The Tigers have re-signed right-hander Tanner Rainey to a minor league contract, according to Rainey’s MLB.com profile page. Rainey returns to Motown a week after he was designated for assignment, and then cut loose at the non-tender deadline.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected that Rainey would earn $1.6MM in arbitration, so the non-tender allowed the Tigers to save some money and still bring the righty back on a non-guaranteed deal. The terms of Rainey’s minor league pact aren’t known, but if he is selected to Detroit’s active roster, his guaranteed salary will probably clock in south of that $1.6MM estimate.
The 2025 season was a rough one for Rainey, who posted an 11.17 ERA over 9 2/3 innings and 13 appearances for the Pirates and Tigers. Signed to a minor league deal by Pittsburgh last winter, his stint with the Bucs ended up being two stints, as he re-signed with the team again in June after he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. The Pirates released Rainey entirely in July, and he caught on with the Tigers shortly thereafter and spent much of his time at Triple-A Toledo, save for two games in the bigs.
Rainey (who turns 33 on Christmas Day) is a veteran of eight MLB seasons, and was a solid member of the Nationals’ bullpen earlier in his career. Control problems plagued Rainey even in his better years, and his production has gone totally south since he missed almost all of the 2023 season recovering from a Tommy John surgery. His 2024 season saw him post a 4.76 ERA, an uncharacteristically low 19% strikeout rate, and an ungainly 12.6% walk rate across 51 relief innings for Washington, and he showed even less during his brief time in the Show in 2025.
The right-hander’s Triple-A numbers provide some hope for optimism, as Rainey had a 2.88 ERA and 32% strikeout rate over 40 2/3 innings for the Tigers’ and Pirates’ top affiliates in 2025. Those numbers did come alongside an outsized 13.6% walk rate, but Detroit clearly saw enough in Rainey’s performance to warrant a new contract. There’s no risk for the Tigers in bringing Rainey to camp and letting him compete for a bullpen job, and he could end up being a hidden gem if he can recapture any of his pre-surgery form.
So now sign Foley!
No thanks. Not with that bum shoulder.
“It’s Rainey again… oh will my heart ever mend…”
“It’s only time that heals the pain
And makes the sun come out again.”
Hallelujah, it’s Rainey again..
Confucius say man who throw hard never unemployed for long.
Hot stove is on FIRE!!!
Tigers wading into the deep end of the pool here with this signing!!! Yoo Hoo!!!!
Next!! The Tigers resign Cobb. 🙁
It’s called a minor league deal.
Stunning!
Come on Birds! Get err done. Sign all three I know you got it in ya! Way deep deep down where the crawdads sing.
Ummmh, that’s not how you spell Kyle Finnegan, or Devin Williams, or Ryan Hekseley….
Finnegan yes, Williams & Helsley no
33 yo reliever with a 13.5 ERA.
Another way for Scott Harris to earn his genius I guess. Getting tired of it.
I’m long past tired of his act.
Rafael Montero 2.0
Should have hired the Superfife.
Could of had a V-8.
Would of been different for everybody.
Rainey days and Mondays….