The Detroit Tigers have made a savvy move to shore up their infield depth, signing veteran infielder Paul DeJong to a minor league contract on Tuesday. The 32-year-old journeyman is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo, bringing a wealth of experience to an organization suddenly dealing with a wave of injuries.

Injuries have been piling up across both the major league and Triple-A rosters. At the big-league level, shortstop Javier Báez remains sidelined with an ankle issue, while utility man Zach McKinstry (hip/abdomen) is nearing a return. Second baseman Gleyber Torres, dealing with side discomfort, hasn't been placed on the injured list but was unavailable even for pinch-hitting duties on Monday night. Meanwhile, in the minors, shortstops Trey Sweeney (shoulder) and Trei Cruz (undisclosed) are both out, leaving the system thin up the middle.

To help cover the gaps, the Tigers recently added infielder Zack Short to the active roster on Sunday. Now, with DeJong in the fold, they're adding a player with nine seasons of big-league experience and a career .710 OPS. DeJong was playing for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, where he hit .203 but showed some pop with a .516 slugging percentage and six home runs in just 23 games. His last MLB stint came with the Washington Nationals in 2024.

For a Tigers team looking to stay competitive in a tight division race, this low-risk addition could pay off handsomely—especially if the injury bug continues to bite. DeJong's veteran savvy and power potential make him a solid insurance policy as the season heats up.