Tigers select reliever Derek Law

The Tigers announced they’ve selected reliever Derek Law onto the 40-man roster. Bryan Garcia, who was called up as a COVID-19 substitute to start Friday’s game in Toronto, has been returned to Triple-A Toledo. Garcia is off the 40-man but didn’t need to pass through waivers because of his virus substitute designation.

Law’s promotion, on the other hand, isn’t as a substitute. He lands a lasting 40-man spot that puts him in position to log his first MLB action of the year. The right-hander signed a minor league deal in April, and he’s spent the season with the Mud Hens. He’s worked 39 innings, pitching to a 3.23 ERA with strong peripherals. Law has fanned an above-average 27.2% of batters faced, only walked 6.2% of opponents and induced grounders at a solid 46.2% clip.

The Tigers are the fourth team for which Law will suit up in the big leagues. He spent his early career with the Giants, posting a 2.13 ERA across 55 innings as a rookie in 2016. Control problems increasingly mounted for the Pittsburgh native, however, and he lost his roster spot in San Francisco after the 2018 season. 

Law spent the 2019 campaign with the Blue Jays, then returned for a couple brief stints with the Twins last year after not reaching the majors during the shortened season. He owns a 4.22 ERA with a 22.3% strikeout percentage and a slightly elevated 9.9% walk rate across 181 1/3 big league innings.

Detroit is temporarily working with an extra spot on the 40-man roster, as reliever Andrew Chafin is on the restricted list for this weekend’s series against the Jays. The Tigers will need to clear a roster spot to reinstate Chafin on Monday, but it’s very possible they make a trade that subtracts someone from the major league roster within the next two days. 

The bullpen could see a few departures, with Chafin, Michael Fulmer and Joe Jiménez among Detroit’s top trade candidates. Law should have a decent shot at holding onto a middle relief spot down the stretch if the Tigers ship away one or more of their veteran bullpen arms.

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reported Law’s forthcoming promotion last night.