Lakeland, Fla. – The Tigers made three roster moves Monday, only one of which was mildly surprising.
After sending reliever Bruce Rondon to Triple-A Toledo, they released Bobby Parnell, the right-handed reliever they had signed last month to a minor-league contract. They also released handyman infielder Casey McGehee, who was never expected to seriously compete for an immediate job in Detroit.
Rondon’s return to the minors was all but made final during a bad Sunday bullpen appearance when he allowed four runs and two homers in two-thirds of an inning. It left him with a 9.00 ERA in 10 Grapefruit League stints and signaled that the Tigers’ hopes for him being of help as early as Opening Day have again been thwarted two years after he had Tommy John surgery.