The Detroit Tigers have had a terrific season and are well on their way to their first American League Central division title since 2014. The Tigers hold a 14-game lead over the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins entering Tuesday and it has the rest of the division turning their attention to the Wild Card race or selling ahead of this month’s trade deadline.
But even as the Tigers run away from their competition, they can use it to help their playoff push. That’s what they’re hoping will be the case as they signed a southpaw hurler that used to play for one of their divisional rivals.
Tigers Sign Former Twins Pitcher Devin Smeltzer to Minor League Contract
According to MLB’s transaction wire, the Tigers have agreed to a minor league contract with left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer. Smeltzer came up with the Twins during the 2019 season and spent four seasons in Minnesota, going 9-4 with a 3.99 ERA. He signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins ahead of the 2023 season but that campaign didn’t go well as he went 0-1 with a 6.45 ERA in nine appearances (one start).
After spending all of last season with the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Smeltzer spent the first part of this season going 4-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 13 starts for Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League. While he has parlayed that performance into a shot with a major league club, it’s easy to see why he hasn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 7, 2023.
Smeltzer had plenty of blue in his Baseball Savant profile during his last full season in the majors, posting an 18.5% whiff rate and a 13.9% strikeout rate in 70.1 innings. While he limits walks and posted an effective 29.5% chase rate in 2023, it wasn’t enough to keep him with the Marlins and now has him fighting back to the majors with Detroit.
While it’s a longshot that Smeltzer will complete the comeback, there could be benefits. The Tigers have needed an extra southpaw in the bullpen even as Tyler Holton has posted a 2.76 ERA in his last 12 outings (16.1 innings) and Brant Hurter has been solid with a 2-3 record and 2.72 ERA in 27 appearances. While those two have been solid in relief roles, the Tigers could use another swingman as Dietrich Enns has allowed seven earned runs in nine innings in a long relief role this season.
Enns could be the player on thin ice here and Smeltzer could take his spot if he performs well with the Toledo Mud Hens. If all goes well, the Tigers could have another arm in the pen and possibly cross another item off their deadline shopping list.