Cleveland Guardians reliever Paul Sewald throws during a game against the Detroit Tigers on July 5 at Progressive Field. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Former Seattle Mariners Closer Traded to American League Contenders

Originally posted on Seattle Mariners on SI
By Teren Kowatsch | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 4:45 PM ET

The Seattle Mariners are in the middle of one of the best trade deadlines in franchise history. They acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates and All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Those moves came a little less than a week after the team acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from Arizona on July 24.

A former Mariners closer is also on the move.

Former Seattle reliever Paul Sewald was traded by the Cleveland Guardians to the Detroit Tigers in return for cash considerations or a player to be named later Thursday, per Detroit News reporter Chris McCosky.

Official:

The Tigers have acquired RHP Paul Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians for a player to be named or cash consideration.

To make room for Sewald on the 40-man roster, RHP Matt Manning has been designated for assignment.
— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) July 31, 2025

Sewald pitched for the Mariners for the better part of three seasons from 2021-23. The team traded him to Arizona on July 31, 2023, in return for current Chicago White Sox infielder Josh Rojas and current Seattle big leaguers Ryan Bliss and Dominic Canzone.

Sewald had a 2.88 ERA with 236 strikeouts across 171.2 innings pitched in 172 appearances with the M's. Sewald had 51 saves, including 40 in his last two seasons with the Mariners.

Paul Sewald is ⚡️

The @Mariners take the series against the Astros! pic.twitter.com/9mlsRhCtsA
— ROOT SPORTS™ | NW (@ROOTSPORTS_NW) September 1, 2021

Sewald became a free agent after the 2024 season and signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Guardians with a mutual option for 2026. He's posted a 4.70 ERA this season with 18 strikeouts in 15.1 innings pitched across 18 appearances.

Sewald has dealt with injuries since being traded by Seattle. He's had four respective injured list stints over the last three seasons: a left oblique strain, left neck discomfort and two right shoulder strains.

He's expected back in September. The Tigers lead the American League Central.

This article first appeared on Seattle Mariners on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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