Detroit Tigers sign former Blue Jays catcher.
The Detroit Tigers have signed former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brian Serven to a minor league contract and an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee.
First reported on X by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball.
Serven, 29, joins the fourth organization of his career. A fifth-round pick of the Rockies in 2016, he got to the big leagues six years later.
The Arizona State product appeared in 62 games as a rookie, hitting .203/.261/.332 in a backup role.
He only made 11 appearances the following season, spending the bulk of the year in Triple-A on optional assignment. Colorado placed him on waivers last winter.
The Cubs claimed Serven and briefly carried him on their 40-man roster. Chicago designated him for assignment around one week later.
He landed with the Blue Jays on another claim.
Toronto ran him through waivers at the end of January but reselected his contract after Danny Jansen broke a bone in his wrist during spring training.
Serven spent the majority of the season on Toronto's 40-man.
He only made 28 big league appearances, hitting .159/.243/.222 across 71 trips to the plate.
Serven showed much better on-base skills in the minors.
The right-handed hitter put up a .265/.390/.379 slash over 40 Triple-A contests.
His overall offensive track record is middling, though, and the Jays designated him for assignment when they claimed Tyler Heineman off waivers in September.
Serven elected minor league free agency at season's end.
The Blue Jays had a similar depth signing today in the catcher position in Marlins outright in Ali Sanchez.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 16 | 124 ANSWERS Detroit Tigers sign former Blue Jays catcher. Should the Blue Jays have signed Brian Serven instead of Ali Sanchez as a 3rd catcher? | ||
| Brian Serven | 69 | 55.6 % |
| Ali Sanchez | 55 | 44.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
