Tigers Sign Former World Series Champ Reliever Before Trade Deadline

The Tigers are kicking the tires on his veteran reliever, who has a World Series title on his resume.
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch (14) jokes around with his players in the dugout before their game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch (14) jokes around with his players in the dugout before their game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Detroit Tigers are one of several teams that are expected to be aggressive at the trade deadline later this month, as they try to bolster their bullpen and potentially add another bat to their lineup.

In the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, the Tigers have explored various avenues to add more firepower to their bullpen, which is ranked 10th in the American League (4.08 ERA). If the Tigers want to make a deep playoff run, they’ll need that unit to be better.

Detroit has called up pitchers from the minors for a boost, while also putting in waiver claims and signing veterans to minor league pacts. Over the weekend, the Tigers decided to take another flyer on a veteran reliever, who has a World Series championship on his resume.

Tigers Signs Veteran Reliever Tanner Rainey to Minor League Deal

On Friday, Detroit signed veteran right-handed pitcher Tanner Rainey to a minor league deal and immediately assigned him to Triple-A Toledo, per his MLB.com profile page.

The 32-year-old reliever was most recently with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization, pitching for their Triple-A affiliate (Indianapolis Indians). The Pirates released Rainey on July 8 after just bringing him back in June when they initially designated him for assignment.

The veteran hurler made 11 appearances out of the bullpen this season with the Pirates, but did not look great on the mound.

Rainey had a 10.57 ERA as he allowed nine earned runs, seven hits, and six walks, while recording nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings. In his brief appearances with the Pirates, opponents were hitting .250, but his walk rate was 16.2%, which was higher than it was in 2024 with the Washington Nationals (12.6%).

However, the veteran reliever pitched better at Triple-A, posting a 3.18 ERA in 17 appearances. Rainey has already appeared in one game for Triple-A Toledo (Tigers’ affiliate), recording one strikeout in one inning of work.

For his career, Rainey has a 5.42 ERA, but opponents are only hitting .222 at the plate. He had a couple of solid seasons with the Nationals, not including the year Washington won the World Series (2019).

The right-handed pitcher isn’t in journeyman territory yet, but he needs to get his act together if he wants to make it back to the big leagues. Luckily for him, Rainey is joining an organization that will call up players if they are performing well in the minors.

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