Detroit — Manager Ron Gardenhire was asked if the signing of 29-year-old left-handed reliever Josh Smoker could be interpreted as a message to Daniel Stumpf.
“A message?” Gardenhire said before Saturday's game against the Indians at Comerica Park. “I don’t send messages. I send emails…Left-handed pitchers who can get people out in the big leagues is a big thing. Stumpfer has had his struggles, we all know about that. But this is just another arm down at Toledo and we will see what happens.”
The Tigers claimed Smoker off waivers from the Pirates and assigned him to Triple-A Toledo.