The Detroit Tigers made a slew of trades at the MLB trade deadline in 2025, with the majority focusing on the bullpen. Even the move for Chris Paddack a few days before the deadline is a bullpen move, with Paddack moving back to the bullpen.
But the bullpen additions so far have worked out for the Tigers. Kyle Finnegan, before hitting the injured list, was one of the best relievers in baseball since the Tigers acquired him. Their other pickups have thrown good innings for Detroit as well.
That is, all except for one reliever who’s not made his Tigers debut yet. He was acquired from the division rival Cleveland Guardians, and fittingly, over a month after being acquired, the Tigers announced they are finally activating reliever Paul Seawald.
Tigers finally activate Paul Seawald
Detroit landed Seawald at the deadline amid their slew of pitching additions, and since the trade, Seawald has been sitting on the injured list, working his way back up to MLB readiness in the minors.
RHP Paul Sewald has been activated off of the 60-day injured list and will be available for this afternoon’s game vs. the Cleveland Guardians.
RHP Jose Urquidy has been designated for assignment. The club expects to option him to Triple-A Toledo tomorrow.
RHP Codi Heuer has…
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) September 18, 2025
Finally, ahead of the series finale against the Guardians, the Tigers are activating the former Guardians reliever to the active roster while designating Jose Urquidy for assignment (with the expectation he’ll be optioned to Triple-A), and releasing Codi Heuer, another of the Tigers’ trade deadline pickups.
Before landing on the injured list in July, Seawald had a 4.70 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 appearances. The 35-year-old has missed a lot of time in 2025, but he’s now ready to make an impact for the Tigers during their postseason push.
Detroit hasn’t clinched a spot yet, but it’d take a historic collapse to miss the postseason. If the Tigers can finish out the year strong, there will be no qualms over a postseason spot, and the team might even secure a first-round bye.
MORE: Tigers announce unfortunate Kyle Finnegan news after injury scare
Seawald, a veteran reliever who has some postseason experience as a solid reliever for the Arizona Diamondbacks, could be a good option for Detroit down the final two weeks of the regular season.
In the minors, during his rehab assignment with Detroit, Seawald had a 0.00 ERA in two innings at High-A, and then at Triple-A, he had a 3.38 ERA in 2.2 innings for the Mud Hens.
Across his nine-year big-league career, Seawald has a 4.11 ERA in 377 appearances. Since 2022, he’s been a very strong reliever for the Seattle Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Guardians. He has a 3.36 ERA in 179.2 innings pitched in that four-year window.
Now, he joins the Tigers with the chance to help bolster the bullpen for a postseason push. Whether it’s to secure the AL Central, a first-round bye, or even just a simple postseason berth, Seawald joins a bullpen that has been in flux all year. He’ll look to carve out a stable role as the veteran right-hander looks to bounce back from a shoulder injury.
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