The Detroit Tigers have signed right-handed reliever Scott Effross to a minor league contract, according to his MLB.com profile page. This move comes as Effross looks to bounce back from a series of injuries that have plagued his career in recent years. But here's where it gets controversial: despite his struggles, Effross was projected for an $800K salary in his first year of arbitration eligibility, which led to the Yankees non-tendering him in November. Now, he's aiming to prove himself in Detroit's bullpen.
Effross, a 32-year-old sidearmer, has had a challenging few seasons due to injuries. A Tommy John surgery in 2023 wiped out his season, and a back surgery during his rehab kept him out until June 2024. He managed to pitch only 35 1/3 minor league innings that season and 3 1/3 MLB frames with the Yankees. During Spring Training 2025, he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain, adding three more months to his recovery. These injuries have undoubtedly impacted his performance, with Effross amassing only 10 2/3 innings for New York while being frequently shuffled between the minors and majors.
Before these injuries, Effross was establishing himself as a valuable bullpen arm in his first two Major League seasons. He debuted in 2021 with the Cubs, posting a 2.78 ERA, 27.9% strikeout rate, 5.6% walk rate, and 45.1% grounder rate over 71 1/3 combined innings with the Cubs and Yankees during the 2021-22 seasons. The Yankees were impressed enough to acquire him in a one-for-one swap for Hayden Wesneski at the 2022 deadline, which turned out to be a beneficial trade for the Cubs.
However, Effross' few cups of coffee in the majors over the last two seasons have yielded only a 7.71 ERA and a 12.3% strikeout rate across 14 innings. His strikeout rate has diminished, albeit not significantly, during his minor league work in 2024-25, and Effross struggled to a 6.37 ERA in 29 2/3 frames with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year.
Despite these recent struggles, Effross remains a minor league option with two more arb-eligible years if he can make the roster and recapture some of his early-career form. The question remains: can he bounce back and secure a spot in Detroit's bullpen? It's a fascinating situation that will be closely watched by baseball fans and analysts alike. What do you think? Will Effross be able to reclaim his former glory? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
