DETROIT — When the Detroit Tigers formally added right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan to the roster on Saturday, it prompted a tough decision: Who would get dropped in the corresponding move?<\/p>\n
Less than halfway through the winter, the Tigers are running out of easy cuts. <\/p>\n
The Tigers elected to designate for assignment Justyn-Henry Malloy, a popular young designated hitter who was consistently excellent in Triple-A and had bursts of success in the big leagues. <\/p>\n
Although the Tigers can keep Malloy in their system if he clears waivers, it\u2019s far more likely that he\u2019s claimed or traded in the coming days. <\/p>\n
Finnegan\u2019s contract is a two-year deal worth a guaranteed $19 million.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll earn $8.75 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027. There\u2019s a mutual option for 2028 worth $10 million that can be bought out for $2.25 million. <\/p>\n
Finnegan was acquired by the Tigers from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline<\/a> and rattled off 14 1\/3 consecutive scoreless innings, striking out 19 and walking just three. After a brief stint on the injured list, he was less effective upon his return in late September, striking out only three of 30 batters he faced in the postseason.<\/p>\n Finnegan, 34, was born in Detroit but grew up in Texas. He had spent his entire big-league career with the Nationals before the trade in July.<\/p>\n Drafted by the Oakland Athletics out of Texas State in 2013, Finnegan never reached the majors in that organization. He signed with Washington as a minor-league free agent before the 2020 season and posted a 3.66 ERA over 329 innings with 108 career saves with the Nats.<\/p>\n Malloy, who turns 26 in February, hit .322 with a .955 OPS in 329 plate appearances with Toledo in 2025, but never got on track during sporadic big-league opportunities. <\/p>\n Most notably, he hit only one home run in 127 MLB plate appearances in 2025, compared to eight in 230 in 2024.<\/p>\n His lack of power, lack of a defensive position, and the emergence of Jahmai Jones as a right-handed platoon bat all combined to make Malloy expendable. <\/p>\n Malloy\u2019s outfield defense has always been a question mark, so the Tigers gave him extra work at first base in spring training<\/a>. But the resurgence of Spencer Torkelson closed off any opportunity at that position, and Malloy remained largely a DH and pinch-hitter in 2025. <\/p>\n