Detroit — In 2017, former Tigers’ president and general manager Al Avila signaled the start of a rebuilding project by trading off five veteran players, Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Justin Wilson and his son, Alex Avila.
From those trades, one player remains with the Tigers: catcher Jake Rogers.
On Thursday, the Tigers released three players, pitcher Chavez Fernander, veteran utility player Johan Camargo and right-hander Franklin Perez.
Perez was considered the best of the three prospects the Tigers got back from Houston for Verlander. But shoulder injuries limited him to just 29 games and 68 innings spread out over four seasons. He never rose above High-A ball in the Tigers’ system.
Outfielder Daz Cameron was the third prospect the Tigers got from Houston. He played in 73 games for the Tigers over three seasons before he was released. He’s been with the Orioles’ Triple-A team in Norfolk most of this season.
Camargo, 29, spent five seasons with the Braves and was with the Phillies last year. The Tigers signed him to a minor-league deal after he was released by Kansas City. He had been playing at Triple-A Toledo.
The Tigers drafted Fernander in the 35th round in 2018. He advanced to Triple A for the first time this season but struggled (11 runs, 10 walks in six outings, 7.2 innings).
Here were the players the Tigers got back in those other trades in 2017:
▶ For Wilson and Avila from the Cubs: Infielders Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes, both played for the Tigers and remain productive in the big leagues.
▶ For Martinez from the Diamondbacks: Infielders Jose King, Sergio Alcantara and Dawel Lugo. Alcantara and Lugo played briefly for the Tigers, none remain in the big leagues.
▶ For Upton from the Angels: Pitchers Grayson Long and Elvin Rodriguez. Rodriguez played for the Tigers last season and is now with Tampa Bay.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky