Former Phillie Nick Maton DFA’d by Tigers

Former Philadelphia Phillies utility man Nick Maton has been designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers to make room for LHP Kolton Ingram, the announced Monday.

While Maton could clear waivers and accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Toledo, this more than likely brings his brief stint in the Tigers organization to a conclusion. There’s a chance a team claims Maton on waivers or he just decides after clearing waivers that he wants a fresh start after posting a -1.1 WAR in 93 games for the Tigers a year ago.

Ironically, one of the few highlights from a season that saw Maton post an unsightly .593 OPS came against the Phillies in June when he broke up 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball from Aaron Nola with a titanic home run for the Tigers.

Nick Maton’s time in Detroit may be over, but this home run off of Aaron Nola was an all-timer. Off the bat, I thought it might go into the third deck. pic.twitter.com/JLL9dYQvps https://t.co/u0Wq2h7GN9

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) February 5, 2024

A seventh-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Maton slashed .254/.330/.434 with a .764 OPS in 86 games for the Phillies between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He and infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling were traded to the Tigers in a January 2023 trade that brought back reliever Gregory Soto and utility man Kody Clemens.

Maton, 26, is out of minor-league options, so any team that either claims him on waivers or signs him to a Major-League deal after he clears waivers would have to keep him on their 26-man roster to avoid him being subjected to waivers again.

Maton’s older brother, Phil, had been seen as a potential fit for the Phillies bullpen by some this offseason, but he was said to be closing in on a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend.

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