As the 2025 MLB trade deadline hustles toward the final bell, contending teams are scrambling to shore up weak spots before the cutoff. The Detroit Tigers quietly made a low-risk bullpen move on July 31, acquiring veteran reliever Paul Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. While not headline-grabbing like other blockbuster moves, the transaction adds a seasoned arm with postseason pedigree, and brings potential impact stretching into September and beyond.
Sewald’s Track Record & 2025 Season
Sewald, drafted in 2012 and debuting with the New York Mets in 2017, has pitched for the Mets, Seattle, Arizona, and most recently the Guardians. In 377 relief appearances, he has compiled a 21‑26 record, 86 saves, and a 4.11 ERA.
In 2025, with Cleveland, Sewald made only 18 appearances, posting a 4.70 ERA and two saves before landing on the injured list. His fastball velocity dipped to about 90.3 mph, below his usual 91-93 mph, likely due to the recurring shoulder issue.
That shoulder trouble clearly impacted his effectiveness, as both his command and pitch shape took a hit. While he still limited walks and maintained decent strikeout numbers, hitters were squaring him up more often, leading to a spike in hard contact and a career-worst home run rate. The drop in velocity, combined with slightly flatter movement on his slider, made it harder for Sewald to miss bats in key spots.
Sewald’s arsenal leans heavily on a four‑seam fastball and a sweeper slider. He generates whiffs at a high clip–approximately 27 percent on his heater and over 37 percent on his sweeper–though his modest velocity leaves him vulnerable to the long ball.
Matt Manning Designated for Assignment
The Tigers’ acquisition of Sewald came at a roster cost: the club designated former first-round pick Matt Manning for assignment, signaling a potential end to his uneven tenure in Detroit. Once a centerpiece of the team’s top-ranked pitching pipeline alongside Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, Manning never fully found his footing in the majors. After debuting in 2021 with lofty expectations, the 26-year-old battled inconsistency, command issues, and a string of injuries that limited his development.
In 2025, Manning bounced between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit’s rotation and bullpen, struggling to carve out a defined role. Across 15 big league outings this season (seven of them starts), he posted a 5.36 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 18 walks in 45 1/3 innings. Though he still flashed a sharp curveball and mid-90s velocity at times, Manning’s lack of secondary pitch development and trouble keeping hitters off balance ultimately pushed him down the depth chart.
By designating him for assignment, the Tigers now have seven days to trade, release, or outright Manning to the minors if he clears waivers. Given his age, pedigree, and remaining team control, it’s likely another organization takes a flier on the right-hander, hoping a change of scenery can unlock the potential that once made him a top-30 prospect in all of baseball.
Tigers’ Motive & Strategic Fit
Detroit’s trade moves are low-risk, depth-focused play aimed at bolstering their bullpen with experienced insurance for the stretch run. With Sewald not expected back until September, the Tigers are essentially stockpiling bullpen depth in case of further injuries or additional waiver pickups.
By swapping out Manning, they open roster flexibility while simultaneously keeping payroll light. According to Jon Heyman, Detroit is covering the remainder of Sewald’s one‑year, approximately $7 million contract signed in January–with a mutual option for 2026.
With Chase Lee and other late‑season bullpen role candidates in mind, Sewald provides a veteran arm with a proven strikeout profile, although one not fully healthy yet.
The Tigers lead the AL Central (64-46) and have positioned themselves as the team to beat in the division. Their bullpen, while solid, has been tested due to injuries to key arms like Reese Olson, Jackson Jobe, and Mize.
Manager A.J. Hinch, who has steered Detroit to multiple All-Star selections–including Skubal, Javier Báez, Gleyber Torres, and others–likely sees Sewald as low upside risk with a chance to solidify late‑season relief depth.
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