2017 when the Tigers traded Ian Kinsler to the Angels, signed with Hanwha Eagles of the KBO. He will be getting from what, it appears, a good raise from what he was making with the Tigers. Per the article, the contract is worth a total of $900,000, including a down payment of $100,000, an annual salary of $650,000 and an option of $150,000.

Lastly, Matt Manning, who was the last of the 2016 Tigers draft class left in the system and was traded to the Phillies earlier this summer, was signed by the Samsung Lions.