Detroit Tigers: Let’s Talk About the Bullpen

Detroit Tigers relief pitchers haven’t had the best start to 2017. Here’s a look at the team’s current bullpen, as well as minor league options, trade targets and potential solutions.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen plenty of bullpen units struggle over the last few seasons. Much of this has been with the team’s failed acquisitions.

Joe Nathan, Joakim Soria, Mark Lowe, Joba Chamberlain and Tom Gorzelanny all struggled in the Motor City.

In other deals, Detroit traded away quality relief pitchers in Jose Alvarez and Corey Knebel in a pair of separate transactions.

Hindsight is 20-20, and those deals helped the Tigers net Andrew Romine and JaCoby Jones, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact that Detroit has struggled to find fits in the bullpen.

Last season looked to be different, as the team seemed to have found potential solutions.

Francisco Rodriguez solidified the back end of the bullpen, while Justin Wilson established himself as an essential setup reliever.

Elsewhere, Alex Wilson continued to fire off quality innings, Shane Greene was making the necessary adjustments to become a full-time reliever and Bruce Rondon finally turned the corner.

Add in quality years from Kyle Ryan and Blaine Hardy, and it looked like the Tigers had a foundation to build on in the bullpen.

This year however, things have been different.

Rodriguez has done anything but solidify the back end of the bullpen, surrendering 14.5 hits, 3.1 home runs and 2.1 walks per nine innings. He’s also allowed 14 of the 42 batters he’s faced to reach base via a base hit.

All of those numbers add up to a 1.846 WHIP and a 6.09 FIP.

While Rodriguez has hemorrhaged hits and runs at an unhealthy rate, Detroit only has one option to replace him with as closer, as the bullpen has generally struggled.