Tigers wave white flag on trade deadline acquisition with ALDS roster reveal

Scott Harris' controversial trade deadline didn't fuel much of anything for a Detroit Tigers team that hung on for dear life down the stretch, but thankfully outlasted their Cleveland tormentors to advance to the second round of the MLB Playoffs. As if it wasn't already evident that Harris' low-tier midseason risks didn't pay off, the Tigers rendered their verdict on one of the primary participants ahead of the ALDS in Seattle.

Detroit's pitching plan was always destined to be shuffled anyhow, with the Wild Card Series knocking Tarik Skubal out of Game 1 duties and Reese Olson's injury continuing to complicate matters.

It'll be a bullpen game that begins with Troy Melton on Saturday night in Seattle - and, even with the need for arms at a premium, AJ Hinch and Co. still couldn't find room for Paul Sewald.

Sewald pitched in just four regular season games for Detroit after coming off at the deadline while rehabbing an injury, allowing a pair of earned runs. He didn't appear in the Wild Card proceedings, and hasn't made a postseason appearance since Arizona's World Series run in 2023.

Tigers ALDS Roster vs. Mariners revealed: No Paul Sewald

Outside of the white flag being formally waved on Sewald's presence - with the almost assured destruction of his mutual option on the horizon as well - there aren't many surprises in the Tigers' attack. Brenan Hanifee has returned, and Colt Keith has been swapped in for Justyn-Henry Malloy. The Tigers will get a crucial cog back in Keith, who rebounded this season, but was felled by a rib injury and missed the first round. He hit 13 bombs with 65 RBI and a .256 average this season.

For better or worse, this is the group, and pitching chaos has returned triumphantly. The one thing the Tigers couldn't do was collapse and miss the postseason entirely; they averted that. Otherwise, the goal posts have been summarily moved. The season seems to have a different ring to it now. The future is massively bright. Bypassing Cleveland was a theatrical joy. What more is there to say other than ... let's do it again? Why not?