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Detroit Tigers Rumors: Neftali Feliz coming to Detroit according to Pedro Martinez

By Matt Pelc

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The Detroit Tigers rumors mill has the team on the verge of signing former Texas Rangers’ closer Neftali Feliz, according to Pedro Martinez who made the claim on MLB Network Friday Night.

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Feliz would not cost the Tigers anything through trade because he is an unrestricted free agent after opting out of his contract with the Rangers when he went unclaimed on waivers last week.

The righthander actually returned to the closer’s role last year when former Rangers’ closer Joakim Soria was traded to the Tigers last August to join the other former Rangers’ closer Joe Nathan.

He has experienced a disappointing season with Texas after a very solid 2014. He posted a 1.99 ERA and 13 saves in 30 games last year, but pitched in just 18 contests, saving just six this year. He had blown three saves in nine chances, which caused him to lose his role and, eventually, his job.

Feliz burst on the scene in the first of Texas’ World Series years, earning an All-Star bid and winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2010, saving 40 games. That continued into the second World Series year of 2011, including beating the Tigers in six games in the ALCS, in which he saved 72 games in 81 chances through those two years.

Texas moved him to the rotation in 2012 and he failed, and was injured requiring Tommy John Surgery. He missed most of 2012 and 2013.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Feliz has had issues with his fastball ranging in speed from 90 to 97 mph. The lower 90’s stuff was getting hit hard by opponents.

I guess at this point anything would help the Tigers’ bullpen which lacks a true eighth inning guy, but picking up another team’s castoff has not worked out so well for Detroit’s reliever core over the years (think Jim Johnson).

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