Detroit Tigers: Two Potentially Useful Relievers Are Available

Alexi Ogando

Last season, the Tigers took a flier on a former Texas reliever with considerable upside in Neftali Feliz. That experiment didn’t work out so well, as the pitcher put up an ugly 7.62 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched. While his 3.95 FIP suggested better, Detroit moved on.

Things could work out differently with Alexi Ogando. Feliz’ former teammate has spent time in both the rotation and the bullpen during his career, and has only one bad season on his resume. That down year came in 2014 with the Rangers when Ogando posted a 6.84 ERA in a career-low 25 innings pitched. However, his 3.81 FIP that year tells a different story.

Since that season, the reliever has rebounded with Boston and Atlanta. Ogando owns a 3.98 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 97.1 innings since the start of 2015. He’s also finished 27 games over that span.

So far in 2016, the 32-year-old has put up a 3.94 ERA and 29 punch outs in 32 innings.

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Ogando may not be the pitcher he was earlier in his career, but as a depth piece, he could provide value to the Detroit Tigers. The reliever could fill a similar role to Alex Wilson in the sense that while he isn’t the first option for an important situation, he can come in and provide quality work while potentially eating multiple innings.