Foley (shoulder) was non-tendered by the Tigers on Friday.
Foley was designated for assignment Tuesday, but he's now officially a free agent. He spent most of the 2025 season sidelined by a shoulder injury.
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Tigers' Jason Foley: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Tigers designated Foley (shoulder) for assignment Tuesday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Widely considered the favorite to close for Detroit entering 2025 spring training, Foley didn't even end up making it to Opening Day, with the Tigers choosing instead to send him to Triple-A Toledo. A right shoulder strain then put Foley on the injured list just weeks into the campaign, leading to season-ending arthroscopic surgery in May. While Foley resumed throwing before the end of the regular season, his status for the start of the 2026 season is uncertain.
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Tigers' Jason Foley: Begins throwing again
Rotowire
Foley (shoulder) initiated a throwing progression Monday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Foley isn't in line to pitch again this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in May, but his ability to start playing catch again could put him in position to have something resembling a normal offseason. If Foley is free of any restrictions to begin spring training, he'll get the chance to compete for a role in the Detroit bullpen in 2026. After saving 28 games for the Tigers in 2024, Foley was optioned to Triple-A Toledo prior to this season following a rough showing in spring training. He had been pitching well at Toledo before straining his shoulder and requiring the season-ending procedure.
The Tigers recalled Foley (shoulder) from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday and placed him on the 60-day injured list.
Foley has been on the Triple-A injured list since mid-April due to a shoulder strain, and he underwent season-ending surgery in May to address the issue. He'll now join the major-league 60-day IL in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Sawyer Gipson-Long, who was activated from the injured list to start Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
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Tigers' Jason Foley: Season-ending surgery needed
Rotowire
Foley underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Foley got 28 saves for the Tigers last year but didn't make the team out of spring training. He was effective at Triple-A prior to his injury, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and zero walks across five appearances. It's unclear what specific shoulder surgery Foley needed or if he'll be healthy for spring training.
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Tigers' Jason Foley: To Triple-A IL with shoulder strain
Rotowire
Foley was placed on the 7-day injured list by Triple-A Toledo on Thursday due a right shoulder strain, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Foley struck out nine and permitted just one hit over 6.2 scoreless innings in his first five appearances with Toledo, but he hadn't pitched in several days and now it's been revealed why. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined, but the former Tigers closer will not be an option for the big club for a while.
The Tigers optioned Foley to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Foley allowed five runs over 7.1 innings during Grapefruit League play but also had a 10:0 K:BB. The 29-year-old led the Tigers with 28 saves last season and had seemed to be firmly in the picture to close heading into 2025, but Detroit will give him time in the minors first to sharpen up. Beau Brieske, Tyler Holton, Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest are among the candidates to see save chances for the Tigers in what looks like a murky situation for fantasy.
Through five Grapefruit League appearances, Foley has allowed five runs on eight hits across 4.1 innings.
Foley was solid for the Tigers in 2024, posting a 3.15 ERA and 1.18 WHIP during the regular season and leading the team with 28 saves, so the righty should have a little leeway despite his spring struggles. He still looks like the top candidate for saves in Detroit to start the year, though newcomer Tommy Kahnle is expected to be in the mix along with holdover Tyler Holton, and possibly Will Vest and Beau Brieske as well. Foley will likely need a strong start to his season to solidify his grip on the closer role.
With the Tigers adding Tommy Kahnle on Wednesday, Foley may end up splitting closer duties with the newcomer as well as Tyler Holton, Will Vest and Beau Brieske, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Foley easily led the team in saves last season with 28, while Holton had eight. However, manager A.J. Hinch has shown a willingness to play the matchups at the end of games, so the lefty Holton and others could mix in. As for Kahnle, he's been an effective reliever the past few years, though he's never had more than two saves in a season, so he probably will mostly work as a setup man. Foley is the top Detroit reliever to target at this point, but the fluid nature of the club's bullpen may limit his upside to a degree in 2025.
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