Nunez signed a one-year contract with the Mexican League's Toros de Tijuana on Wednesday.
After spending the 2022 season in Japan with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball, Nunez will return to North America to continue his career, albeit outside of affiliated ball. The 28-year-old slugger has previously spent six seasons in MLB, most recently seeing action with the Tigers for 14 games during the 2021 campaign.
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Brewers' Renato Nunez: Signs minors deal with Milwaukee
Rotowire
Nunez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Monday.
Nunez owns a respectable 101 wRC+ in 307 major-league games, the product of a .245/.308/.452 slash line. He could potentially be useful as a bench bat for the Brewers down the stretch, but he'll head to Triple-A Nashville for now.
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Renato Nunez: Let go by Detroit
Rotowire
Nunez was released by the Tigers on Friday.
Nunez has posted solid numbers across 74 Triple-A games this season, but his success at the plate did not transfer to the big-leagues, as he slashed .189/.218/.472 across 55 plate appearances with the Tigers. The 27-year-old is still just one year removed from hitting .256/.324/.492 with 12 homers during the abbreviated 2020 season, so he should have a decent chance of landing a minor-league deal with another club.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Nunez cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
Nunez hit a solidly above-average .256/.324/.492 for the Orioles last season but has only gotten into 14 games for the Tigers this year and has struggled to a .189/.218/.472 line in those limited opportunities. Apparently other teams aren't buying into his success last year, either, so he'll remain with the Tigers as organizational depth.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Nunez was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Saturday.
Nunez had seen consistent playing time at first base recently, and he hit .231 with two home runs, a double, four RBI, two runs and eight strikeouts across his last seven games. However, he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster after Derek Hill (ribs) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday. Jonathan Schoop will likely serve as the primary first baseman, while Willi Castro and Harold Castro are in line for increased playing time at the keystone.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Gets breather Thursday
Rotowire
Nunez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.
Nunez has started each of the Tigers' last six games at either first base or designated hitter, going 5-for-22 with two home runs and four RBI. Until the Tigers return Niko Goodrum (groin) from the injured list, Nunez should be fairly secure in a near-everyday role, though he'll get a breather Thursday in the series finale with Los Angeles.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Starting again Sunday
Rotowire
Nunez is starting at first base and batting fifth in Sunday's game against Cleveland.
After having his contract selected by the Tigers on Wednesday, Nunez will now be making his fourth straight start. He's performed well so far, going 4-for-12 with two home runs across the first three games. With Niko Goodrum (groin) and Isaac Paredes (hip) both out, Detroit has been using Jonathan Schoop regularly at second base lately, which has opened up time at first. Nunez has had some success at the MLB level, including popping 31 home runs for the Orioles in 2019, so he could offer some fantasy production while he's seeing regular starts.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Goes deep again Friday
Rotowire
Nunez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to Cleveland.
Nunez has now appeared in two games since rejoining the Tigers after having his contract selected by the team Wednesday, and he's homered in both of them. The 27-year-old did hit 31 long balls in his last full season back in 2019, so he may be able to provide Detroit and fantasy managers some power production while he's earning playing time.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Contract selected by Tigers
Rotowire
Nunez's contract was selected by the Tigers on Wednesday.
Nunez hasn't appeared in the majors since mid-April, and he's slashed .291/.383/.585 with 20 homers, 64 RBI and 60 runs at Triple-A Toledo this season. The 27-year-old will provide depth after Akil Baddoo (concussion) and Derek Hill (ribs) were placed on the injured list.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Nunez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Detroit's alternate training site Monday.
Nunez failed to break camp in the big leagues despite posting an .816 OPS last year, though he was called up in mid-April and played seven games. Judging by his .148/.207/.444 line in those games, the Tigers were probably right not to include him on their Opening Day roster, and it looks as though the rest of the league agrees.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Nunez was designated for assignment Wednesday.
He was hitting .148 with two home runs, one walk and eight strikeouts through 27 at-bats. While this may make the big-league roster worse in the short term with Miguel Cabrera (biceps) likely out for another week, the Tigers are not prioritizing a journeyman designated hitter like Nunez as part of their rebuild. Zack Short was recalled from the alternate training site in a corresponding move.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Takes seat Saturday
Rotowire
Nunez isn't starting Saturday's game against the Athletics.
Nunez went 4-for-23 with two home runs and eight strikeouts while starting in each of the last six games. Wilson Ramos will serve as the designated hitter Saturday while Grayson Greiner starts behind the plate.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Homers again Tuesday
Rotowire
Nunez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Astros.
Nunez went yard for the second straight day, part of a barrage of five Detroit home runs in the 8-2 win. The 27-year-old didn't make the Opening Day roster, but with Miguel Cabrera (biceps) currently on the 10-day injured list, Nunez is getting a shot at regular playing time and making the most of the opportunity.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Homer, double in win
Rotowire
Nunez went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and an additional run scored in Monday's win over the Astros.
Both of Nunez's extra-base hits were off Zack Greinke sliders, as noted by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The homer was Nunez's first with the Tigers. He replaced Miguel Cabrera (biceps) on the roster and has replaced Cabrera in the lineup the past two days, batting cleanup against a lefty Sunday and seventh against Greinke on Monday.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Enters lineup Sunday
Rotowire
Nunez is the designated hitter and is batting cleanup in Sunday's game against Cleveland.
Nunez jumps into the heart of the lineup right away after having his contract selected from the alternate site earlier in the day. Miguel Cabrera (biceps) was placed on the 10-day injured list before Sunday's game, so Nunez could have a clear path to regular playing time for as long as Cabrera is out.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Moves up to big club
Rotowire
The Tigers selected Nunez's contract from their alternate site Sunday.
Nunez was called up after the Tigers placed Miguel Cabrera (biceps) on the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale in Cleveland. Though he failed to secure a spot on Detroit's Opening Day roster, Nunez could end up serving as the primary replacement at first base or designated hitter for Cabrera, though it's possible manager A.J. Hinch takes more of a committee approach at both positions initially. Nunez posted a career-best .816 OPS in 216 plate appearances with Baltimore in 2020.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Staying with organization
Rotowire
Nunez will report to the Tigers' alternate site when the regular season begins, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Nunez was notified Saturday that he wouldn't make the Opening Day roster, and the veteran had the option to exercise an opt-out in his contract rather than accept a minor-league assignment. However, it seems like he'll stick with the organization and could be an option for the Tigers later in the season. If Nunez is able to earn regular playing time at some point, his power potential could make him an interesting fantasy option if he gets hot.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Not breaking camp with Tigers
Rotowire
The Tigers informed Nunez on Saturday that he will not open the season on the major-league roster, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Nunez had been the favorite to open the season as the Tigers' starting first baseman, but a late start to the spring and the .592 OPS he posted during the exhibition season prevented him from coming away with a spot on the roster for Opening Day. Nunez has an opt-out in his contract, so he will decide whether to open the season in Detroit's minor-league system or pursue an opportunity elsewhere.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Path to roster clears up
Rotowire
Nunez's chances of making the Opening Day roster likely improved when the Tigers optioned Isaac Paredes to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The belief around Tigers' camp has been that Nunez and Paredes were competing for a single roster spot. With the club deciding to give the 22-year-old Paredes more seasoning in the minors, it would seem that Nunez has a clear path to making the team, though the versatile Harold Castro is also in the mix for a bench spot.
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Tigers' Renato Nunez: Could be left off roster
Rotowire
Nunez may be left off the Tigers' Opening Day roster in favor of Isaac Paredes, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Nunez has some power (31 home runs for Baltimore back in 2019), but Paredes is younger and offers more defensive upside, as he can play several infield positions. Nunez is probably limited to first base or DH, and the Tigers already have Jeimer Candelario and Miguel Cabrera likely in those roles. The team could opt to have Paredes start the year with Triple-A Toledo, but even in that scenario, Nunez might not stick around if Detroit decides to go younger sooner than later.
