Tigers sign former Braves star and World Series hero (and Rangers cover the cost)

Emma Lingan

Athletics v Texas Rangers / Sam Hodde/GettyImages

Amid a flurry of roster moves on Saturday, the Detroit Tigers signed a veteran reliever to bolster their Major League bullpen.

Luke Jackson, who was released by the Texas Rangers on Friday following a two-day DFA period, agreed to a one-year contract with the Tigers the following day. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers will pay Jackson the prorated MLB minimum for the remainder of the 2025 season. The Texas Rangers, meanwhile, will pay him the rest of his $1.35 million salary.

In a corresponding move, the Tigers designated right-hander Geoff Hartlieb for assignment to create space for Jackson on the 26-man and 40-man rosters. Hartlieb had signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers just two weeks ago, and he posted a 9.00 ERA over two appearances (two innings) with the Tigers at the MLB level after his contract was selected two days ago. It's his third DFA within the last month, with the previous two instances occurring with the New York Yankees.

Tigers sign former Braves star, World Series hero Luke Jackson as Rangers cover the price

Jackson pitched to a 4.11 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 35 innings with the Rangers this season before Friday's DFA. It hasn't been the 33-year-old's strongest season, but the Tigers are taking a low-risk bet that he can return to his 2023 form in which he pitched to a 2.97 ERA in 33 1/3 innings for the San Francisco Giants.

Currently in his 10th Major League season, Jackson is best known for his contributions to the Atlanta Braves from 2017-21. His 1.98 ERA over 63 2/3 innings in 2021 played a major role in Atlanta’s path to the World Series that year.

Jackson will now get a chance to help right the ship for a struggling Detroit bullpen that has played a major role in the Tigers' recent slump. The Tigers have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this signing, as Jackson costs them essentially nothing and may just be a change of scenery away from returning to peak form.

More Tigers content from Motor City Bengals

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.