The Tigers announced Thursday that Don Kelly's contract was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.

Kelly, the Tigers' utility man for the past three seasons, was designated for assignment last Friday. That meant he was removed from the 40-man roster — clearing a spot for trade acquisition Jeff Baker — and the club had 10 days to place him on waivers, trade him or release him.

Thursday's news meant that he'd cleared waivers. Given his service time, Kelly now has the option of accepting the assignment to Toledo, or refusing it, and electing to become a free agent — as Omir Santos had done earlier this season.

There are plenty of fans hoping the likable Kelly will stick around the Tigers organization, but he was caught in a numbers game, and was not hitting well enough to justify staying with the big-league club.