DUSTIN GARNEAU NEWS

Bringing end to career Garneau announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he will retire from professional baseball.

Impact The 35-year-old's decision to step away from the game comes after he spent the majority of the 2022 season in the minors, aside from appearing in eight games with Detroit in April. Garneau will retire with a career .205/.285/.373 slash line in 506 plate appearances over parts of eight seasons in the majors with the Rockies, Athletics, White Sox, Angels, Astros and Tigers.

OCTOBER 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hits open market Garneau elected free agency Thursday, per the MILB transaction log.

Impact Garneau lost his spot on the 40-man roster in early May and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Toledo. Across 506 career plate appearances at the big-league level, Garneau has hit .205/.285/.373.

OCTOBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates beat up Tigers' bullpen to split doubleheader

Bryan Reynolds doubled in Pittsburgh’s two-run seventh inning, and the Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 7-2 to split a doubleheader

MAY 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Outrighted to minors The Tigers outrighted Garneau to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Impact Garneau cleared waivers after the Tigers designated him for assignment earlier in the week in a move that allowed Detroit to reduce its active roster from 28 to 26 men. He'll likely be the first in line for a promotion back to the big club if the Tigers are without either of their top two catchers -- Tucker Barnhart and Eric Haase -- for any period of time.

MAY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Garneau was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Impact With the team having to thin their active roster from 28 to 26 players Monday, Garneau was an odd man out. The catcher has had 10 at-bats this season, recording three hits, including a double. He will now be released outright, get claimed by another team or report to Triple-A Toledo.

MAY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kershaw becomes Dodgers' franchise strikeout leader

Clayton Kershaw became the Dodgers’ career strikeout leader during the fourth inning of Saturday night’s game against Detroit

MAY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dozier's two-run homer lifts the Royals to win over Detroit

Hunter Dozier homered to break a tie in the sixth, and lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers

APRIL 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting Saturday Garneau is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Saturday's game against the Royals.

Impact Tucker Barnhart will get the day off after starting Friday's contest. Garneau hasn't played much yet this reason, recording just four at-bats across three games. He won't be much of a fantasy factor unless his role in Detroit expands.

APRIL 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cease, unbeaten vs Tigers, leads White Sox to 5-2 win

Dylan Cease remained unbeaten in 10 career starts against Detroit and Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run homer that led the Chicago White Sox over the Tigers 5-2

APRIL 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures contract for '22 Garneau and the Tigers agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.175 million contract to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Garneau will be making north of $1 million in 2022 despite being projected to head into Opening Day as the Tigers' No. 3 catcher behind Tucker Barnhart and Eric Haase. The Tigers value Haase for his bat more than his work behind the plate, so if Detroit is willing to give Haase opportunities at first base, designated hitter or in left field, Garneau would still have a path to one or two starts per week at catcher on days when Barnhart is resting.

MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Might make team as third catcher Detroit manager A.J. Hinch could elect to keep three catchers on the roster, which would help Garneau carve out a role with the club, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Impact The Tigers acquired Tucker Barnhart in November to work as the team's No. 1 catcher, and Eric Haase should have a prominent role after popping a career-best 22 home runs last season. Haase can also play at first and in the corner outfield spots, so Garneau may stick around as more of a conventional backup catcher on days when Haase plays elsewhere. Still, Garneau likely won't play enough to have much fantasy relevance in 2022.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers end losing season by beating playoff-bound White Sox

Daz Cameron homered leading off the ninth to spark a three-run inning, and the Detroit Tigers closed their fifth straight losing season with a 5-2 win over the AL Central champion...

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goodrum, Tigers defeat Twins 10-7 in slugfest with 7 homers

Niko Goodrum homered twice and drove in four runs, Jonathan Schoop hit a solo homer and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 10-7

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit Tigers catcher Dustin Garneau reflects as another uncertain offseason approaches Dustin Garneau has played 158 games for six teams across seven years in the big leagues. Could he return to Detroit Tigers for 2022?

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Retreats to bench Garneau is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.

Impact Garneau caught each of the Tigers' last three games and five of the last six, going 3-for-15 with three home runs and a walk. The 34-year-old journeyman's recent power spike looks like it will afford him at least a part-time role for the Tigers, even though he's behind Eric Haase on the depth chart. The Tigers' willingness to deploy Haase in left field and at designated hitter will open up more work behind the dish for Garneau compared to most backup catchers.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dustin Garneau is bringing home a winner behind plate, impressing Tigers manager “It’s great for him,” Hinch said. “Obviously, I can appreciate the journey he’s had to take. And I think, quite honestly, throughout his who...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Goes deep Sunday Garneau went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Impact Garneau and Haase each went deep, powering the Tigers to the 2-0 win. Haase played left field in this one, which allowed Garneau to start behind the plate. Haase is likely to see more time at catcher down the stretch, though Garneau may be earning more playing time with six home runs in just 15 games this season, including three long balls in his last four appearances.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers, Peralta slow AL-East leading Rays 2-0

Wily Peralta gave up three hits in seven innings, and Eric Haase and Dustin Garneau homered for the Detroit Tigers in a 2-0 win over the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting Sunday Garneau is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Rays.

Impact Eric Haase moves from behind the plate to left field, so Garneau will pick up the start at catcher. He's slashing .262/.289/.714 with five home runs in 14 games this season, so he has been able to provide some fantasy value when he's in the starting lineup.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Candelario and Garneau homer, Tigers beat Rays 4-3

Jeimer Candelario and Dustin Garneau homered as the Detroit Tigers beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Smacks homer in win Garneau went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Milwaukee.

Impact Garneau gave Detroit a lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, and he added a solo shot in the seventh to provide insurance. The catcher has been solid in limited action with four homers, seven RBI, six runs scored and a .278 batting average through 12 games this year. The 34-year-old remains behind Eric Haase on the depth chart.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Garneau, Tigers complete 2-game sweep of contending Brewers

Dustin Garneau homered and drove in two runs, rookie Matt Manning combined with the bullpen on a three-hitter and the Detroit Tigers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 to complete a tw...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cabrera, Grossman power Tigers past Pirates 5-1

Miguel Cabrera and Robbie Grossman each had four hits, and the Detroit Tigers avoided a sweep by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aquino slams 3-run homer, Reds rebound to beat Tigers 7-4

Aristides Aquino hit a three-run homer, Tyler Naquin drove in two with a pinch-hit triple and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goes deep twice Friday Garneau went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 15-5 win over the Reds.

Impact Whatever magic was fueling Eric Haase's surprising power surge in 2021 may have rubbed off on Garneau. The veteran catcher has homered three times in his last two starts, and the three long balls ties his prior big-league season high in only eight games for the Tigers. It's not likely he'll keep it up given his .207/.289/.363 slash line through 450 MLB plate appearances, but much like Haase before him, Detroit has little to lose by giving the 34-year-old a chance.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE