Tigers release former Yankees, Mets reliever ahead of Cardinals matchup

Detroit Tigers cut ties with veteran pitcher Phil Bickford and Colin Poche as they finalize their MLB bullpen roster.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:54pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a palette of navy, green, and orange, conveying the dynamic nature of roster decisions in professional baseball.As the Tigers finalize their bullpen, the team's roster moves highlight the constant flux and competition for spots on an MLB pitching staff.NYC Today

The Detroit Tigers have released veteran pitchers Phil Bickford and Colin Poche as they make final roster decisions ahead of their upcoming series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Bickford, a former New York Yankees and New York Mets reliever, signed a minor league deal with the Tigers but did not make the MLB roster after dealing with a triceps injury in spring training.

Why it matters

Roster moves like this are common as teams finalize their pitching staffs for the start of the regular season. The Tigers are looking to build a strong bullpen to support their starting rotation and compete in the AL Central division.

The details

Bickford, 30, has a career 4.62 ERA in 189 innings across five MLB seasons, making his debut in 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers. His last big league experience came in 2024 with the Yankees, but he threw just 8.1 innings before being designated for assignment. The Tigers have several middle relief options that were ahead of Bickford on their depth chart, including right-hander Drew Anderson, who returned to MLB after playing in Japan and South Korea.

  • The Tigers released Bickford and Poche on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Phil Bickford

A 30-year-old right-handed pitcher who has played for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets over his five-year MLB career.

Colin Poche

A left-handed pitcher who was also released by the Tigers as they finalized their MLB bullpen roster.

Drew Anderson

A right-handed pitcher who returned to MLB after playing in Japan and South Korea, and is now part of the Tigers' middle relief options.

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The takeaway

The Tigers are making tough roster decisions as they prepare for the start of the 2026 MLB season, cutting veteran pitchers like Bickford and Poche in favor of other relief options they feel give the team a better chance to compete in the AL Central.