Detroit Tigers need another setup option in bullpen

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Jun 8, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Arcenio Leon (66) pitches in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers fans have seen the team’s bullpen depth improve in 2017. That being said, another setup reliever certainly wouldn’t hurt the team as June rolls along.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila’s under-the-radar bullpen additions have so far proved to be beneficial to the team so far in 2017.

Former Rule 5 draft pick Daniel Stumpf and the hard-throwing Arcenio Leon have both provided the team with added options as early season struggles upset the apple cart in the bullpen.

Bullpen mainstays from 2016 like Bruce Rondon and Kyle Ryan struggled early, as did newcomers Joe Jimenez and William Cuevas.

Stumpf and Leon, along with Warwick Saupold have completely changed the look of the Tigers bullpen.

Elsewhere, Justin Wilson is thriving in the closer’s role after taking over from Francisco Rodriguez.

With Leon and Stumpf still settling into the Majors and Rodriguez working to find his form again, the Tigers bullpen has become rather predictable.

If the starter is knocked out early, Saupold comes in.

If there’s a jam that could decide the game in the sixth or seventh, that’s when Shane Greene enters the game.

The former starter has been utilized somewhat similar to Andrew Miller in the sense that he’s always throwing in key situations, and he sometimes logs more than an inning in the process.

While Greene (28 strikeout percentage, 2.69 FIP) has found considerable success in this role, he isn’t pitching as much later in games as Justin Wilson’s setup man.

Most of the time, this is fine as the most important outs aren’t always in the eighth inning.

Still, it leaves Alex Wilson as the only setup option.

Jun 4, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Wilson (30) pitches in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Alex Wilson in 2017

As per usual, the right-hander getting results, with a 1.061 WHIP and a 3.29 ERA.

However, the right-hander isn’t always perfect.

Over his last nine innings, the former Red Sox hurler has allowed 12 hits, eight runs (seven earned) and two home runs.

That span has seen his ERA balloon from 1.47 to 3.29.

Wilson has pitched in the eighth inning in all but one of those outings.

Help wanted

With the Detroit Tigers needing to start winning games on a more consistent basis, another option is needed to pair with Wilson.

The Tigers run the risk of burning out the bullpen early with so few options available.

In terms of internal additions, there are a few who could make an impact out of the bullpen.

Leading the way is Bruce Rondon, who has bounced back nicely in Triple-A after a rough start to the year. The hard-throwing right-hand showed that he has closer-like stuff last season, and probably would be back in the Majors if it weren’t for a high walk rate.

In 20.2 frames for Toledo, Rondon has punched out 11.32 batters per nine innings while also notching a 3.48 ERA and a 3.77 FIP.

The reliever’s walks per nine frames rate currently sits at 6.97.

Joe Jimenez certainly has the stuff to be successful late in games, but he’s currently on the disabled list in the minors. Once healthy, he could renter the mix.

Jun 2, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Brad Hand (52) pitches during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

External options

If the Detroit Tigers’ internal options don’t stick, the trade market could provide solutions.

San Diego’s Brad Hand (3.02 xFIP, 11.91 strikeouts per nine innings in 34 frames), Jose Torres (3.93 xFIP, 10.24 strikeouts per nine innings in 29 frames), Brandon Maurer (3.38 xFIP, 9.72 strikeouts per nine innings in 25 frames) and Ryan Butcher (3.91 SIERA and 11.41 strikeouts per nine innings in 23.2 frames) are all fits.

The Padres do have a long-standing need at shortstop, so perhaps dangling Jose Iglesias in a conceivable trade would make sense.

Dixon Machado, Iglesias’ long-term replacement, showed well offensively while filling in for Ian Kinsler at second base, so the team does have a ready-made successor for their starting shortstop.

Machado has logged 31 plate appearances in the last 30 days, posting a .400 batting average, a .919 OPS and a 151 wRC+.

Those numbers probably aren’t sustainable for the defensive-first shortstop, but he showed improvement with the bat, hypothetically making Iglesias more expendable in a deal to improve the bullpen.

It certainly wouldn’t hurt if the team acquired a reliever that is left-handed.

Stumpf and Chad Bell have both shown flashes of promise, and could fill that role. However, the duo are still working with small sample sizes in the Majors.

This is all without mentioning Blaine Hardy, who is the owner of a 5.62 FIP and a 5.34 xFIP in 17.1 innings this season.

Next: Buck Farmer needs to stay in the rotation

So yeah, the Detroit Tigers certainly need some help at this point.

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Detroit Tigers fans have seen the team’s bullpen depth improve in 2017. That being said, another setup reliever certainly wouldn’t hurt the team as June rolls along.

Alex Wilson in 2017

Help wanted

External options

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