Connor Seabold signs 1-year contract, makes Tigers' Opening Day roster
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The Detroit Tigers have added to their bullpen in the big leagues.
The Tigers signed right-handed reliever Connor Seabold on Monday, March 23, to a one-year, $800,000 contract – just three days before Thursday's Opening Day against the San Diego Padres .
Manager A.J. Hinch has already informed Seabold that he made the Opening Day roster.
"We're happy to add him," Hinch said before Monday's exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies . "There are always a few moving parts, and we really like the adjustment that he made throughout the winter and into this spring, with both his stuff and the way his pitches are interacting. As his stuff improved, he got a ton of swing-and-miss this spring."
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The Tigers placed right-handed reliever Beau Brieske on the 60-day injured list with a left adductor strain, opening a spot for Seabold on the 40-man roster. Because Seabold doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, the Tigers had to either put him on the Opening Day roster or expose him to waivers.
As for Brieske, he won't be eligible to pitch for the Tigers until May 25.
The Tigers' 40-man roster is at 40 players.
Seabold joined the Tigers after being released by the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of spring training upon exercising an opt-out clause in his contract. The 30-year-old posted a 6.75 ERA with four walks and 13 strikeouts over 6⅔ innings in six appearances in the Grapefruit League.
His fastball stands out as his best pitch.
This spring, his fastball averaged 94.1 mph and generated an elite 46.4% whiff rate with the Blue Jays.
"We like his full mix," Hinch said. "If he can maintain that, that's clearly a way for him to be more and more impactful in our bullpen."
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In his MLB career, Seabold owns a 7.79 ERA with 44 walks and 96 strikeouts across 119 innings in 40 games (19 starts). He has played for the Boston Red Sox (2021-22), Colorado Rockies (2023), Tampa Bay Rays (2025) and Atlanta Braves (2025).
Seabold split the 2025 season between the Rays and Braves, posting a 4.35 ERA over 10⅔ innings in seven appearances. At the Triple-A level, he recorded a 6.07 ERA with 29 walks and 64 strikeouts in 69⅔ innings across 22 games (10 starts).
He featured a four-pitch mix with the Rays and Braves: four-seam fastball, changeup, cutter and slider. His fastball averaged 92.4 mph and held opponents to a .176 batting average, while his secondary pitches were hit for contact and power.
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Seabold spent the 2024 season in South Korea with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League, working as a starter and delivering a 3.43 ERA with 158 strikeouts and 40 walks over 160 innings in 28 starts.
The Philadelphia Phillies selected Seabold in the third round of the 2017 draft out of Cal State Fullerton.
"He is built up to multiple innings," Hinch said, discussing Seabold's role. "He's done everything in his career, so somewhere in the middle where, as I get to know him and see him, it'll be a little bit easier to see where he fits as we shape our bullpen. But the stuff is real, and what he was doing this spring, the quality of his stuff was impressive."
After adding Seabold, the Tigers still have to make a decision about left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus , who is a member of the 40-man roster with three minor-league options remaining.
De Jesus could join Triple-A Toledo as a starter or stick with the Tigers as a reliever. If he makes the Opening Day roster, right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee could be on the outside looking in.
Final roster decisions will be made within the next two days.
"This is becoming a harder team to make, which is a good problem to have as an organization," Hinch said. "There are some tough conversations coming up over the next 24, 48 hours."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign Connor Seabold in MLB free agency
