Detroit Tigers need another setup option

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.