Tigers add Nick Raquet with an eye toward depth in 2028

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a two-year minor league contract with left-hander Nick Raquet, according to Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston. Raquet recently underwent Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2027 season, putting any potential contribution to Detroit’s pitching staff on hold until 2028.

That timeline makes this signing a little difficult to get excited about beyond its potential to provide future depth. Adding another left-hander to the organization is understandable, but Raquet will spend next season recovering rather than providing innings for Toledo or giving the Tigers an option when a bullpen need develops.

Raquet, 30, made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2025 and pitched two scoreless innings across two appearances. He appeared in four games for Baltimore this season, allowing three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Six major league appearances provide little basis for determining whether he can eventually handle a regular bullpen role.

There is more to evaluate in his recent minor league work. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Raquet posted a 3.68 ERA over 44 innings between the Cardinals’ and Orioles’ Triple-A affiliates in 2026, with a 26.9% strikeout rate and a 7% walk rate. Those numbers offer a reasonable explanation for taking a chance on him, particularly the combination of strikeouts and limited walks.

His approach also comes with some limitations. MLB Trade Rumors described Raquet as a pitcher who rarely reaches 90 mph and relies heavily on a slider, along with a sinker. His potential value rests on how effectively those pitches work together, and the Tigers will have to wait to see what that combination looks like following rehabilitation. He also left baseball for a few seasons to be an accountant. 

From Detroit’s perspective, the likely reasoning is straightforward: Bring him into the organization, oversee his recovery and see whether he can become useful left-handed depth in the second year of the contract. That is a reasonable interpretation of the deal, although it does not establish what role the Tigers ultimately envision for him.

The uncertainty is what keeps expectations modest. Even if his recovery goes well, Raquet will still need to demonstrate that he can sustain his recent minor league success and earn opportunities against major league hitters. Simply returning to the mound will be one step in that process.

There is nothing especially objectionable about taking this chance on a minor league deal, but there is also little reason to view it as a meaningful answer to Detroit’s pitching needs. For now, the Tigers have added a possible depth option for 2028, with both his health and his eventual role still to be determined.