Tigers sign former Pirates reliever to minor league contract

The Tigers have signed Tanner Rainey to a minor league deal, according to the right-hander’s MLB.com profile page.  Rainey has been assigned to Triple-A Toledo to act as a depth arm in the organization’s bullpen mix.

Initially signed to a minors deal by the Pirates during the offseason, Rainey posted a 10.57 ERA over 7 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh at the MLB level.  The Pirates first selected Rainey to their active roster in early May, then designated him for assignment in early June.  Rainey cleared waivers, elected free agency rather than an outright assignment, then quickly re-signed with the Bucs on a fresh minor league contract.

Best known for his six-year run with the Nationals, Rainey posted generally solid numbers in Washington, highlighted by his contributions to the 2019 World Series championship team.  Rainey had a 3.30 ERA over 30 innings as recently as the 2022 season, but after a Tommy John surgery cost him virtually all of the 2023 campaign, Rainey hasn’t looked the same.

The righty has a 5.52 ERA across 58 2/3 innings since the start of the 2024 season, as well as an unimpressive 19.8% strikeout rate and 13.1% walk rate.  Control has been an issue for Rainey even in the better times of his eight-year MLB career, though he had been able to balance out his walks with plenty of strikeouts in the past.  Rainey averaged 97.1mph on his fastball prior to his TJ surgery, but that has dropped to 94.1mph post-surgery.

At Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Rainey’s walk rate is still on the high side at 12.6%, but he has a 28.4% strikeout rate and a 3.18 ERA over 17 innings and 17 appearances.  That is some evidence that the 32-year-old still has some of his old form left, and the Tigers can now gauge for themselves if Rainey can translate his Triple-A numbers into some renewed success in the majors.  Detroit’s bullpen has been shaky in recent weeks, and while the team is likely to target some more prominent relievers at the deadline, there’s no risk in taking a flier on Rainey on a minor league commitment.