Detroit Tigers DFA Struggling Veteran
The Tigers designated outfielder Jahmai Jones for assignment on Thursday, recalling catcher/first baseman Eduardo Valencia in the corresponding move.
The Move Behind the Move
The decision was tied to a health scare behind the plate.
Catcher Dillon Dingler took a foul ball off his hand on Wednesday and was replaced in the game by Jake Rogers, though X-rays came back negative.
The Tigers have DFA’d Jahmai Jones and called up Eduardo Valencia
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) July 9, 2026
Dillon Dingler is considered day-to-day. Valencia will provide some support at catcher while Dingler mends
Dingler was not placed on the injured list, but the Tigers did not want to risk playing with Rogers as their only catcher, even for a day or two, so they added Valencia for insurance and needed a roster spot to do it.
Jones was the odd man out.
A Season That Never Got Going
Jones was a valuable bench weapon for Detroit in 2025, slashing .287 with a .387 on-base percentage and seven home runs across a career-high 72 games while establishing himself as a dangerous platoon bat against left-handed pitching.
He even delivered a two-run single against Boston in late September that helped send the Tigers to the postseason.
The 2026 version never materialized.
The 28-year-old hit just .140 with a .393 OPS across 56 games, striking out 34 times in 93 at-bats while failing to provide the pop against lefties that had defined his role.
Game-tying eighth inning blast for Jahmai Jones! pic.twitter.com/PBEiRABaaU
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 23, 2026
His struggles became a recurring problem, as manager AJ Hinch repeatedly used him to pinch-hit for hitters like Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter, only for Jones to come up empty, costing Detroit both the plate appearance and a bench spot.
Jones was drafted in the second round by the Angels in 2015 and has bounced between the majors and minors throughout his career, with stops in the Angels, Orioles, Brewers, and Yankees organizations before landing in Detroit.
He represented South Korea at the 2026 World Baseball Classic and is the son of former NFL player Andre Jones.
Given his down year, there may not be much outside interest, and Jones could end up accepting an assignment to Triple-A Toledo to try to get back on track.
