Tigers' injured trade deadline acquisition provides hope for strong return in 2025

Early returns on the Detroit Tigers’ trade deadline have been surprisingly positive despite the low-leverage nature of the acquisitions.

Chris Paddack struggled on Tuesday night against his former team, the Minnesota Twins, allowing four earned runs in four innings pitched, but was excellent in his Tigers debut last week, allowing just one run in six innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both Kyle Finnegan (two saves) and Charlie Morton (one earned run in six innings) have already provided notable contributions.

Detroit’s president of baseball operations Scott Harris has received flak for an arguably tentative deadline, but the jury is still out. There’s also the fact that not all of Harris’s acquisitions have appeared on the diamond for the Tigers, including veteran right-hander Paul Sewald.

Harris acquired Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians on July 31. The 35-year-old has been limited to just 15 1/3 innings this season due to multiple right shoulder strains, but he’s on the mend and expects to pitch for Detroit this year. Sewald provided an update on his recovery process this week, per Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold.

"We do things day-by-day in rehab," Sewald said on Tuesday, per Petzold. “I felt great today after my first day of catch yesterday."

“I’m going to pitch this year," Sewald continued, per Petzold. "When is the question of day-by-day, honestly. I'm going to do everything I can to be as healthy as I can as quickly as I can, but timelines are crazy in rehab, so we just try not to give them. … I'll pitch when they tell me to pitch, and I'll do everything I can to be available as much as I possibly can."

According to Petzold, the Tigers are hoping to activate Sewald by mid-September (he isn’t eligible to return to a MLB mound until September 10). Sewald will initially have some restrictions to avoid further injury, but the goal is to be free of limitations once the postseason rolls around.

"In October, there are no limitations,” Sewald said, per Petzold. “I’m going to do everything I can to be a regular reliever when it gets to October."

Sewald’s nine-year career has prepared him for a myriad of situations, which should make him a reliable arm to turn to in high-leverage playoff scenarios. Originally drafted with the No. 320 overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft by the New York Mets, Sewald has also spent time with the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. He signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Cleveland in January.

Sewald has a career 4.11 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and 86 saves in 391 2/3 innings. As you can see, the production is largely there. But fans will be waiting for official answers on his shoulder. While there seems to be optimism, nobody would be shocked if the right-hander wasn't able to pitch at all in 2025 given how troublesome shoulder injuries have proven to be.