Ryan

Lavarnway

Lavarnway finished up his career going 1-for-9 with Israel in the WBC. A sixth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2008, Lavarnway hit as many as 32 homers in a minor league season, but he never got a long look as a starter in the majors and wound up hitting .217/.272/.345 with nine homers in 486 MLB plate appearances. He picked up a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2013.

There’s no word yet on the return for Detroit, with De Nicola only terming it a “minor league trade.” Lavarnway was sporting strong numbers this season at Triple-A Toledo, but the veteran journeyman catcher holds just a .217/.272/.345 career batting line in 486 total plate appearances at the major league level.

Lavarnway will remain with the big-league club until the Triple-A Toledo season begins, but the Tigers are likely rolling with Tucker Barnhart, Eric Haase and possibly even Dustin Garneau as their catcher this season. The 34-year-old veteran backstop will serve as emergency catching depth this season.

Lavarnway saw a little action in the majors with the Guardians in 2021 and has a career .617 OPS over parts of 10 big league seasons. He’ll likely begin 2022 at Triple-A Toledo.

Lavarnway has refused an outright minor-league assignment and will search for a new opportunity. The 34-year-old veteran backstop should be able to land somewhere as extra catching depth this offseason after appearing in nine games for Cleveland this past season.

Lavarnway had been designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and will stick around in the organization.

The move clears the way for Roberto Perez’s return from the injured list. Lavarnway, 34, is 7-for-28 (.250) with three doubles over nine games with the Indians this season.

It’s the second time this summer that Lavarnway has had his contract purchased, as he was designated for assignment in June shortly after being promoted to Cleveland. He’ll provide some depth behind the plate, and he gets the start Thursday against Kansas City.

Lavarnway was designated for assignment by Cleveland last week and passed through waivers unclaimed. The veteran catcher is a career .216/.274/.344 hitter in 160 games at the major league level.

Lavarnway spent a week with Cleveland after having his contract purchased on June 17. The veteran backstop will head to waivers after Cleveland made room on the roster for Austin Hedges, who came off the concussion IL on Thursday.