The Detroit Tigers knew that bullpen help was going to need to be addressed at the trade deadline, but rather than going after the big fish, they decided to find some guppies. The team announced yesterday that they acquired reliever Rafael Montero from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for infield prospect Jim Jarvis. This morning, the team announced they have acquired reliever Paul Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, Matt Manning was DFA’d.
Tigers Go Bargain Shopping For Relief Help
Rafael Montero
Montero has had a shaky season with the Atlanta Braves, walking batters at a 14% clip, which is one of the worst rates in baseball. The main problem for Montero is that his fastball gets hit around way too much, making his offspeed pitches less effective. This season, opponents are hitting .231 off his fastball with an xBA of .275. The best pitch in his toolbox is his split finger, which has opponents hitting .192 off of with an xBA of .174. Those are the two main pitches he throws, mixing in a sinker and slider as well.
The Tigers have acquired RHP Rafael Montero from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Minor League INF Jim Jarvis. pic.twitter.com/JRw5PJDY1m
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 31, 2025
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The task for the Tigers’ pitching staff now is to find a way to make his fastball more effective. If they can work on some mechanics with Montero, then this could be a very good move for the Tigers. In a vacuum, Montero could be the fifth-best reliever on the Tigers, as he just provides help in the sixth or seventh inning of games. This is a player who won a World Series back in 2022 with the Houston Astros, and the Tigers are surely hoping they can get that version of Montero in 2025.
Paul Sewald
This trade is more of a head-scratcher for me, but for a player to be named later or cash considerations, I don’t view the trade as much. Sewald has been on the injured list since mid-July, with the expectation he’d be ready by September. Since coming to Cleveland, health has been a huge issue for Sewald, having only pitched in 15 1/3 innings this season. This is after a 2024 campaign that saw him only throw 39 2/3 innings.
The Tigers have acquired RHP Paul Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. pic.twitter.com/L7F1uagB9j
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 31, 2025
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When healthy, Sewald is quietly a top-20 reliever in baseball, which is probably how the Tigers’ front office views him as well. In the small sample size this season, Sewald has a 29% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate. If we take a look at his 2023 season, the last season he was fully healthy, Sewald had a 32% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate. Very similar numbers, and the Tigers are hoping to get that out of Sewald with this low-risk, high-reward move.
Are The Tigers Done?
I would imagine the Tigers are done making moves at the deadline, unless they make another smaller move to get some depth within the lineup. After not trading for Eugenio Suarez, it has become abundantly clear that the Tigers weren’t comfortable moving any of their top prospects for a rental at the deadline. With one of the best up-and-coming farm systems in baseball, it is understandable why the Tigers would want to hold onto their key prospects, such as Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle, Thayron Liranzo, and Josue Briceño.
Main Photo Credits: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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