On Thursday, the Detroit Tigers are wrapping up their series with the Seattle Mariners.
It’s a rubber match between the two AL playoff hopefuls, and the series finale is currently taking place as this is being typed (It’s 4-0 Tigers in the fourth inning).
During the Mariners series, the Tigers have been active with a few notable signings. On Wednesday, Detroit signed Austin Gomber to a minors pact, and Today (8/6), the Tigers have announced they’ve inked 5-year player Seby Zavala to a minor-league deal to add catching depth.
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Detroit Tigers Ink Seby Zavala to Minors Deal
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 28: Seby Zavala #44 of the Chicago White Sox at bat against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 28, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Seby Zavala belongs to the Detroit Tigers organization as of Thursday.
“Detroit Tigers signed free agent C Seby Zavala to a minor league contract.”
Zavala, 32, has not played in MLB since 2024, and ironically, the last team he did play for was the Seattle Mariners. He’s been all over the place this season, but the most recent MLB organization he was a part of was the Los Angeles Dodgers, who released him in early June.
NBCSports.com’s David Shovein wrote (about the Zavala signing):
“The 32-year-old backstop was cut loose by the Dodgers after appearing in just 16 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City where he slashed an underwhelming .196/.323/.353 with a pair of homers and eight RBI in 62 plate appearances. He’ll add extra catching depth for the Tigers at Triple-A Toledo.”
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Looking at Seby Zavala’s MLB Career
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 28: Seby Zavala #44 of the Chicago White Sox at bat against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 28, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Seby Zavala has played in parts of five MLB seasons with three different teams.
His last stint (with the Mariners) didn’t go great. He batted .154 across 39 total at-bats with Seattle in 2024.
All in all, Zavala holds a lifetime batting average of .205 over 497 ABs with 15 home runs, 23 doubles, and an OPS+ of 70.
He had a randomly good season in 2022 with the White Sox when he batted .270 across 178 at-bats and posted an OPS+ of 108, but he has been unable to recreate that success and has steadily been a sub-.200 hitter since that brief period of success.
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