According to Jason Beck, Jeff Larish has been outrighted to Toledo to make room for Jose Valverde on the 40 man roster. I had heard rumblings about Donald Kelly, Jay Sborz or Alfredo Figaro being removed so this move was a little surprising. Larish had a lot of promise as a left-handed hitting role player a year ago, but seems to have fallen in the depth charts. He draws walks (22 in 178 MLB at bats) and has power but does not make frequent contact (one strikeout every three at bats). He is also blocked by Miguel Cabrera at first base and has been unable to find another position.
Larish is not totally out of the picture, as he will be invited to spring training as a non-roster player. One reason for the move may have been that the Tigers felt he was easier to pass through waivers than other candidates. Why did they not just release Dontrelle Willis? I suspect that Willis is remaining on the roster for insurance reasons, that is, they can get some many back if he goes on the DL.
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I'd like to see him play 6 weeks at third base in Toledo (I also wished for that in 2008 and 2009). Last year he only made appearances at third in 5 games out of the 60 or so that he played there. You can't blame Larry Parrish for liking Hessman's glove better than Larish's at third, but Hessman is gone now and the organization should insist that Larish plays third. As a 1B/DH I see Larish's value as just about zero; if he could demonstrate some capability at third he still might squeak out a career and possibly be included in a trade.
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