Breaking Down the Detroit Tigers Bullpen Spring Training Roster Battle

June 27, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Phil Coke (40) pitches in the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Los Angeles won 3-1 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Likely Candidates

I think there are three guys who will start the spring campaign with a leg up on the others:

Phil Coke

Coke is apparently going to get every chance to succeed in Detroit. As a third-year arbitration eligible player, Coke looked like a strong candidate to be non-tendered this past offseason, but he ended up signing a one-year non-guaranteed contract that could be worth $1.9 million. The Tigers are only on the hook for that full amount if he makes the team this spring.

Coke became an ALCS hero in 2012 when he shut down the Yankees night after night to help lift the team to the World Series, but that’s really the only highlight in his four-year career with the Tigers; he hasn’t finished a season with an ERA below 4.00 in the last three years.

Luke Putkonen

Putkonen was quietly very good last season for the Tigers. He was only pitching in low leverage spots, but he ended up making 30 appearances with a 3.03 ERA a 3.45 xFIP, and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings (all of which were above-average for MLB relievers). He’s probably not going to suddenly morph into a guy who is a steadying force in the late innings, but the Tigers apparently liked him enough to carry on their ALDS roster last October (before being replaced by Coke on the ALCS roster). He didn’t appear in a postseason game, but he was on the team when it counted.

Ian Krol

Krol was acquired from the Washington Nationals in the Doug Fister trade. Once a top pitching prospect in the Oakland Athletics organization, Krol has had some ups and downs along the way, but he’s a lefty with a fastball that can reach 95 mph and the Tigers have hopes he can develop into a late-inning arm.

February 25, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Crosby (45) throws a pitch in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Field

Casey Crosby

Crosby probably heads list of players who are currently on the outside but could find their way onto the roster come March 31. His inability to command his pitches has forced him away from starting and into a relief role this offseason. The hope here is that Crosby, another power lefty with a fastball that can reach back to hit 95 mph, might be better able to harness his excellent stuff in briefer stints. Even if he doesn’t make the team this spring, it’s likely that we see Crosby in the Detroit bullpen at some point in the year.

Justin Miller

Miller was signed by the Tigers in the fall after he was released by the Texas Rangers organization. Miller, who will turn 27 this summer, has a high-strikeout pedigree in the minor leagues, but has been plagued by high walk totals much of the way. He has yet to make his big-league debut, but he could find his way into the bullpen mix if he can harness his stuff a bit more.

Evan Reed

Reed made 16 appearances with the big club a season ago as sort of a replacement level arm. He didn’t have an impressive ERA (4.24), xFIP (3.92), or strikeout rate (6.6 per nine innings), but neither was he completely terrible either. All of his rate stats were much better in AAA, but his stuff has appeared to be rather hittable in the big leagues. Reed is out of options, so he’ll either have to make the team or be designated for assignment with the active roster is trimmed to 25 players.

Jose Ortega

Ortega hasn’t had much of a shot in the big leagues yet (14 innings combined between 2012 and 2013), but he put up impressive numbers in AAA last year (1.86 ERA and 10.4 K/9), and pitched relatively well in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason. Like many others on this list, he can throw 95+ mph, has a history of high strikeout totals in the minors, but has also struggled with walking too many batters (gee, does it seem like there’s a certain type of reliever that Dave Dombrowski likes?).

March 01, 2013; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Duane Below (64) throws a pitch against the New York Mets in the spring training game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

The Could-be, But Probably AAA Starters

Jose Alvarez

Alvarez was the Tigers’ number six starter last year, making six spot starts with the big club. He also finished the year in the bullpen and, like Luke Putkonen, earned a spot on the playoff roster (making one ALDS appearance). He could win a spot in the bullpen (especially if the team decides not to carry Coke and his contract), but it seems more likely that the organization sends him to the starting rotation in Toledo to serve as depth in that regard.

Duane Below

Below is back with the Tigers and in a position to win a bullpen spot. He’s not on the 40-man roster, so the Tigers would have to make a maneuver in order to add him at the end of camp, but that shouldn’t be a problem if it comes to that (see the previous paragraph on Evan Reed). But, like Alvarez, I’m thinking the team would like to see Below begin the year as a AAA starter and help serve as depth should something happen to one of their five starters. The Tigers are thin at starting pitching depth in the upper minors, so it wouldn’t make sense to burn some of that unless it becomes overwhelmingly clear that Below (or Alvarez) are needed in the Detroit bullpen.