In a move that’s raising eyebrows across the baseball world, the Detroit Tigers have inked veteran reliever Colin Poche to a minor league deal—but there’s a catch. By Anthony Franco | February 25, 2026, 7:26 PM CDT
The Tigers are bringing aboard left-hander Colin Poche, a name that’s no stranger to the big leagues, though his recent journey has been anything but smooth. First reported by Driveline Baseball, the deal keeps Poche in the minors, with Chris McCosky of The Detroit News confirming he won’t even get a sniff of big league camp this spring. And this is the part most people miss: Poche’s struggles aren’t just a blip—they’re a pattern that’s left many wondering if he can bounce back.
Let’s rewind to last season. Poche made 13 appearances with the Nationals and a brief one-game stint with the Mets in June. The numbers? Grim. Opponents lit him up for 14 runs (13 earned) on just 9 1/3 innings, thanks to 12 hits and a staggering 14 walks. His time in the Mets’ Triple-A system wasn’t much better, leading to his release in August. But here’s where it gets controversial: After a rough offseason in the Puerto Rican Winter League—where he gave up six runs in 6 2/3 innings—Poche’s command issues seem far from resolved. For a pitcher who once thrived with a 3.63 ERA and a manageable 9.2% walk rate over 208 1/3 MLB innings with the Rays (2019-24), this sudden decline is puzzling.
At 32, Poche isn’t exactly a prospect, but his unique arsenal—an extreme over-the-top arm angle and a backspinning fastball that’s tough to pick up—once made him a reliable middle reliever. At his peak, he struck out 27% of batters and induced weak pop-ups by keeping his four-seamer above barrels. The big question now: Can he rediscover that form? The Tigers seem skeptical, slotting him for Triple-A Toledo to start the season. If he regains his control, a midseason call-up isn’t out of the question. But with no Spring Training invite and a strike zone that’s eluded him lately, the odds are stacked against him.
What do you think? Is Poche’s signing a low-risk, high-reward gamble, or is this the end of the line for the once-promising reliever? Let us know in the comments—this one’s sure to spark debate.
