How should Detroit Tigers upgrade bullpen in 2025-26 offseason? Reliever expert explains
Reliever expert Greg Jewett explains on “Days of Roar” how the Detroit Tigers should upgrade their bullpen with multiple weapons for the 2026 season.
ORLANDO, FL — There’s a Detroit Tigers reunion at the Winter Meetings.
The Tigers have re-signed right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to a two-year, $19 million contract in free agency, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. There aren’t any opt-outs or options, meaning Finnegan is set to pitch for the Tigers in 2027 as well.
The deal can max out at $20 million with $1 million in incentives.
“We have a lot of people in that room working really hard to find some bullpen solutions in a variety of ways,” president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday at the Winter Meetings, approximately 30 hours before bringing back Finnegan, “but we are really involved in free agency and trade.”
In 2025, Finnegan posted a 3.47 ERA with 18 walks and 55 strikeouts across 57 innings in 56 games for the Washington Nationals (40 games) and the Tigers (16 games), racking up 24 saves in 31 chances.
The Tigers acquired Finnegan from the Nationals at the July 31 trade deadline, giving up pitching prospects Josh Randall and R.J. Sales.
The 34-year-old shined with the Tigers.
Before the trade, Finnegan registered a 4.37 ERA with a 19.6% strikeout rate for the Nationals. After the trade, he logged a 1.50 ERA with a 34.8% strikeout rate for the Tigers. He has a long history of success as a closer, but he didn’t become a dominant reliever until joining the Tigers.
It’s a small sample of dominance.
But the Tigers believe that Finnegan can repeat it.
A pitch mix adjustment – more splitters, fewer fastballs – made the difference in his performance after the trade, as the Tigers instructed Finnegan to throw his best pitch more often. He went from throwing 65.7% fastballs and 29.6% splitters with the Nationals to throwing 40.9% fastballs and 54.8% splitters with the Tigers.
The result?
Only the best results of his six-year MLB career.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
With Finnegan’s return, the Tigers have two relievers manager A.J. Hinch can trust in high-leverage situations.
The other is right-hander Will Vest, who delivered a 3.01 ERA, 22 walks and 75 strikeouts across 68⅔ innings in 64 games, along with 23 saves in 30 chances. Aside from Finnegan and Vest, the Tigers continue to express confidence in left-handed reliever Tyler Holton in big moments.
The Tigers would benefit from adding more quality to their bullpen ahead of the 2026 season.
It seems like the Tigers’ plan has been to add just one high-leverage reliever – Finnegan – via free agency or trade, then rely on internal development, minor-league signings and waiver claims for the rest of their bullpen upgrades.
“I will remind everyone: major-league bullpens are built in a variety of ways,” said Harris, whose bullpen’s 4.05 ERA ranked 17th among 30 teams in 2025. “Sometimes it’s free-agent signings, sometimes it’s trade, sometimes it’s development, sometimes it’s minor-league free-agent signings or waiver claims.”
There had been mutual interest between the Tigers and Finnegan since the start of the 2025-26 offseason.
Now, there’s finally a reunion to celebrate.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon during the season and Tuesday afternoon during the offseason on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
