Lugo signed a contract Monday with the Guadalajara Mariachis of the Mexican League.
Lugo will continue his career outside of affiliated ball after he elected free agency in November, just over two months after the Tigers booted him from the 40-man roster. The Mexican League season isn't scheduled to get underway until the summer, so Lugo is unlikely to resurface in the majors in 2021 even if he plays well for the Guadalajara club. The 26-year-old infielder failed to impress in multiple stints at the big-league level with Detroit over the past three seasons, slashing a collective .236/.270/.358 with seven home runs in 400 career plate appearances.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Lugo cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Tigers' alternate training site Saturday.
Lugo was designated for assignment Monday after he failed to generate much production with the major-league club. He was unable to find another spot on a 40-man roster via waivers and will remain in the organization at the team's secondary site. The 25-year-old hit .200 with three runs and one RBI over nine games to begin the season.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Gets DFA'd
Rotowire
The Tigers designated Lugo for assignment Monday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The main prize for Detroit in the July 2017 trade that sent J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks, Lugo never emerged as the everyday player the Tigers hoped he would develop into when they acquired him. Over parts of three seasons in the majors, Lugo slashed .236/.270/.358 (62 wRC+) in 400 plate appearances and didn't show an ability to play reliable defense anywhere other than third base. With younger prospects in Willi Castro and Isaac Paredes both surpassing him in the organizational pecking order at the hot corner, Lugo was ultimately deemed an expendable piece. If he goes unclaimed off waivers or isn't dealt to another club, Lugo will remain in the organization and report to the Tigers' alternate training site.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Lugo is starting at third base and batting seventh in Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
Lugo hasn't played a ton so far this season, as he's only logged one start and six at-bats. Regular third baseman Jeimer Candelario is shifting over to first base Tuesday, with C.J. Cron (knee) getting placed on the 10-day injured list earlier in the day. Lugo could see more regular time while Cron is out, though Harold Castro is also a candidate to see time at the hot corner.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Makes Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Lugo is a member of the Tigers' 30-man Opening Day roster.
Lugo had been on the roster bubble during spring training and summer camp, but the Tigers will keep him around for now. The 25-year-old is still likely behind Jeimer Candelario for playing time at third base and doesn't figure to make a huge fantasy impact in 2020.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Facing competition in camp
Rotowire
Lugo is a part of the Tigers' 60-man player pool this season, but he's facing competition from Jeimer Candelario, Isaac Paredes and rookie Spencer Torkelson in camp.
Candelario is the presumptive starter at third base, while Paredes and Torkelson are key pieces of the team's future. All of this could leave Lugo as the odd man out, and it's possible 2020 is his last year in Detroit. He'll need to perform well and hope Candelario slips up to earn more playing time.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Expanded rosters could save job
Rotowire
Lugo and fellow third baseman Jeimer Candelario could both make the Tigers' Opening Day roster if teams get to keep more than 26 players, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Candelario is considered the favorite to snag the starting third base job when the regular season is able to start. With a 26-man roster, this would very likely have resulted in Lugo being sent to waivers, but it is expected that teams will get to keep as many as 30 players to begin the year. The extra roster spots could keep Lugo at the MLB level, though the Tigers may still opt for someone with more defensive versatility to fill one of the new reserve roles. If Lugo does make the team, he could push Candelario for playing time if the latter struggles.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Could be odd man out
Rotowire
Lugo could be waived if he loses the third base competition to Jeimer Candelario, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Candelario is considered the favorite to start at third when the 2020 regular season is able to begin, which could push Lugo onto another team. The Tigers may opt for a more versatile reserve player than Lugo, and because he is out of options, he'd have to pass through waivers before the club could send him to Triple-A Toledo. Lugo posted a middling .245/.271/.381 slash line in 2019 and doesn't figure to make much of an impact this year, though at just 25 years old, there is room for some growth.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Managing back tightness
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Lugo won't be available for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Braves due to back tightness, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The Tigers are describing his absence as precautionary, so Lugo can be viewed as day-to-day for now. The 25-year-old has been battling Jeimer Candelario for Detroit's top job at third base this spring.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Off to slow start
Rotowire
Lugo is batting just .083 through seven spring training games.
Lugo got his first hit in 12 Grapefruit League at-bats Sunday against the Yankees. It's a rough start for the 25-year-old, who is competing with Jeimer Candelario for the everyday job at third base. Lugo likely has a leg up after finishing 2019 as the primary third baseman, but spring scuffles could open the door for Candelario to seize a larger role.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Not guaranteed starting job
Rotowire
Lugo is expected to compete with Jeimer Candelario for the everyday third-base job, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Lugo likely has an early leg up on Candelario, as the 25-year-old finished the 2019 season as Detroit's primary option at the hot corner. Neither Lugo nor Candelario impressed during his time with the Tigers last season, however, leaving the door open for either one to seize control of the starting job.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Out of lineup for season finale
Rotowire
Lugo is not starting in Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Lugo has taken over as the team's primary third baseman, and he's batted .297 over his past 10 games, but he'll take a seat for the 2019 finale with Ronny Rodriguez starting at the hot corner. Heading into 2020, Lugo looks like he'll be an Opening Day starter, though that depends on what the Tigers do in the offseason to replenish their roster.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Doubles twice in loss
Rotowire
Lugo went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Twins.
Lugo had one-third of Detroit's hits as he continued a recent hot streak. Over his past three games, the 24-year-old has gone 8-for-12, pushing his season average up to .252. Lugo will look to finish strong over the final six games of the season and carry some momentum into 2020.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Three hits in loss
Rotowire
Lugo went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the White Sox.
Lugo came in batting just .132 over his previous 10 games, so it was nice to see him string together a few hits. The 24-year-old is slashing just .232/.261/.370 this season with six home runs and 25 RBI, but unless the Tigers bring in someone new this offseason, Lugo figures to open 2020 as the team's primary option at third base.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Lugo is not starting Friday against the White Sox.
Lugo owns a poor .132/.190/.316 slash line over his last 10 games, though he does at least have two homers over that stretch. Ronny Rodriguez starts at third base Friday.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Goes deep in loss
Rotowire
Lugo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-2 loss against Cleveland.
Lugo hit his sixth home run of the season and third this month. The 24-year-old has mostly struggled this year with a .238/.268/.381 slash line, though the rebuilding Tigers have been patient with Lugo and given him plenty of playing time recently.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Out for Game 2 of DH
Rotowire
Lugo is not starting Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Lugo will head to the bench for the second half of Thursday's twin bill after going 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run homer in Game 1. Jeimer Candelario is covering third base in his place in Game 2.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Key in comeback win
Rotowire
Lugo went 3-for-5 with a two-RBI single and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Athletics.
Lugo's two-run single in the eighth provided the Tigers with the tying run. In the 11th, Lugo got aboard with a single and came around to score the go-ahead run on a Willi Castro double. Lugo has hit safely in five of six games in September, going 8-for-24 with four RBI and five runs scored in that span. For the year, the third baseman is hitting .246/.271/.374 with four homers, 21 RBI and 20 runs scored across 203 at-bats.
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Tigers' Dawel Lugo: Goes deep in two-hit game
Rotowire
Lugo went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Royals.
Lugo is getting regular playing time at third base, and while his .237/.263/.369 slash line for the year is nothing impressive, the 24-year-old has been better lately. Over his past 14 games, Lugo is batting .321 with three home runs. He should continue to get a look with the rebuilding Tigers the rest of this season.
