Veteran outfielder Austin Slater has exercised his release clause from the minor league contract he signed with the Detroit Tigers. The 33-year-old had the option to opt out if he wasn't going to make Detroit's season-opening roster, which he chose to do after struggling in spring training.

Slater's decision comes after a disappointing 2025 season where he hit just .216 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 65 games split between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. His career numbers show a .248 lifetime batting average with a .336 on-base percentage across nine MLB seasons.

The journeyman outfielder has played for five different teams since his debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2017, including stints with the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles in 2024. His release from the Tigers marks another chapter in a career that has seen him bounce between organizations.