Detroit Tigers: Five Non-Tendered Players Who Are Potential Fits

Name: Jeff Manship
Position: Relief Pitcher
2016 WAR: -0.3

Stats of Note

Despite a -0.3 WAR and a SIERA—4.53—halfway to five, Jeff Manship is the perfect fit as a buy-low relief candidate.

The former Cleveland pitcher logged 82.2 innings for Detroit’s division rivals over the last two seasons. Over that span, the 31-year-old pitched to a 2.07 ERA and a 3.93 FIP.

While he doesn’t rack up strikeout numbers akin to Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman, Manship did punch out 7.5 batters per nine frames. That rate finished ahead of incumbent Tigers relievers Blaine Hardy, Alex Wilson and Kyle Ryan last season.

Why Manship is a Fit for the Detroit Tigers

Major League Baseball teams can never have enough pitching depth, especially where the bullpen is concerned.

The right-handed pitcher would give Brad Ausmus yet another relief option to throw at opposing hitters.

Potential Role in Detroit

Manship would unlikely vault immediately into consideration for late-inning work given the upside of the likes of Bruce Rondon, Justin Wilson and Shane Greene. However, the ex-Cleveland reliever could pitch a similar to Alex Wilson or Blaine Hardy in that he pitches earlier in games.

Last season, the veteran posted ERAs of 2.25, 1.29 and 1.93 in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings respectively.