Detroit Tigers: Six Moves That Will Help Detroit Make the Playoffs in 2017

Sign Brett Cecil and Kenley Jansen

With all the money saved dealing Pelfrey and Lowe, the Tigers can reinvest some of it in the team’s bullpen. Al Avila’s initial attempt to reshape the unit provided mixed results. However, Justin Wilson and Francisco Rodriguez both look like important pieces moving forward.

Adding Cecil and Jansen to the mix would give Detroit a potentially elite bullpen, especially if Bruce Rondon and Joe Jimenez continue to develop.

As outlined in a previous article, Toronto may have other fish to fry with Edwin Encarnacion, Michael Saunders and Jose Bautista set to hit free agency. The Blue Jays have plenty of other controllable, late-inning arms in Roberto Osuna, Joe Biagini and Ryan Tepera, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Cecil depart.

Should he sign with Detroit, there is plenty to like about Cecil.

The reliever posted has turned in a SIERA under 3.00 in each of the last four seasons, while striking out 11.5 batters per nine innings over the same span. He’d be an excellent seventh or eighth inning option to compliment Francisco Rodriguez and Jansen.

Kenley Jansen

The Detroit Tigers should sign Kenley Jansen and retain Francisco Rodriguez.

Detroit could use both pitchers in closing situations, but more importantly, Brad Ausmus could either reliever earlier in the game. If the most important three outs happen to come in the seventh inning of a game, Ausmus can turn to a closer in the situation.

Utilizing Jansen in the same way Cleveland has used Andrew Miller could be devastating—at least for opposing hitters.