Detroit Tigers: Daniel Stumpf and Chad Bell Provide Left-Handed Relief Options
Detroit Tigers fans will see a familiar bullpen unit in 2017. Most of last season’s relievers should make the team. However, there are some intriguing left-handers to watch in Spring Training.
Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila spent the offseason before the 2016 campaign bolstering the team’s bullpen.
Avila traded blocked infield prospect Javier Betancourt to the Milwaukee Brewers for closer Francisco Rodriguez.
He also flipped mid-level pitching prospects Chad Green and Luis Cessa to the New York Yankees for reliever Justin Wilson.
Rounding out the new additions was Mark Lowe, who joined Detroit as a free agent.
Rodriguez stepped into the closer’s role, while Wilson and Lowe initially served as setup relievers.
This brought stability to the rest of the bullpen, as the group were able to settle into more definite roles.
For the most part, the Tigers relief corps flourished. Wilson and Shane Greene showed flashes of dominance, while Alex Wilson, Kyle Ryan, Bruce Rondon and Blaine Hardy all posted ERAs below 4.00.
Fast forward to this past offseason, and Avila focused more on adding depth.
The general manager brought in a number of minor league free agents, while also acquiring the hard-throwing Victor Alcantara in a deal for Cameron Maybin.
Daniel Stumpf was also added, via the Rule 5 draft, while Myles Jaye and Chad Bell were added to the 40-man roster.
Stumpf and Bell in particular will factor into the discussion in terms of left-handed relievers.
Here’s a look at the duo
Daniel Stumpf
Age: 26
Major League Experience: Seven Appearances, Five Innings Pitched
A former ninth-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in 2012, Stumpf has five minor league seasons under his belt.
Since becoming a professional, the left-hander has pitched to a 3.22 ERA in the minors while striking out 8.9 batters per nine frames.
Over the same span, Stumpf has allowed just three walks and 0.5 home runs per nine innings.
In 29.2 frames last season with four different minor league affiliates, the 26-year-old turned in a 3.34 ERA while punching out 31 batters in 29.2 innings.
What is perhaps more encouraging is that Stump didn’t allow a home run, and was only tagged for five free passes.
Of course, the reliever didn’t pitch much in the minors due to the fact that he was also a Rule 5 pick last season.
The Philadelphia Phillies picked up the southpaw in last season’s Rule 5 draft. They didn’t end up keeping him all season, as the pitcher returned to Kansas City.
However, Stumpf did appear in seven games for the National League East ball club.
He finished three of the seven games he appeared in, totaling five innings.
In those five innings, the reliever allowed nine hits, six earned runs, two walks and a home run. He did strike out a pair of batters.
Despite the small sample size, Stumpf did post a solid 10.9 swinging strike percentage.
If he can miss bats like that on a regular basis, the Detroit Tigers should benefit greatly.
Chad Bell
Age: 27
Major League Experience: None
Acquired from Texas for veteran catcher Bobby Wilson, Chad Bell spent last season pitching in a variety of roles for Triple-A Toledo.
The hard-throwing left-hander racked up 80.1 innings while logging a 3.70 ERA.
Overall, he appeared in 28 games. Of those 28, he started 10 contests while finishing four.
In his minor league career, Bell has started 96 games and finished 22.
There’s real potential for the southpaw to serve as a swingman for the Detroit Tigers.
Having a swingman in the bullpen could be extremely beneficial for the Tigers.
A pitcher like Bell could step in and make spot starts for the likes of Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd should the trio’s innings need to be limited.
What’s more, a potential swingman could also throw multiple innings in relief, saving the other bullpen pitchers in the process.
As of now, Detroit’s best options for the role include Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey, Buck Farmer and Drew VerHagen.
Of the group, Sanchez and Pelfrey struggled mightily last season, while Farmer and VerHagen haven’t had sustained success as starters in the Majors.
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In other words, Bell could conceivably pitch his way onto Detroit’s Opening Day roster.