The Detroit Tigers have brought back utility player Bligh Madris, signing him to a minor league contract as part of their ongoing offseason roster adjustments. Madris had a brief stint with the Tigers in 2023 after being claimed off waivers, having previously been with the Tampa Bay Rays and later having his contract purchased by the Houston Astros.
Madris experienced a tumultuous year with various team changes, but he has now reentered the Tigers’ fold, committing to a minor league deal. In this capacity, he is likely to contribute as organizational depth, seeking a role in the minor league system.
While Madris may not be a transformative addition to the major league roster and is not expected to secure a spot on the 26-man roster, his utility as a left-handed hitter brings value to the organization. Primarily viewed as a minor league depth option, Madris, known for his versatility, could play a role within the Tigers’ farm system.
In the 2023 season, Madris briefly featured in the Astros’ major league roster, participating in 12 games and accumulating 30 plate appearances. During his time with Houston, he posted a .154/.267/.192 slash line, with four walks and seven strikeouts. It is evident that Madris’ return to Detroit does not position him as a contender for a spot on the big-league roster, emphasizing his role as a depth player within the Tigers’ minor league system.
Former Promising Astros Utilityman Signs With Detroit Tigers
A player the Houston Astros traded for ahead of the 2023 season has signed a deal in free agency with the Detroit Tigers.
The Houston Astros made a trade for a promising utility piece ahead of the 2023 season. They sent cash considerations to the Detroit Tigers to acquire Bligh Madris.
Unfortunately, that trade didn’t work out for either party and according to MLB Trade Rumors, he has now signed a minor league deal with the Tigers this offseason.
Originally selected in Round 9 of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the infielder/outfielder became Rookie of the Year for the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in 2021.
Madris’ promising performance at the minor league level didn’t translate to the MLB when he debuted in 2022.
The utilityman had a disappointing slash line of .177/.244/.265 with one home run and seven RBI in 39 games with Pittsburgh.
After being designated for assignment, Madris was claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays, where he finished the season playing 10 games for their Triple-A affiliate before, once again, being designated for assignment where he was claimed by Detroit.
The Astros traded for the utilityman where he primarily played for their Triple-A affiliate, posting slash line of .249/.363/.446 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI.
Houston promoted him to their Major League roster in June to give him another opportunity at the big leagues after his solid performance in the minors.
Unfortunately, his second stint in the MLB went similarly to his first, as he slashed .154/.267/.192 with zero home runs, zero RBI and only one extra base hit in 12 games.
Madris was sent down again to make room for the promotion of first baseman Jon Singleton.
Following the year, he elected to hit free agency and then signed with the Tigers for the upcoming season.
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