Detroit Tigers: Craig Breslow is Worth a Flier

The Detroit Tigers could use the depth, and Craig Breslow is an excellent free agent option. The veteran can function as an effective reliever and swingman. 

Most of the Detroit Tigers’ offseason shopping is complete. General manager Al Avila has ticked off pretty much every box on the list. Upgrade and stabilize the rotation? Check. Overhaul and improve the bullpen? Check. Add a premier free agent to play in left field? Check. Add overall depth? Check.

The most impressive turnaround has been in the bullpen, where Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Lowe and Justin Wilson have arrived to join holdovers Blaine Hardy, Alex Wilson and Drew VerHagen. While Lowe, Hardy, VerHagen and the two Wilsons will provide a dependable and effective bridge to Rodriguez, the team can always use depth. 

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Nowhere was this more prevalent than last season, when Joe Nathan went down injured. The veteran closer missed nearly all of the season. Because of that, manager Brad Ausmus had to reshuffle the order of relievers. Joakim Soria stepped in and was a capable replacement, posting a 2.85 ERA in 41 innings. The closer converted 23 saves. In addition to Soria, Hardy also thrived in a setup role, with a 3.08 ERA (2.89 FIP) in 61.1 innings pitched. Alex Wilson was also a bright spot, but the rest of the bullpen generally flopped in new roles.

In other words, the Tigers need depth in case an injury or ineffectiveness occurs. Obviously, in a perfect world, Detroit would breeze through the season with the same bullpen firing on all cylinders. However, extra options are needed.

One such option is Craig Breslow.

A longtime reliever, Breslow is coming off a season with the Boston Red Sox in which he made a couple of starts. According to WEEI.com, Breslow “informed prospective suitors that he was interested in giving starting a try.” 

While he wouldn’t start in Detroit on a full-time basis, Breslow would give Detroit an excellent option to receive a number of spot starts should Daniel Norris’ innings need to be limited. In two starts with Boston last season, the left-handed pitcher posted a 1.93 ERA.

What’s more, the left-handed pitcher has an excellent track record as a reliever. From 2005 to 2013, the former Red Sox player pitched to a 2.82 ERA in 402 innings pitched. Over that span he also struck out 329 batters. He would also provide closing depth as well. In save situations, Breslow owns a 0.96 earned run average and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

The 35-year-old also is tough on both right-handed and left-handed hitters. Right-handed batters have hit only .242 against Breslow. Lefties haven’t fared much better with a .245 batting average.

In Conclusion

Detroit’s need of a swingman has been well documented (at least on this website), and Breslow would fill that role. He’d also be an excellent addition to a bullpen that already includes a number of excellent relievers. If Breslow can rediscover the form he displayed from 2005 to 2013, the Detroit Tigers could benefit.

Craig Breslow is available. The Tigers should take a flier on him.