Detroit Tigers release a pair of veteran former SF Giants relievers

The Detroit Tigers released former SF Giants relievers Trevor Rosenthal and Heath Hembree, making both right-handed veterans free agents.

The Detroit Tigers released veteran right-handed pitchers Trevor Rosenthal and Heath Hembree on Sunday. Both experienced relievers have spent time in the SF Giants organization during their pro careers, which have lasted a combined 29 seasons. Despite the pair's extensive MLB experience, injuries limited them to just a handful of minor-league appearances with the Tigers this season.

Hembree was drafted by the Giants in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of South Carolina, where he had been one of the best closers in the SEC. In his first professional season, Hembree recorded 38 saves and a 1.86 ERA between High-A and Double-A, overpowering opponents with a two-pitch mix. While less effective in the upper minors, Hembree was still effective and made his big-league debut with the Giants in September of 2013.

The following season, back at Triple-A, the Giants traded Hembree and left-handed pitching prospect Edwin Escobar to the Boston Red Sox for Jake Peavy at the trade deadline. Hembree soon joined the Red Sox bullpen, where he would remain a mainstay for the next six seasons. Over his Red Sox career, Hembree posted a 3.70 ERA in 251 appearances with 270 strikeouts and 97 walks in 257.2 innings pitched.

The Red Sox traded Hembree to the Phillies during the 2020 season and began a journeyman era of his career. Since the trade, Hembree has pitched with the Phillies, Mets, Reds, Dodgers, Pirates, Rays, and Tigers and struggled to match his production in Boston.

Now 34, Hembree appeared in one MLB game this season with the Rays but was designated for assignment shortly thereafter and signed with the Tigers. He spent more than a month on the injured list and made only six appearances with Detroit's Triple-A affiliate.

Rosenthal was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Cowley Community College back in 2009. Rosenthal quickly ascended through the minors and made his big-league debut with the Cardinals in 2012. He quickly emerged as a top setup option before emerging as the team's closer in 2014. He recorded 93 saves between the 2014-2015 seasons, receiving his lone career All-Star selection. However, then, injuries soon began to pile up.

Rosenthal remained with the Cardinals through 2017 and underwent UCL surgery and missed the entire 2018 campaign. Since he left St. Louis, Rosenthal has signed contracts with the Nationals, Tigers, Yankees, Royals, Padres, A's, Giants, and Brewers.

Rosenthal was recovering from thoracic outlet surgery in 2022 when the Giants decided to sign him to a one-year, $4.5 million contract. He never appeared in a game with the team, though, because he was traded to the Brewers at the trade deadline for outfielder prospect Tristan Peters.

This season, Rosenthal managed to make three appearances with the Tigers Triple-A affiliate before he suffered yet another arm injury and underwent surgery on his elbow.