DETROIT (AP) — Former Seattle Mariners closer Paul Sewald became a free agent Thursday after the Detroit Tigers declined his 2026 option.
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Detroit also declined the option on pitchers José Urquidy and Randy Dobnak, the latter of whom made his only major league appearance this year on March 30 for Minnesota and was obtained from the Twins in late July.
Sewald gets a $1 million buyout as part of a $7 million, one-year deal instead of the $10 million called for in his mutual option.
Acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, the 35-year-old right-hander had a 4.58 ERA in 22 relief appearances. He didn’t pitch between July 11 and Sept. 19 because of a strained right shoulder.
Sewald appeared in 172 games for the Mariners from 2021-23. The veteran reliever had an 18-8 record with a 2.88 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 52 saves while pitching 171 2/3 innings. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2023 trade deadline.
Detroit declined a $4 million club option on Urquidy, who returned Sept. 14 from Tommy John surgery in the first of two big league appearances. The 30-year-old right-hander could have earned $3 million in performance bonuses for games started as a pitcher.
Dobnak, 30, agreed in 2021 to a $9.25 million, five-year contract that included a $6 million team option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout.
He is 9-12 with a 4.86 ERA in 21 starts and 18 relief appearances over five major league seasons.
In addition, the Tigers claimed right-hander Jack Little off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Seattle Sports staff made additions to this story.
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