The Tigers are interested in adding a late-inning reliever who has experience as a closer, writes Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press. Petzold identifies top unsigned reliever Carlos Estévez as one of a number of bullpen targets in whom the Tigers have shown interest.
Spending on relief pitching has picked up this month. Estévez’s own market has accelerated. Petzold writes that the Tigers are among six teams still in the mix for the hard-throwing righty. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported yesterday that the Reds remain in contact with Estévez’s camp. He was also linked to the Cubs — who are themselves evaluating a number of late-game options — last week. The Diamondbacks and Braves are among other teams known to be seeking relief help, though neither has been linked to Estévez specifically.
The 32-year-old has been a reliable back-end option for the Angels and Phillies over the last two years. He turned in a 3.90 ERA with 31 saves and a plus 27.8% strikeout rate for the Halos in 2023. He was off to an even stronger start last year, working to a 2.38 ERA while fanning 25.8% of batters faced through the trade deadline.
Los Angeles dealt Estévez to the Phillies for a pair of well-regarded pitching prospects. His finish in Philadelphia was more solid than great. While he turned in a 2.57 ERA across 21 frames for the Phils, Estévez’s strikeout percentage dropped to a mediocre 20.5% clip. Despite the middling finish, Estévez still has a solid case for a three-year deal in the $30MM range.
Kenley Jansen, David Robertson, Craig Kimbrel and Kyle Finnegan are other free agent relievers with varying degrees of closing experience. (Kirby Yates is also technically unsigned but seems to be headed to the Dodgers.) Jansen and Robertson could command eight-figure guarantees. Finnegan is likely to sign for somewhere below the $8.6MM which he was projected to make in arbitration before he was non-tendered by the Nationals. He should command more than $5MM, though. Kimbrel would be a rebound flier after posting a 5.33 ERA for the Orioles last year.
Petzold writes that the Tigers’ action in the relief market has been held up by Alex Bregman’s extended free agency. Detroit has been one of the top four suitors for the star third baseman. Petzold reported earlier this week that talks were at a “standstill,” though, and the Astros have seemingly made a renewed push to bring him back. That doesn’t mean a move to Detroit is off the table, but it leaves the Tigers in something of a holding pattern.
According to Petzold, the Tigers are unlikely to land Bregman and a top reliever. He suggests they’d be more motivated to spend on a closer if Bregman signs elsewhere, which would lead them to look at a much lower tier of free agent hitter. A few teams have moved to prioritizing the bullpen with the hitting market have slowed down. The Tigers may eventually need to do the same or risk their top relief targets signing while they await Bregman’s decision.
I like this idea a lot more than I like a five or six year deal for Bregman. Jansen would be a great addition to the pen.
Jansen is old and soon to be cooked, if he isn’t already. I would steer clear of Jansen and give the money to somebody younger who can throw with some giddyup.
Last season per Baseball Savant Jansen’s sinker was sitting at 93.3 and topping out at 96.6 with movement. Old, perhaps, but not yet cooked by any means. He could be a decent, affordable closer for the Tigers in 2025.
Tough crowd. Jansen pitched 3.29 era and 130 era+. He’s still a top reliever.
if they can’t get bregman, they should trade for Luis Robert who’s contract is cheaper, shorter, and escapable.
Too late. The Dodgers already signed them all.
Use Will Vest, use Will Vest. Made of real gorilla chest. See this sweater? there’s no better than authentic Irish setter.
Good. Trade for Pressley and sign Bregman
Forget Alex Bregman. Let the kids play and grow up one more year. Flaherty on a 3 year deal would be better than a closer- AJ can mix and match the final few innings but Tigers need more reliable SP. Stay the course.
I want to say I hate how the Tigers off-season is going but everytime I look at it, it seems like they’re trying to negotiate the best possible outcome without just giving in and recklessly spending a lot of cash. It’s not my money but I’m OK with that. I would love to see them get Bregman, if he requires a ton of cash long into his declining years, and the Tigers instead put that money into a lock-down reliever with Jung/Vierling holding down 3B for the time being, I’d call that a Win.
I bet they are asking about Suarez from the Padres.
I don’t know if any of these guys mentioned are realistic for the Tigers. If Estevez actually wants a 3-year deal, Tigers are probably out on him. Robertson and Jansen are both coming off solid seasons and will likely want multiyear deals. But will the Tigers actually offer an 8-figure per year, multiyear deal to a guy who’s pushing 40 like Jansen or who is 40 like Robertson? I’m getting Joe Nathan flashbacks. Kimbrel is coming off a rough year and may not be fixable at age 37. And yes, Finnegan does have closing experience but not really the swing-and-miss stuff that the Tigers need.
Jason Foley should keep the closer role, he is lights out
Foley, Holton, Brieske, and Vest all did well in their turn. Alex Lange should be healthy as well. If they could find a true closer, and bump them all down one notch, that would be one solid pen. Yet, I’d rather see Flaherty re-signed.