Detroit deals Grossman, Fulmer for 2 minor leaguers
Trending
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves acquired veteran corner outfielder Robbie Grossman in a trade with the Detroit Tigers for minor league pitcher Kris Anglin on Monday night, with the Tigers making another deal Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Grossman, who is making $5 million this year and can become a free agent after the season, has struggled for the out-of-contention Tigers with a .205 batting average, 13 doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs in 83 games. The switch-hitter has started 43 games in left field and 31 games in right.
Last year, Grossman set career highs in his Tigers debut with 23 home runs and 156 games played. He was also second in the AL with 98 walks and has a .348 career on-base percentage.
"I had a blast playing for the Tigers, and it didn't end how I wanted it to, but it's part of this business and I'm on to the next chapter in my baseball career," Grossman said after Detroit lost 5-3 in 10 innings at Minnesota on Monday night.
Grossman has previously played for Houston, Minnesota and Oakland. He'll join a well-stocked Braves team that has the best record in the NL wild-card race and is 3 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East.
The left-handed Anglin was Atlanta's 16th-round draft pick in 2021. He was with Class A Augusta.
To make roster room for Grossman, the Braves optioned first baseman Mike Ford to Triple-A Gwinnett.
The Tigers made another trade reportedly just 15 minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline Tuesday, dealing right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer, who has a 3.20 ERA and two saves in 41 appearances this season, to AL Central rival Minnesota for minor league right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long, sixth-round draft pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
The Twins, who took a one-game lead in the AL Central into Tuesday night's game against Detroit, have a 5.30 team ERA since the All-Star break.