Aníbal Sánchez

Detroit Tigers Reportedly Sign Edward Mujica to Minors Deal

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:38 p.m. ET

Fansided, Ben Rosener/FanSided via Motor City Bengals

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila reportedly added more depth on Thursday. According to the latest report, the team signed Edward Mujica to a minor league deal.

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t seen the best bullpen units in the past.

While last season’s relief corps showed considerable improvement, the group was far from a finished product.

So far this offseason, general manager Al Avila has brought in added minor league depth to supplement the bullpen ahead of next season. Avila reportedly added another name to the bullpen mix on Thursday morning.

According to a tweet from FanRag Sports’ Tommy Stokke, reliever Edward Mujica has joined Detroit on a minors deal. Stokke tweeted, “Edward Mujica has a minor league deal with the @tigers. Gets big league invite to spring training, per source.”

While Mujica didn’t pitch in the Majors last season, he comes with 10 years of big league experience.

Overall, the reliever owns a 3.85 ERA, a 3.88 FIP and a 3.34 SIERA across 546.2 career Major League innings.

His best stretch came from 2009 to 2014. The right-hander logged a 3.40 ERA and a 3.71 FIP while striking out 7.3 batters per nine innings in 429.1 frames.

During his career, Mujica has worn the uniforms of Cleveland, the Padres, the Cardinals, the Red Sox and Athletics. His best singular season was perhaps in 2013 when the reliever served as St. Louis’ closer.

The veteran made the All-Star game that season en route to notching 37 saves and a career-low 2.78 ERA in 64.2 innings of work.

After a 2015 campaign that saw Mujica turn in a 4.75 ERA in 47.1 innings with Boston and Oakland, the former Cardinal split time with three different minor league teams last season.

In 57.2 innings for the Triple-A affiliates for the Phillies, Royals and Twins, the 32-year-old pitched to a 4.37 ERA.

However, his ERA was partly high due to a rough stint with Kansas City’s team in Omaha. In just 12 innings for the Royals’ top minor league club, Mujica was tagged for 11 earned runs.

Feb 21, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bruce Rondon (43) and teammates pitch in the bullpen at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Otherwise, the relief pitcher turned in ERA numbers of 3.69 and 1.35 in stints with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Triple-A Rochester respectively.

Potential Role with the Detroit Tigers

Detroit has plenty of right-handed relief options, but teams can never have too much depth. As it stands, Shane Greene, Alex Wilson and Bruce Rondon represent the Tigers best right-handed setup options.

Elsewhere, Mark Lowe and Buck Farmer are two other incumbent relief selections.

What’s more, the likes of Myles Jaye, Mike Pelfrey, A.J. Achter, Victor Alcantara, Anibal Sanchez, Warwick Saupold and Drew VerHagen also provide potential options where right-handed relievers are concerned.