Don Kelly.jpg

Don Kelly has declined his outright assignments to Triple-A Toledo and opted for free agency.

(AP File Photo)

DETROIT -- Don Kelly is officially a free agent. So, too, is Evan Reed.

As expected, Kelly and Reed have declined their minor league assignments and elected to become free agents, Major League Baseball announced this week.

Both players have served enough time in the minors to decline the assignment and are now free to sign with any major league team, including the Detroit Tigers.

The moves come less than a week after the Tigers outrighted Kelly and Reed to Triple-A Toledo to clear room on their 40-man roster.

The moves cleared spots for right-handed pitchers Bruce Rondon, Luke Putkonen and Drew VerHagen, and shortstop Jose Iglesias -- all of whom were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list in late October.

The Tigers have expressed interest in re-signing Kelly, but the organization would likely only be interested in bringing him back on a minor league deal with a non-roster invitation to spring training.

A non-tender candidate, Kelly -- who turns 35 years old in February -- would be arbitration-eligible if he signed a major league deal this offseason. He batted .245 with six extra-base hits and seven RBIs in 95 games this past season with Detroit.

Reed, 28, had a 4.18 ERA in 42 appearances for the Tigers last season.

Also of note, right-handed relievers Jose Ortega and Justin Miller declared for free agency. Both pitchers were outrighted to Triple-A Toledo earlier this year.

-- Download the Detroit Tigers on MLive app for iPhone and Android.

-- Like MLive's Detroit Tigers Facebook page