Ex-Seattle Mariners Reliever Paul Sewald Becomes Free Agent
Former Seattle Mariners closer Paul Sewald became a free agent on Thursday after the Detroit Tigers declined his 2026 option.
Detroit Tigers Decisions on Pitchers
- Detroit also declined options on pitchers José Urquidy and Randy Dobnak.
- Dobnak made his only major league appearance this year on March 30 for Minnesota and was acquired by Detroit from the Twins in late July.
Details of Paul Sewald's Contract and Performance
Sewald received a $1 million buyout as part of a $7 million, one-year deal instead of the $10 million mutual option.
The 35-year-old right-hander was acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline and posted a 4.58 ERA in 22 relief appearances.
He missed pitching between July 11 and September 19 due to a strained right shoulder.
Career Highlights with Mariners
Sewald appeared in 172 games for the Mariners from 2021 to 2023.
- Compiled an 18-8 record with a 2.88 ERA and 0.93 WHIP.
- Saved 52 games while pitching 171⅔ innings.
He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2023 trade deadline.
Additional Note on José Urquidy
Detroit declined a $4 million club option on Urquidy, who returned on September 14 from Tommy John surgery and made two appearances in the big leagues.
Paul Sewald of the Detroit Tigers throws a football prior to a 2025 playoff game in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Summary: Paul Sewald enters free agency after Detroit declined his option, concluding a career marked by solid relief pitching and resilience following injury setbacks.