Tigers “Pushing Hard” to Trade for Closer

Four Bruce Rondon appearances and some wild Jose Valverde rumors into spring training, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com has reported the Detroit Tigers want to trade for a closer.

Closer candidate

has not impressed anyone so far in spring training action. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

Knobler suggested the Washington Nationals have a bullpen surplus with Rafael Soriano, Drew Storen, and Tyler Clippard, but also wrote they don’t have interest in moving a reliever.

The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, would seem to have Andrew Bailey available after acquiring Joel Hanrahan, though Detroit has yet to inquire about a deal, Knobler wrote.

Though it seemed even as recent as a week ago that rookie Rondon was in line to take the Tigers’ closing job, a 7.36 ERA with five walks in 3.2 innings have sent the team and media into a frenzy. Every reliever on the club has since had their name brought up as a solution for the great closer conundrum, and some have even suggested starter Rick Porcello would be well-suited for the role.

Free agent options are sparse with weeks remaining until teams head north for the regular season. Valverde, Francisco Rodriguez, and Brian Wilson could potentially each be had for little cost, but they all have glaring issues that have kept them unsigned to this point.