🚨 TIGERS SIGN FORMER YANKEES RELIEVER SCOTT EFFROSS TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL: CAN HE BOUNCE BACK? The Detroit Tigers have made a low-risk, potentially high-reward move by signing former New York Yankees right-handed relief pitcher Scott Effross to a minor league deal. This move, officially recorded in the team’s December 2025 transactions, has raised some eyebrows in the baseball world. With a career that has been marred by injuries and inconsistent performance, Effross will now look to revive his career in Detroit, where the Tigers are hoping they might just be getting a hidden gem.

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Effross’ Struggles with the Yankees: A Troubled Tenure

Effross, now 32, joined the Yankees in 2022 via a trade from the Chicago Cubs, but his time in New York has not been smooth sailing. In 2025, Effross posted a troubling 8.44 ERA in 11 appearances across 10.2 innings pitched. These struggles mirrored his overall time with the Yankees, where, over three seasons, Effross compiled a 5.06 ERA in 27 appearances, covering 26.2 innings. His performance has been inconsistent, and his struggles in the bullpen were further highlighted by a significant drop in effectiveness.

Effross, once seen as a promising bullpen arm, has battled numerous injuries since arriving in New York. He had been a reliable option for the Cubs before the trade, but his career trajectory took a sharp downturn after the move. The first major setback came in 2023 when he underwent Tommy John surgery just a month after joining the Yankees. Unfortunately, Effross’ road to recovery was not without complications, as he faced several setbacks in his recovery timeline.

Injury Woes: A Continuous Roadblock

The 2023 season saw Effross sidelined for the entire year, with his elbow surgery preventing him from contributing to the Yankees. Even when he did return in 2024, his performance continued to be lackluster. Effross was plagued with a series of injuries, including hamstring, back, and shoulder issues that further hindered his ability to regain his form. Despite brief rehab appearances, his performance didn’t show significant improvement, and his struggles continued at the major league level and in the minors.

Effross’ most recent stint with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, Scranton Wilkes-Barre, also did not go as planned. In 2025, during his rehab assignment following a hamstring injury, Effross posted a 6.37 ERA over 29.2 innings pitched. This was after missing over three months of the season due to the injury, which put a damper on any hopes of a comeback.

A New Opportunity with the Tigers: Low-Risk, High Potential

Despite the recent setbacks in his career, the Detroit Tigers are taking a low-risk gamble on Effross by offering him a minor league contract. The benefit for the Tigers is clear: the move carries no risk financially, as it’s a minor league deal, but it comes with the potential upside of Effross returning to form. The Tigers are essentially betting on Effross getting healthy and rediscovering the effectiveness he once had with the Cubs.

Effross doesn’t throw particularly hard, with his average fastball velocity sitting at around 89 mph in 2025, according to Baseball Savant. However, despite his struggles with the Yankees, Effross still possesses intriguing underlying metrics. His three-quarter arm slot has allowed him to generate weak contact in the past, and his ability to induce ground balls has always been a key strength. With a pitch arsenal consisting of a four-seam fastball, sinker, sweeper, and change-up, Effross fits the profile of a ground-ball type of pitcher, which could be beneficial in a pitcher-friendly park like Comerica Park.

A Pitcher-Friendly Environment: Could Comerica Be the Perfect Fit?

Comerica Park, the Tigers’ home stadium, has always been known as a pitcher-friendly environment, which could bode well for Effross’ skill set. If the right-handed reliever can stay healthy and return to his Cubs form, Detroit might have found a diamond in the rough. Effross’ ability to generate weak contact and induce ground balls would play well in Comerica, where pitching tends to thrive in the spacious ballpark.

The Tigers, who have struggled to find consistency in their bullpen in recent years, may see this as a potential opportunity to add depth and talent to their pitching staff. Effross will need to prove himself in Spring Training before he can make the Tigers’ major league roster, but the potential rewards for the team are certainly enticing. If Effross can stay healthy and rediscover his 2021-2022 form, the Tigers could have an effective arm in their bullpen at a minimal cost.

No Harm, No Foul: A Solid Depth Move for the Tigers

From the Tigers’ perspective, the signing of Scott Effross is a no-lose situation. With the team looking to add depth to their bullpen and improve their pitching staff, Effross could prove to be a valuable asset—if he can stay healthy and regain his past form. The minor league contract gives the Tigers plenty of room to evaluate Effross without any financial risk. At worst, he could serve as a depth piece for the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate, but if he bounces back, he could make a significant contribution to the major league team in 2026.

This type of signing is exactly the kind of move a rebuilding team like the Tigers should be making: low-risk, with the potential for a high reward. Even if Effross doesn’t pan out in Detroit, the Tigers are not committed to a large financial investment, and the move could ultimately serve as a test to see if Effross can overcome his injury issues and get back to being the pitcher he was with the Cubs.

Spring Training: A Crucial Test for Effross’ Future

As with any minor league signing, Effross’ fate will largely depend on his performance in Spring Training. The Tigers will have a chance to assess his health, performance, and ability to regain his form before making any decisions about his future with the major league team. If Effross shows signs of being the pitcher he once was with the Cubs, he could find a spot in the Tigers’ bullpen. However, if he struggles or fails to stay healthy, the Tigers will likely part ways, having only invested minimal resources into the move.

Ultimately, the signing of Scott Effross by the Detroit Tigers is a solid depth move that carries little downside. The Tigers will be watching closely to see if Effross can stay healthy and rediscover his form. If he does, they could have a valuable bullpen piece for the 2026 season. If not, the team has little to lose. Either way, the Tigers have done well to take a flier on a player with potential upside at virtually no risk.

Conclusion: A Minor League Deal with Major Potential

The Detroit Tigers’ decision to sign Scott Effross to a minor league deal is a smart, low-risk move that could yield significant rewards if the pitcher can regain his former form. While Effross has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performance in recent years, his past success with the Chicago Cubs gives reason for optimism. If he can stay healthy and regain his ground-ball generating abilities, Effross could become a valuable contributor to the Tigers’ bullpen in 2026. For now, the Tigers will give Effross the chance to prove himself in Spring Training, with little to lose and potentially a lot to gain.