The wheels seem to be falling off for the Detroit Tigers, who have lost four straight games and are in jeopardy of being swept by the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon.
In a piece of adjacent Tigers news, former All-Star pitcher and AL Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer has been cut by another MLB team.
Los Angeles Angels Cut Ties with Michael Fulmer
GettyANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 16: Michael Fulmer #49 of the Los Angeles Angels throws a pitch in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 16, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
In their recent wave of transaction news, the Los Angeles Angels are cutting loose pitcher Michael Fulmer via a DFA.
In all likelihood, Fulmer will be outrighted to the minors, and MLBTR.com’s AJ Eustace indicates what could happen next:
“He has over five years of service time and can elect free agency in lieu of an outright assignment if he clears waivers, keeping any guaranteed money in the process.”
So, it’s likely that Fulmer will reject that assignment and attempt to land another minor league deal with another club ahead of September.
The corresponding move for the Angels was activating Yusei Kikuchi.
Michael Fulmer spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Detroit Tigers in what was a very promising start, but injuries have piled up since. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2016 and then was named an All-Star with the Tigers in 2017.
Across 89 starts and 178 total appearances with the Tigers, he posted an ERA of 3.90 over 592.2 IP.
Looking at Michael Fulmer’s MLB Career
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 30: Michael Fulmer #32 and Yan Gomes #15 of the Chicago Cubs celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 at Wrigley Field on March 30, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
After being let go by the Tigers in 2022, Fulmer has bounced around the league, and him being cut by the Angels isn’t the first time he enters DFA limbo this season.
All in all, over nine total years in MLB, Fulmer has logged 683+ innings and carries an ERA of 3.92 in the process, with 582 strikeouts.
He’s also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox.
After posting 130+ innings in each of his first three MLB seasons, Fulmer has failed to even get close to logging 100 innings in a season since.
Detroit Tigers Former All-Star Cut Again by New MLB Team