Fulmer felt the injury following yesterdays trip against the Astros, which saw the righty enable three runs on 2 homers over an inning of work.
While the concern doesnt sound excessively major, it does represent a minimum of 10 less days for opposing scouts and front workplaces to gauge Fulmers worth as a trade candidate. The 2016 AL Rookie Of The Year has reinvented himself as a reliever coming off Tommy John surgery in 2019 and some hard outcomes as a starter in 2020, and Fulmer has a 3.62 ERA, 29.66% strikeout rate, and 5.08% walk rate in 27 1/3 innings out of the bullpen this season. He has actually likewise shown some quality in high-leverage situations, acquiring six saves as part of Detroits closer committee.
With Fulmer still under control through one final arbitration year in 2022, he makes for an intriguing trade chip for the Tigers to go shopping prior to July 30, presuming that he is able to return from the IL in great condition. A resourceful group could obtain Fulmer as bullpen assistance for this season, and then perhaps think about extending him out next spring for one last crack at beginning pitching, with a go back to the relief corps readily available as a fallback option.
The deal also develops another chance for Del Pozo, who didnt get a possibility to pitch when he was briefly called to the Tigers previously this month. Del Pozo signed a minors handle Detroit last winter, and over 13 innings with the Angels and Pirates in 2019-20, the southpaw issued 16 walks and posted a 12.46 ERA. At Triple-A Toledo this season, nevertheless, Del Pozo has a 1.02 ERA over 17 2/3 innings, with a 35.4% strikeout rate and (possibly most notably) a far more palatable 9.23% walk rate.