Detroit, MI
Detroit Tigers trade Buddy Kennedy to Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch speaks ahead of Opening Day
After the Detroit Tigers went 5-1 on their opening road trip of the season, manager A.J. Hinch spoke with the media ahead of Opening Day.
Buddy Kennedy is moving closer to home.
The Detroit Tigers traded Kennedy, a 25-year-old infielder who was designated for assignment earlier this week, to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
On Monday, Kennedy was designated for assignment by the Tigers.
When the Tigers promoted outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy from Triple-A Toledo, sending first baseman Spencer Torkelson to the minor leagues opened a spot on the 26-man roster and designating Kennedy for assignment opened a spot on the 40-man roster.
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Kennedy is now a member of the Phillies’ 40-man roster and has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. By trading for Kennedy, the Phillies bypassed teams with a higher waiver priority.
Kennedy has several ties to the Philadelphia area. He played baseball at Millville (New Jersey) High School, just over 40 miles from Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies. He grew up as a fan of the Phillies; his grandfather, 16-year MLB infielder Don Money, played for the Phillies from 1968-72.
The Tigers designated Kennedy for assignment because fellow infielders Ryan Kreidler (right finger fracture) and Eddys Leonard (left oblique strain) returned to Triple-A Toledo on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, following the completion of their rehab assignments. After getting healthy, Kreidler and Leonard moved ahead of Kennedy on the pecking order for a promotion if the Tigers needed an infielder in the big leagues.
Kennedy is a career .205 hitter with a .294 on-base percentage across his 46-game MLB career in parts of three seasons. He has played second base and third base in the big leagues, but he also has minor-league experience in left field and at shortstop and first base.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Kennedy in the fifth round of the 2017 draft.
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