The Tigers declined Sewald's $10 million mutual option for 2026 on Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald exercised his part of the option, but the Tigers declined their side and will pay the reliever a $1 million buyout instead. The 35-year-old Sewald was limited to only 19.2 regular-season innings in 2025 due to a shoulder issue, posting a 4.58 ERA and 20:6 K:BB between the Guardians and Tigers. He finished the season healthy, but Sewald didn't pitch during the wild-card series versus the Guardians and was not included on the Tigers' ALDS roster.

The Tigers activated Sewald (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald was recovering from a right shoulder strain when the Tigers acquired him from the Guardians at the trade deadline, but he's made his way onto the active roster following five rehab appearances. The veteran reliever will likely be used in low-leverage spots initially but could find himself working in key situations if he looks sharp.

Sewald (shoulder), who has logged two scoreless innings in a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan, could return from the injured list as soon as Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald has yet to pitch for Detroit after getting acquired in a trade before the deadline. The 33-year-old righty last saw the mound on July 11 when he was with Cleveland, and he posted a 4.70 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 15.1 innings for the Guardians before going down with a right shoulder strain. The Tigers are hoping Sewald can provide some veteran bullpen depth for the stretch run, though he's unlikely to see save chances ahead of Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan (groin) once he's healthy.

Sewald (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan on Thursday, Emily Waldon of Baseball America reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald landed on the injured list in mid-July and has been throwing for around a month. Due to his long layoff, he may need to make several rehab appearances before being activated.

Sewald (shoulder) threw live batting practice Monday at the Tigers' facility in Florida, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald will likely face hitters on one or two more occasions before the Tigers send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Acquired from the Guardians on July 31, Sewald has yet to make his Tigers debut while recovering from a moderate teres major strain that he sustained prior to the trade. He's eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Sept. 10 and could be activated shortly after that date.

Sewald (shoulder) threw his second bullpen session Tuesday since resuming his throwing program earlier this month, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald threw all fastballs in his first side session over the weekend, but he may have been able to incorporate some breaking pitches into Tuesday's workout. The right-hander is expected to complete at least a couple more bullpen sessions before he advances to facing hitters, and eventually, returns from the 60-day injured list in September. Sewald has yet to make his Tigers debut after he was initially placed on the Guardians' IL on July 15 due to a right shoulder strain before being traded to Detroit just over two weeks later.

Sewald (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

It appears to be the first time Sewald has thrown off a mound since he was diagnosed with a moderate teres major strain in mid-July. The veteran reliever is eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list Sept. 10 and hopes to join the Tigers' bullpen for the stretch run.

Sewald (shoulder) said he "felt great" after a recent throwing session and is optimistic that he can play a key role for the Tigers toward the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald, who was transferred to the 60-day injured list after coming over from the Guardians in a July 31 trade, is ineligible to return until Sept. 10. While that doesn't give the veteran righty a lot of time to impact fantasy squads, he might help the Tigers in real life once he fully recovers from his moderate teres major strain. With Tommy Kahnle struggling recently, the team could use another battle-tested bullpen option, and Sewald has World Series experience from his time with the Diamondbacks in 2023.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Sewald (shoulder) was scheduled to play light catch on the field Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Sewald will be built back up slowly after he was diagnosed with a moderate teres major strain in mid-July. The Tigers acquired him via trade last and immediately shifted him to the 60-day injured list, which makes Sewald ineligible to return until Sept. 10.

The Tigers transferred Sewald (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Acquired earlier in the day in a trade with the Guardians, Sewald is now shifting off the 40-man roster to make room for another reliever, Kyle Finnegan. Sewald is working his way back from a moderate teres major strain and now isn't eligible for activation until Sept. 10.