DETROIT — Tigers manager AJ Hinch said he expected to see Jahmai Jones back in the big leagues "soon."

And it appears Hinch will be correct.

Jones, who had a breakout season for the Tigers' offense in 2025 but struggled mightily this season before he was designated for assignment last week, was acquired by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, according to the Boston Globe. Alex Speier of the Globe reports the Tigers will receive a player to be named as compensation for Jones in the trade.

Jones, 28, was DFA'd by the Tigers last week. With catcher Dillon Dingler nursing a hand injury, the Tigers needed a backup option, so they called up Eduardo Valencia from Triple-A Toledo and cut Jones loose.

Jones, who also has spent brief stints in the majors with the Angels, Orioles, Brewers and Yankees, is out of minor league options, so the Red Sox will have to add him to their active roster to keep him.

Jones was mostly an outfielder, designated hitter and a pinch hitter in parts of two seasons with the Tigers, facing mostly left-handed pitchers. He thrived in 2025, and scuffled in 2026.

"It's a tough role," Hinch said of Jones. "The upside of it, you are often the hero and are looked at as an instrumental part of the strategy. Dating to last year, he delivered time and time again. ... This season, he had a hard time either getting on the fastball or sitting off-speed. He found himself a lot of times in between and the at-bats got less productive and he just looked less and less comfortable.

"When that happens, because you are always in the game in the big moments and big situations against high-end relievers, it just piled up on him and we couldn't get him out of the hole.

"I still believe in him. I think he's going to land on his feet. We will see him in the big leagues again."

Jones hit .137/.219/.221 in 105 plate appearances for the Tigers this season, with two home runs and 35 strikeouts. Last season, Jones hit .287/.387/.550 in 150 plate appearances, with seven home runs and 32 strikeouts.

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