When the Detroit Tigers traded right-hander Michael Lorenzen on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Phillies cleared space for his arrival on the 40-man roster by designating left-handed reliever Andrew Vasquez for assignment.
The Tigers then claimed Vasquez, who doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, off waivers Friday from the Phillies. He will join the Tigers for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park.
"It's no secret what he does," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday. "He spins a ton of sliders, arguably as much as anybody in baseball. He's somebody that we feel like can attack both lefties and righties, but specifically lefties.