Madris signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday.
Madris elected to become a free agent after being outrighted off the 40-man roster Monday, but he'll now return to the Tigers after four days on the open market. The 28-year-old appeared in 21 games for Detroit last season, putting up a .269/.324/.358 slash line alongside five RBI over 74 plate appearances.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Outrighted by Detroit
Rotowire
The Tigers outrighted Madris on Monday after he cleared waivers.
Madris spent most of the 2024 regular season in Triple-A Toledo, during which he slashed .222/.323/.444 with 21 stolen bases, 19 home runs and 60 RBI across 424 plate appearances. He made 21 appearances for the Tigers and he finished with a batting line of .269/.324/.358 with one home run and five RBI over 74 plate appearances.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Sent down to Toledo
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Madris to Triple-A Toledo following Friday's contest against the Yankees, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Madris was called up to the big club July 21. He had a strong start in the majors, but over his last 10 outings he's gone 5-for-33 with two RBI and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate. The move makes room on the Tigers' 26-man roster for the recall of Spencer Torkelson.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Continues strong play
Rotowire
Madris went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 15-1 win over the Mariners.
Madris was ostensibly seen as a depth piece when he was called up from Triple-A Toledo in late July, but he's forced his way into regular playing time. The 28-year-old is batting .304 with five RBI and eight runs scored in 18 games for the Tigers. Madris may not be in the team's long-term plans, but he should continue to see the field plenty in the short term.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Resting against lefty
Rotowire
Madris isn't in the Tigers' lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.
Madris will get a breather during Friday's series opener with left-hander Robbie Ray slated to take the mound for San Francisco. Andy Ibanez will step in to cover first base and bat leadoff.
Madris will start at first base and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Guardians.
He'll be included in the lineup for a fifth straight contest after going 6-for-14 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI over the prior four games. The Tigers may not have an everyday role available for Madris once the likes of Parker Meadows (hamstring) and Riley Greene (hamstring) return from the 10-day injured list, though Detroit could find ways to get Madris' bat in the lineup so long as he's running hot at the dish.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Productive again Friday
Rotowire
Madris went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Twins.
A day after collecting three hits, Madris had two more and recorded his first RBI at the MLB level since 2022. The 28-year-old is likely still just a depth option for the Tigers at best, but he could carve out a more consistent role in the short term if he continues to produce at the plate.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Called up, getting start Sunday
Rotowire
The Tigers selected Madris' contract from Triple-A Toledo on Sunday. He'll start at first base and will bat sixth in the Tigers' series finale in Toronto.
The lefty-hitting Madris could end up getting a look as a strong-side platoon player for the Tigers after getting his first call-up of the season and joining the 26-man active roster as a replacement for outfielder/infielder Ryan Vilade, who was optioned to Toledo despite starting in each of Detroit's last five contests. The 28-year-old Madris -- who previously had stints in the majors with the Pirates in 2022 and Astros in 2023 -- had thus far spent the entire 2024 campaign at Toledo, with whom he turned in an .803 OPS to go with 14 home runs and 17 stolen bases across 307 plate appearances. Though he'll get the nod at first base in his Tigers debut, Madris is capable of playing all three outfield spots and could also be an option at designated hitter.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Tigers reassigned Madris to minor-league camp Thursday.
Madris had a 1.219 OPS with two home runs this spring, but there's no room for him in the Tigers' outfield picture. He'll give them some depth at Toledo with major-league experience.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Gets minors deal from Detroit
Rotowire
Madris signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
He'll be in major-league camp during spring training. Madris was a waiver claim by the Tigers two offseasons ago but was traded before playing for them. The 27-year-old has managed just a .500 OPS over 51 games to this point at the major-league level. He'll likely begin 2024 at Triple-A Toledo.
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Astros' Bligh Madris: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Madris was outrighted Thursday to Triple-A Sugar Land, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Madris passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment by the Astros on Tuesday. The 27-year-old outfielder is a career .173/.248/.252 hitter in 51 games (153 plate appearances) at the major-league level.
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Astros' Bligh Madris: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Madris was designated for assignment by the Astros on Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Jon Singleton, who has been selected from Triple-A Sugar Land. Madris, 27, has appeared in only 12 major-league games this season with Houston.
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Astros' Bligh Madris: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Astros outrighted Madris to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
He'll remain in the organization after none of MLB's other 29 teams put in a waiver claim for the 27-year-old outfielder after he was designated for assignment prior to Opening Day. Madris appeared in 39 games at the big-league level as a rookie with the Pirates in 2022, slashing .177/.244/.265 with a home run and two steals in 123 plate appearances.
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Astros' Bligh Madris: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Madris was designated for assignment by the Astros on Thursday.
The team needed to free up a 40-man roster spot and Madris is the casualty. It's the second time he's been DFA'd since December.
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Tigers' Bligh Madris: Claimed by Detroit
Rotowire
The Tigers claimed Madris off waivers from the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Madris tried his best to make a name for himself during his brief time in the Rays organization (1.053 OPS, four homers in 10 games with Triple-A Durham), but it wasn't enough. The Tigers have decided to take a chance and will add Madris to the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old infielder figures to compete for a utility role in spring training.
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Rays' Bligh Madris: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Madris was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday.
Madris was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay in mid-September but never saw game action with the team. He played in 39 contests for the Pirates before he was waived and had a .177/.244/.265 slash line in 123 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Bligh Madris: Optioned to Indianapolis
Rotowire
Madris was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Madris posted just a .345 OPS over 24 games after being recalled by the Pirates in late July, so the club decided to send him back down to iron some things out. If he is able to he could return to the majors before the campaign comes to a close.
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Pirates' Bligh Madris: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Madris is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.
The lefty-hitting Madris will head to the bench with southpaw Max Fried on the bump for Atlanta. Platoon mate Michael Chavis steps in for Madris at first base.
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Pirates' Bligh Madris: Sits versus lefty
Rotowire
Madris is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
With lefty Mike Minor taking the hill, the lefty-hitting Madris will give way to the righty-hitting Michael Chavis at first base. Madris had started in each of the past five games, going 2-for-14 with a walk and two runs.
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Pirates' Bligh Madris: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Madris will sit Saturday against Baltimore.
Madris had started six straight games, including three at first base, though he grabbed just one hit over that stretch. Josh VanMeter will be the first baseman Saturday.
