LAS VEGAS — Longtime Detroit Tigers reliever Alex Lange, who worked his way back from a serious injury but made only one appearance in the big leagues in 2025, was designated for assignment on Wednesday.
The Tigers made the move to open a roster spot to claim right-hander Dugan Darnell off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Lange, 30, was reinstated from the injured list in August, 14 months after a devastating shoulder injury.
The Tigers originally acquired Lange from the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 Nick Castellanos trade. e. Then a starter, he transitioned into a relief role and made his big-league debut with the Tigers in 2021. He became a bullpen fixture in 2022 and seized the closer role in 2023, maintaining nasty swing-and-miss stuff but with a slightly elevated walk rate.
The control issues worsened in 2024. Lange issued 17 walks in 18 2/3 innings, along with two hit batters and four wild pitches. The breaking point came on May 22 in Kansas City, when he allowed four runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit batter in a disastrous seventh inning. Shortly after being demoted to Triple-A Toledo, he suffered an injury that he described as feeling the tendon snap off the bone.
Lange worked his way back and struck out 32 in 25 1/3 innings in the minor leagues in 2025, but he pitched only one inning in Detroit. Even as the Tigers faced bullpen questions down the stretch, he stayed in Triple-A, an indication his future in the organization was likely nearing an end.
Darnell, 28, is a Northville native who played at Adrian College. He made his big-league debut in 2025 for the Colorado Rockies and was claimed off waivers by the Pirates two weeks ago.
Darnell might be passed through waivers another time or two before the winter is over, so it remains to be seen whether he’ll stick with his hometown team.
He’s the second pitcher claimed by the Tigers from the Pirates this offseason; they added right-hander Jack Little last week.
TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (40)
Left-handed pitchers (6): Sean Guenther, Tyler Holton, Bailey Horn, Brant Hurter, Tarik Skubal, Drew Sommers.
Right-handed pitchers (18): Beau Brieske, Jack Flaherty, Jason Foley, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Brenan Hanifee, Jackson Jobe, Dugan Darnell, Chase Lee, Jack Little, Ty Madden, Tyler Mattison, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Tanner Rainey, Dylan Smith, Will Vest.
Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers.
Infielders (7): Javier Báez, Jace Jung, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson.
Outfielders (7): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, Matt Vierling.
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Evan Woodbery has covered the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball for MLive.com since 2016. He has previously covered the Saints/NFL for The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com; University of Tennessee athletics for…
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