Tigers Land Grant Holman Off Waivers, Send Sweeney to 60-Day IL

The Detroit Tigers claimed right-handed pitcher Grant Holman off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and immediately optioned him to their Florida Coast League affiliate. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Trey Sweeney was moved from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

Holman has spent much of the last year bouncing between organizations. The 25-year-old was originally a sixth-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2021 and spent his entire minor league career with the team before being designated for assignment in February. The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed him but quickly designated him for assignment ahead of Opening Day, allowing the Dodgers to pick him up.

Now with the Tigers, Holman becomes a potential depth piece for a club that has leaned heavily on bullpen flexibility. He made his Major League debut in 2024 and has appeared in 40 games across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, all with the Athletics. Holman has posted a 4.66 ERA over 38 2/3 innings in the majors. However, his strikeout numbers have not translated from the minors, where he dominated, to the big leagues, where he has only a 18.8% strikeout rate.

Holman still has two remaining option years, giving the Tigers the ability to shuttle him between the majors and minors as needed. This is a key advantage for a team that has used a "pitching chaos" strategy in recent seasons to manage workload and find fresh arms.

Injuries have also been a concern for Holman. In 2025, he dealt with rotator cuff tendinitis and was limited to just 32 1/3 innings between the majors and minors. His durability will be a key factor in how Detroit chooses to deploy him.

Trey Sweeney’s move to the 60-day IL clears the 40-man roster for Holman. Sweeney has been on the 10-day IL with a shoulder issue. The move also signals the Tigers may be considering a longer-term rehab plan for the 23-year-old infielder.

The Tigers now have a decision to make about Holman’s role. He could see action in the minors to build up innings or be called up to the majors if the bullpen needs a fresh arm. Sweeney’s status will be reevaluated in the coming weeks, with a return date to be determined.