Detroit Tigers trade deadline rumors, news: Yankees trade for Tigers target David Bednar

With the 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31 trade deadline approaching, the Detroit Tigers are looking for players who can help them improve on their 64-46 record, as they sit at the fourth best record in the league, a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

They’ve certainly been busy.

“Whatever happens, happens,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after a 7-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, July 30, at Comerica Park. “We have a good team regardless. It doesn’t mean that there’s not a wish list, and you want things to go your way, but I’ve got the back of all 26 of these guys in here, so it’s a really tricky time for a manager to want more. I’m not turning my back on any of our guys that we have.”

The Tigers are not expected to buy big, but as the deadline looms, they have made a few moves, including acquiring Paul Sewald, a right-handed reliever from the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, as well as adding Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan.

Late Wednesday night, they made a deal with the Atlanta Braves for Rafael Montero.

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Here are the latest Detroit Tigers MLB rumors and updates ahead of the trade deadline.

Tigers trade target David Bednar moved by Pirates to New York Yankees

The David Bednar dream is dead for Tigers fans.

The former All-Star who had a disastrous 2024 season before a strong rebound in 2025 for the Pirates is heading to the New York Yankees.

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees are sending top catching prospect Rafael Flores and two other prospects to the Pirates for Bednar, so the price wasn’t cheap.

While the Tigers haven’t added any names as big as Bednar, they’ve been very busy, trading for six pitchers this week.

Tigers add more bullpen depth in trade with Rangers for Codi Heuer

You can never have too many relievers, right?

The Detroit Tigers continued adding to their bullpen depth Thursday when they traded for right-handed reliever Codi Heuer from the Texas Rangers, less than four hours before the MLB trade deadline. To acquire Heuer, the Tigers sent cash considerations to the Rangers.

The 29-year-old will report to Triple-A Toledo.

Heuer has a 3.43 ERA with 15 walks and 53 strikeouts over 39⅓ innings in 35 games at Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers’ organization and appeared in one MLB game this year.

He had Tommy John surgery in March 2022 and then needed another elbow surgery in July 2023.

Another closer moves: Padres get Miller from Athletics

If the Tigers are learning one thing from this trade deadline, it’s that the price for an elite closer is sky high.

The Athletics just dealt their All-Star closer Mason Miller to the Padres for four of San Diego’s top-20 prospects. And the Padres already have a closer.

Tigers trade for closer Kyle Finnegan from the St. Louis Cardinals

The Detroit Tigers have added another reliever.

The Free Press has confirmed after a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that the Tigers have agreed to a deal to acquire closer Kyle Finnegan from the Washington Nationals.

Finnegan has spent all six years of his MLB career with the Nationals. He has a 4.38 ERA this season along with 32 strikeouts in 40 games and 20 saves.

Tigers acquire injured reliever from Cleveland Guardians

Paul Sewald is injured. But the Detroit Tigers traded for him anyway.

The Tigers acquired Sewald, a right-handed reliever, from the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, July 31, in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The 35-year-old has been on the injured list since mid-July with a right shoulder strain, but the Tigers expect him to be healthy by early September.

Eugenio Suárez traded to Seattle Mariners

The Tigers’ hopes of bringing Eugenio Suárez back into the organization appear dead,

as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the Seattle Mariners have traded for the Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman.

Tigers add reliever Rafael Montero from Atlanta Braves

The Tigers have added a reliever in 34-year-old Rafael Montero. The right-hander comes from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Double-A infielder Jim Jarvis, who had a .652 OPS in 77 games with Erie.

Montero has a 5.40 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings with the Braves and Houston Astros this season. He hasn’t been particularly effective since his 2022 season with the Astros. That year, he posted a 2.37 ERA in nearly 70 innings during the regular season, then had 10 strikeouts in 9 1/3 postseason innings.

Montero’s chase rate of 32.2% ranks in the 89th percentile among relievers this season, while his whiff rate (28.9%) ranks in the 76th percentile.

When is the MLB trade deadline?

The deadline is set for Thursday, July 31, at 6 p.m.

Matthew Auchincloss contributed.

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