DETROIT -- The Tigers signed José Urquidy in Spring Training and traded for Paul Sewald in July with an eye toward providing pitching depth for their playoff push in 2025. Both are now on track to head elsewhere for '26 after the Tigers declined their contract options for next season.
The Sewald decision had been expected ever since the Tigers acquired him from Cleveland at the Trade Deadline. By trading for the 35-year-old reliever and former closer, who was working back from a right shoulder strain, the Tigers also acquired the contract he’d signed with the Guardians back in January, which included a $10 million mutual option for 2026 or a $1 million buyout.
Even if Sewald had returned to form down the stretch and into the playoffs, that option was unlikely to be picked up by a Tigers team that hasn’t paid a full-time reliever an eight-figure salary since Joe Nathan’s ill-fated signing as a closer a decade ago. Sewald pitched in just four games with the Tigers, three of them lopsided losses. He allowed two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Sewald was an unused reliever for the Tigers’ Wild Card Series against Cleveland, then was left off the roster altogether for their Division Series against Seattle.
The Tigers’ decision regarding the 30-year-old Urquidy was more complicated. They signed him to a backloaded contract last spring in the middle of his rehab from Tommy John surgery knowing that he would likely be better next year than he would be upon his return this summer. The veteran starter/reliever made it back in time for the September stretch run, but he made just two relief appearances. He provided a four-out hold in a 2-0 win at Miami on Sept. 14, then gave up two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout vs. Cleveland three days later. His fastball velocity was back to pre-surgery standards, and he was able to avoid hard contact in a small sample size.
The Tigers left Urquidy off their postseason roster for both series, though he stayed ready in case of injury.
In addition to a $4 million base salary for next season, Urquidy had additional incentives based on games started. The Tigers did not have to pay a buyout to decline the option.
Just a Little waiver claim
President of baseball operations Scott Harris’ penchant for little waiver claims in the offseason turned literal on Thursday, when the Tigers claimed right-hander Jack Little off waivers from the Pirates.
The 6-foot-4 Little, a fifth-round Draft pick by the Dodgers in 2019, made his Major League debut over the summer, making two appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen. He allowed two runs on four hits in two innings on June 19, then tossed a perfect inning on July 5.
The Pirates claimed Little on waivers in August and sent him to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he posted a 2.79 ERA over 14 relief appearances with 14 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings. He has two Minor League options remaining.
In a procedural move, the Tigers also activated pitchers Beau Brieske, Jason Foley, Sean Guenther, Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden and Reese Olson from the 60-day injured list. The combined moves bring the Tigers’ 40-man roster to 40 for now. More moves are likely later this month, when eligible prospects must be added to the roster to be protected from next month’s Rule 5 Draft.