Mariners sign former Tigers pitcher to minor-league deal
Published 9:30 am Friday, August 22, 2025
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer has joined his fourth team of 2025.
Fulmer signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners this week after being given his release from the Kansas City Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in Omaha.
Fulmer, 32, appeared in his first game for Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
It’s been 10 years since Fulmer came to the Tigers from the New York Mets, along with pitcher Luis Cessa, in the trade for outfielder Yoenis Céspedes.
He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2016 and remained a steady and reliable starter in 2017 and 2018 before injuries took their toll.
After his first Tommy John surgery forced him to miss all of 2019 and limited his work in 2020, he successfully transitioned to the bullpen in 2021.
He went 3-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 39 1/3 innings for the Tigers in 2022 before being traded to the Minnesota Twins at the deadline for Sawyer Gipson-Long.
Fulmer signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Chicago Cubs prior to the 2023 season. He pitched 57 innings out of the pen but underwent another TJ immediately after the season.
He then signed with the Boston Red Sox and spent more than a year in the organization, mostly rehabbing. He ultimately appeared in just one game for Boston, allowing three runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings, before being designated for assignment in April.
He rejoined the Cubs on a minor-league deal and pitched well at Triple-A Iowa before being promoted to pitch in a couple of big-league games in June. He signed with Kansas City after being DFA’d by the Cubs.
