The Tigers are quietly reshaping their bullpen depth this offseason, bringing back a few familiar faces and taking some calculated swings on arms with upside. Over the past few days, Detroit has signed four pitchers to minor league deals, all of whom will get a shot to compete in spring training - and potentially contribute at the major league level in 2026.
Let’s break down what each brings to the table.
Sean Guenther: A Familiar Face with Something to Prove
Of the group, lefty Sean Guenther is the only one who’s actually pitched in a Tigers uniform. Over the past two seasons, he’s logged 31 1/3 innings with a 2.30 ERA - a number that jumps off the page.
But a closer look reveals why Detroit opted to non-tender him before bringing him back on a minor league deal. Guenther hasn’t missed many bats, and his underlying metrics suggest that ERA might be a bit misleading.
Still, he’s shown flashes of being a serviceable middle reliever, and the Tigers clearly see enough value to give him another shot.
Guenther missed the final three months of the 2025 season while recovering from hip surgery. The team used the non-tender deadline as a roster management tool, freeing up a 40-man spot with the intention of re-signing him under a new deal. Now healthy, he’ll look to prove he can stick - and stay - in the bullpen mix.
Jack Little: Looking to Stick After a Brief Taste of the Bigs
Right-hander Jack Little is also back in the fold after being non-tendered. Detroit had claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh just a couple weeks before that move.
Little made his MLB debut this year with two appearances for the Dodgers, but spent the bulk of his season in Triple-A. There, he posted a 4.06 ERA over 62 innings, with a 20.2% strikeout rate - not overpowering, but serviceable.
He turns 28 in January and still has some developmental upside, particularly if he can find more swing-and-miss in his arsenal. The Tigers clearly think there’s something to work with here, and he’ll enter camp as a depth option with a shot to push for a bullpen role.
Enmanuel De Jesus: A Return from Korea with Rotation Potential
Perhaps the most intriguing addition is left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus, who’s coming back to affiliated ball after two solid years in the KBO. The 29-year-old spent a season each with the Kiwoom Heroes and KT Wiz, starting 30 games in both years and posting a combined 3.81 ERA with a 24% strikeout rate across 335 innings.
That’s a lot of innings - and a lot of consistency - in a league that’s known for testing pitchers with different styles of hitters. De Jesus brings starting experience and could be a valuable depth piece for Detroit, especially if injuries hit the rotation. He has a brief taste of MLB experience, having appeared in two games for the Marlins back in 2023, and his minor league deal reportedly includes a $1.3 million salary if he makes the big league roster.
There’s no guarantee he breaks camp with the team, but De Jesus offers a blend of durability and international experience that could make him a sneaky asset in 2026.
Cole Waites: A Power Arm Trying to Bounce Back
Rounding out the group is right-hander Cole Waites, who’ll join the Tigers as a non-roster invitee. Waites last pitched in the majors between 2022 and 2023 with the Giants, allowing seven runs over eight innings. His career has been sidetracked by elbow surgery late in the 2023 season, which cost him most of the last two years.
When healthy, Waites has shown flashes of a power arm. He owns a 4.46 ERA in 43 Triple-A appearances, and if he can regain his pre-injury form, there’s a path to relevance in Detroit’s bullpen. At 27, he’s still young enough to bounce back, and the Tigers are giving him that opportunity.
Final Thoughts
These aren’t headline-grabbing moves, but they’re the kind of smart, low-risk signings that can quietly pay off over the course of a long season. Whether it’s a lefty with recent KBO success, a reliever coming off injury, or a couple of familiar arms with something to prove, the Tigers are building out their pitching depth the right way - with options, flexibility, and a few intriguing what-ifs.
Spring training will tell us who’s ready to take the next step. But for now, Detroit’s front office is doing the work behind the scenes to make sure the bullpen cupboard stays stocked.