The Detroit Tigers made a trade on the first day of spring camp. After designating RHP Mason Englert in exchange for signing Jack Flaherty last week, they traded Englert to the Rays today for minor league lefty Drew Sommers.
There are no real downsides to such a move. We might have preferred to keep Englert over some other options on the 40-man roster, but despite having a quality slider and changeup, the right-hander hasn’t been able to solve his fastball vulnerability in his seasons in the Tigers’ organization. Now he’ll get a chance at a fresh start with Tampa Bay.