Tigers bolster bullpen at trade deadline, acquiring Finnegan from Nats and Sewald from Guardians
Detroit acquired Kyle Finnegan from Washington for two prospects, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press just hours before the trade deadline on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade wasn't announced.
The 33-year-old Finnegan was an All-Star in 2024, but his velocity has been down this season. He has 20 saves with a 4.38 ERA in 2025.
Detroit added Paul Sewald earlier in the day, giving the rebuilding Cleveland Guardians cash for the right-handed reliever.
The AL Central-leading Tigers won their fourth straight game with newly acquired starting pitcher Chris Paddack on Wednesday, two days after he was added in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.
Detroit has nearly a double-digit game lead in the division and is vying with Toronto and Houston for the best record in the league.
The Tigers, trying to take advantage of ace Tarik Skubal and a balanced lineup, are aiming for their first World Series title since 1984. Detroit earned a spot in the playoffs last year for the first time in the decade after a late-season surge.
In the trade for Finnegan, the Tigers sent minor league pitchers Josh Randall and R.J. Sales, Detroit's third and 10th round draft picks from 2024, respectively, to Washington.
The 35-year-old Sewald is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday after being shut down with a strained right shoulder, but he isn't expected to pitch until September. He is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 18 games this season, averaging more than one strikeout each inning.
Detroit opens a three-game series Friday night at Philadelphia.
___
___
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
37 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Rangers' Jacob deGrom Is Fastest to 1,800 Career Strikeouts in MLB History
Major League Baseball Rangers' Jacob deGrom Is Fastest to 1,800 Career Strikeouts in MLB History Published Aug. 3, 2025 7:00 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom became the fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts by games and innings on Sunday. In the second inning against Seattle, deGrom got Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford to swing through a 98.7 mph four-seam fastball for his fourth stirkeout of the game. With the strikeout, deGrom became the fastest to 1,800 career strikeouts in games (240) and innings pitched (1,493 1/3). The 37-year-old right-hander beat the marks of two left-handers. Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson needed 243 games to record 1,800 strikeouts. It took the Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale 1,498 innings. DeGrom, who entered the game with a 10-3 record and 2.55 ERA, worked five innings and finished with five strikeouts and three walks. He allowed four hits, including three home runs, and five earned runs. It was the first time deGrom allowed three homers in a game since Sept. 30, 2022, against the Braves, while a member of the New York Mets. DeGrom, a five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers before the 2023 season. He was limited to nine starts over his first two seasons due to injury. ADVERTISEMENT Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Texas Rangers share
Newsweek
38 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Braves Urged To Steal All-Star Pitcher From Hated Rival In Free Agency
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Atlanta Braves are one of the worst teams in the league this season, but injuries have played a big part in this poor play. Atlanta is going to need to make some big moves in the offseason. The Braves could be active in the trade market if the right names become available, but they could also be very active in free agency. FanSided's Christopher Kline recently suggested the Braves could steal Philadelphia Phillies reliever Matt Strahm in free agency at the end of the season. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 02: Matt Strahm #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park on August 02, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 02: Matt Strahm #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park on August 02, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."The ideal would be signing Strahm to a relatively short-term contract that gives the Braves a lefty alternative to Iglesias," Kline wrote. "Strahm's production has waned compared to last season's All-Star heights, but he still has a 2.98 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 49 strikeouts in 42.1 innings of work. He would be far and away the best bullpen arm on the Braves roster right now. "Other big relievers will be available this winter — Ryan Helsley, Andrés Muñoz and Devin Williams among them, not to mention Atlanta's own closer in Iglesias — but Strahm checks the right boxes in terms of affordability, durability and, well, ability. Plucking him away from a division rival in the Philadelphia Phillies is the cherry on top." Strahm would give the Braves a very consistent lefty in the bullpen, and it wouldn't break the bank. The southpaw has been great with the Phillies for the last three years, including a very impressive 2024 campaign. The cherry on top would be stealing the talented veteran from the rival Phillies. Any time the Braves can make an addition that also hurts a rival, they're making a good move. As long as Strahm isn't asking for closer money in free agency, this is the move the Braves need to pursue. More MLB: Aaron Boone Gives Hilarious Two-Word Response To Yankees' Gut-Wrenching Loss
CBS News
38 minutes ago
- CBS News
Detroit Lions' Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen looking for better results in battle for backup QB
Hendon Hooker provided a blunt assessment of his first preseason performance. "A zero out of 10," the Detroit Lions quarterback said. "It wasn't to my standards, it wasn't to the team's standards of just being productive and controlling the huddle and making plays." Hooker and Kyle Allen, who are competing for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind starting quarterback Jared Goff, are both looking for vast improvement in the offense's performance when the Lions play at Atlanta on Friday. Detroit committed five turnovers and generated just 197 yards in a 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday. Allen, who started the game, was 9 of 14 for 91 yards but was intercepted twice. Hooker was 3 of 6 for 18 yards and was picked off once. They'll switch roles on Friday with Hooker playing the first half and Allen taking over after halftime. Durability hasn't been an issue for Goff since he was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. He hasn't missed a game the past three seasons. If that streak ends this season, the Lions will need to have a reliable option. They're looking for either Hooker or Allen to establish themselves as the clear backup. "I can tell you both of those guys are, it goes without saying, they're frustrated with the way that went and they both want to improve and get better," coach Dan Campbell said. "And they will." Hooker was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft despite a knee injury suffered late in his college career that turned his rookie season essentially into a redshirt year. Hooker had 58 touchdown passes and five interceptions in two seasons at Tennessee. The 27-year-old Hendon also spent three seasons with Virginia Tech. Hooker made three brief appearances last season, going 6 of 9 for 62 yards. This preseason is pivotal to show he was worthy of his draft status. "Very key. Every play is important," he said. "So just taking advantage of every play, every throw, every decision and just putting my best foot forward every time." Allen, 29, has bounced around the league since making Carolina's roster as an undrafted free agent in 2018. The Lions are the sixth organization he's suited up for and fifth in the past five seasons. He appeared in one game with Pittsburgh last season. Allen has made 19 starts, including 12 of 13 appearances during the 2019 season with the Panthers when he passed for 3,322 yards with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was sacked 46 times. The Lions signed him to a one-year, $1.27 million contract with a $100,000 signing bonus in March. The second half against the Falcons gives Allen another extended opportunity to secure his spot on the depth chart. "Obviously (looking to) correct the interceptions and the mistakes, play a little cleaner football," he said after Sunday morning's practice. "Just keep executing the offense, getting more comfortable in it and take it play by play." Hendon has similar goals on Friday. "We've just got to come out and execute," he said. "Point back, period. No excuses and leave it at that."
