Hembree signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday.
After electing to become a free agent last week when Tampa Bay moved him off its 40-man roster, Hembree has quickly caught on with a new organization. Though Hembree is initially expected to report to Triple-A Toledo, he should have a clearer path to capturing a more permanent spot in Detroit's big-league bullpen than he did with the American League East-leading Rays, who had several promising relief arms in the majors and higher levels of the minors. Hembree had posted a 1.29 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in seven innings with Triple-A Durham this season and tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in his lone relief appearance with the Rays prior to being designated for assignment.
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Heath Hembree: Chooses free agency
Rotowire
Hembree cleared outright waivers and elected for free agency Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hembree made one scoreless appearance for the Rays before being removed from their 40-man roster. He'll now look to latch on with another organization.
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Rays' Heath Hembree: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays designated Hembree for assignment Wednesday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The veteran righty threw 1.1 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in his only appearance with the Rays. Hembree doesn't figure to attract much interest on waivers, as he hasn't posted a sub-five ERA since 2019 in Boston.
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Rays' Heath Hembree: Joining big-league bullpen
Rotowire
The Rays selected Hembree's contract from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hembree gets a shot with the big club after allowing one run over seven relief innings at Durham. The 34-year-old struggled mightily at the big-league level in 2022, holding a 7.36 ERA across 26 appearances between the Dodgers and Pirates.
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Rays' Heath Hembree: Headed to minors
Rotowire
Hembree was reassigned to the minors Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Hembree made 10 scoreless appearances in the Grapefruit League this spring, but he was always on the outside looking in for a spot in Tampa Bay's talent-filled bullpen. The 34-year-old struggled to a 7.36 ERA in 22 major-league innings last season between the Pirates and Dodgers.
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Rays' Heath Hembree: Reaches MiLB deal with Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Hembree agreed Wednesday with the Rays on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to MLB spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The journeyman reliever has seen big-league action in each of the past 10 seasons, but even though he'll get a chance to compete for a spot in the Tampa Bay bullpen in spring training, he'll likely face an uphill battle to break camp with the big club. Hembree walked a career-high 15.9 percent of the batters he faced over his 22 big-league innings between the Dodgers and Pirates in 2022, and he was hit hard when he wasn't issuing free passes, giving up six home runs.
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Heath Hembree: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Hembree elected free agency Friday after he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment by Los Angeles earlier this week, and he'll return to the open market rather than reporting to the minors. Hembree has a 7.36 ERA in 26 outings between the Pirates and Dodgers this season.
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Dodgers' Heath Hembree: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Hembree was designated for assignment Tuesday.
The veteran right-hander joined the Dodgers on a minor-league deal Aug. 23 and was called up to the big-league club a week later. Hembree appeared in six games during his time with Los Angeles and surrendered five earned runs over 5.2 innings. Overall this year, he has a 7.36 ERA over 22 frames between his time with the Dodgers and Pirates.
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Dodgers' Heath Hembree: Nabs win in Dodgers debut
Rotowire
Hembree (3-0) earned the win over the Mets on Tuesday. He allowed two hits and struck out one batter in one scoreless inning.
Hembree was called in from the bullpen in the sixth inning on the same day that his contract was selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The veteran reliever allowed a pair of singles but kept the game tied, and he was rewarded with the win as a result of Los Angeles scoring the go-ahead run in the following frame. Hembree will look for better results with the Dodgers after he posted a 7.16 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over 20 appearances as a Pirate earlier in the campaign.
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Dodgers' Heath Hembree: Summoned to big leagues
Rotowire
The Dodgers selected Hembree's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Hembree will join the big-league bullpen after he provided a 3.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 9.1 innings with Oklahoma City upon joining the organization earlier this month on a minor-league deal. Though he's collected 11 saves and 57 holds across parts of 10 seasons in the majors, Hembree is expected to be deployed mostly in low-leverage spots while he's up with the Dodgers.
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Dodgers' Heath Hembree: Lands in Dodgers oganization
Rotowire
Hembree has produced a 5.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB over seven innings across seven appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City since signing a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on June 30.
After getting cut loose by Pittsburgh on June 27, Hembree found a new organization soon thereafter, but the Dodgers had him spend about a month building up at extended spring training in Arizona before assigning him to Triple-A. Hembree has looked good in his initial appearances for Oklahoma City, but his lack of a 40-man roster spot could be an obstacle in him potentially making his way to the big-league roster before season's end.
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Heath Hembree: Cuts ties with Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates released Hembree on Sunday.
After clearing waivers when he was designated for assignment Wednesday, Hembree likely wasn't keen on reporting to Triple-A Indianapolis, so the Pirates opted to part ways with the veteran reliever. The 33-year-old may still have to settle for a minor-league deal if he wants to find work in another organization after he turned in a 7.16 ERA and 1.90 WHIP across 16.1 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen prior to being removed from the 40-man roster.
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Pirates' Heath Hembree: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Hembree was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Wednesday.
Hembree returned from the injured list last week and gave up a run on two hits and five walks while striking out two in three innings over three relief appearances since returning to the field. The right-hander will lose his place on the 40-man roster after Jerad Eickhoff's contract was selected by Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Heath Hembree: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Hembree (calf) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader in St. Louis, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander has been sidelined the past few weeks by a strained right calf, but he's back on the active roster after a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. Hembree has appeared in 17 games for Pittsburgh this season and has an 8.10 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across 13.1 innings.
Hembree (calf) is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis in the near future, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Hembree is nearing a return from the 15-day injured list following a right calf injury and he will report to Triple-A for a rehab assignment. He's expected to pitch multiple outings with the team before getting activated from the IL. Prior to getting hurt, Hembree had struggled to a 8.10 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with 10 strikeouts over 13.1 innings in 17 appearances.
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Pirates' Heath Hembree: Nearing live BP
Rotowire
Hembree (calf) is expected to throw a live batting practice session by the end of the week, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander landed on the shelf May 24 with a strained right calf, but it appears he's not far off from rejoining the active roster. If all goes well when facing live batters, Hembree could be activated within a week.
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Pirates' Heath Hembree: Out with calf strain
Rotowire
Hembree was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right calf strain, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander has surrendered five runs over his past three outings and will be sidelined until at least early June. Overall Hembree has an 8.10 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 10:9 K:BB across 13.1 innings this season.
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Mets' Heath Hembree: Notches ninth save
Rotowire
Hembree struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his ninth save of the season, and first as a Met, in an 11-9 win over the Nationals during the first game of a doubleheader.
The veteran reliever served as the Reds' closer through most of July, but Hembree got cut loose after posting a 16.71 ERA over his final seven innings for Cincinnati. Claimed by the Mets off waivers in August, he's returned to his prior form, posting a 3.60 ERA and 6:3 K:BB through five innings for his new club. Edwin Diaz was getting the twin bill off after working three of the previous four days and Seth Lugo and Trevor May both entered the matinee before Hembree did, so this will likely be his last save chance of the season, but if he keeps pitching well he could work his way into a consistent setup role.
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Mets' Heath Hembree: Joins Mets' bullpen
Rotowire
The Mets added Hembree to their active roster Tuesday.
The Reds DFA'd Hembree after he allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning Aug. 16. Having struggled considerably for nearly a month, the righty doesn't figure to pitch in anything but low-leverage relief situations, at least initially.
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Mets' Heath Hembree: Claimed by Mets
Rotowire
Hembree was claimed off waivers by the Mets on Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Hembree was DFA'd by the Reds on Tuesday after allowing 13 runs across his past seven innings. The veteran right-hander held a respectable 4.33 ERA and 0.96 WHIP prior to the rough patch, and the Mets appear to be somewhat confident that he'll be able to regain his form in a move to Queens. Given his recent struggles, Hembree seems unlikely to see work in high-leverage innings initially, though he could become a candidate for late-inning work if he's able to pitch effectively during his next few outings.
