I don't like that two of my last three posts have been transactions, but they're coming fast and furious and those draft profiles take a while to put together. Anyway, I'm going to stick with the format I used last time and break them up by the types of transaction. Of course, sometimes injuries cause re-assignments so that can get tricky. (As usual, the bulk of my sources for these transaction recaps come from Tigstown.com.)

Re-assignments

It's been widely reported that the Tigers have sent Rick Porcello down to Toledo to try to rediscover the sink on his two-seamer and work on his slider. Personally, I wish they'd work with him to work in his four-seam fastball more but I don't hear a lot of talk in that direction. His going down to Toledo, though, freed a spot on the Tigers' 25-man roster. Because word got out about Porcello's demotion before the announcement of who would replace him, speculation was rampant over the weekend. Would they call up a starter? Who would that starter be? Figaro? Ooh, what about Oliver? If they didn't call up a starter, who on the current roster would step into Porcello's spot?

I mistakenly believed the Tigers wouldn't need to make a move because they could just leave the bullpen as is and use Porcello's spot for when Ryan Perry came off the disabled list. That thinking was flawed because Perry can't return - even if he's ready - until Thursday. That would leave the bullpen exposed since whomever the Tigers have chosen to start in Porcello's spot won't be available. Obviously, the Tigers realized this because they called up Jay Sborz. Sborz has actually been scuffling a bit lately, but there could be a couple explanations for the struggles. Jason Beck made the astute observation that a lot of the damage he's suffered has come in multiple inning outings, and that he might be okay if he's held to a one inning role. Another possibility for his recent struggles - which are mostly just control problems (7 BB in last 8.1 IP) - is a scarcity of work. He only threw seven innings with the Hens in June. Hopefully, the Tigers have some thoughts on how to allow his greatest success at the big league level and things work out however long he's up.

Porcello wasn't the only pitcher to be demoted since my last transaction update. Jon Kibler was sent from Erie to Lakeland after a particularly rough stretch of starts. He had consecutive starts with the Wolves go less than five innings and hadn't thrown a quality start since May 10th. Overall, he had given up 30 extra base hits in 71.2 innings at the Double A level. In other words, this move wasn't exactly shocking. What was a little more surprising to me was the Tigers deciding to replace Kibler on the Erie roster with Rob Waite. It's surprising because that left the Wolves with only four obvious starters, and we haven't yet found out how they're going to address that issue. I'm assuming leaving Ramon Garcia in the rotation isn't their solution since he's been consistently terrible for them when called on in that role. The long-term fix is less obvious with Furbush and Putkonen being less than sterling in their last two starts and Brayan Villarreal going on the disabled list. One question that was answered was who would fill in for Waite in Lakeland. The Tigers gave Lakeland Wilsen Palacios, who had been in extended spring training.

All the other re-assignments relate to position players. When Cesar Nicolas went on the disabled list, the Tigers decided to send Ronnie Bourquin from West Michigan to Erie. He's been at this level before and like the last time, he's taken to the challenge in the early going. We'll see if he can keep up the production or if he'll tail off like he did in Double A in 2009. Besides Bourquin, you had an impressive amount of catcher shuffling. I assume in preparation for John Murrian coming back from the disabled list, Eric Roof went from West Michigan to Connecticut. Luis Sanz went from Lakeland to West Michigan and Gabriel Purroy went from extended spring training to Lakeland. The next day, when Murrian was actually activated, Billy Alvino and Julio Rodriguez swapped places between Lakeland and West Michigan (Alvino to Lakeland, Rodriguez to Lakeland) and Purroy went back to extended spring training. Moving Purroy twice may seem strange, but remember that Lakeland players and the ESTers both play on the Tigers' complex. I suspect it's probably a matter of practicing in different places.

If I lost you with all that catcher activity, here are the catchers on each squad below Erie (since nothing changed in Erie or Toledo). John Murrian and Billy Alvino are in Lakeland. Julio Rodriguez and Luis Sanz are in West Michigan. Eric Roof and Tyson Kendrick are in Connecticut and there's a whole gaggle of catchers down in Lakeland. Even those assignments are likely to change when Bryan Holaday and Rob Brantly are signed and need to be placed.

Signings

The rest of the moves are pretty much just the Tigers signing recent draftees and a few more non-draftees.

Draftees (round and team, when known):

Patrick Leyland (C), 8th, GCL Tigers 
Tony Plagman (1B), 9th, assigned to W. Michigan and has started a couple times already
Patrick Cooper (RHP), 14th
Drew Gagnier (RHP), 17th, Connecticut  
James Meador (1B), 21st
Tyler Clark (RHP), 24th, Connecticut 
Les Smith (OF), 27th 
Bo McClendon (OF), 39th, GCL Tigers

Non-drafted signees:

Patrick Lawson (RHP), Connecticut 
Dan Gentzler (RHP), Connecticut 
Steve Crnkovich (RHP), GCL Tigers

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