Detroit Tigers: Strong season from Shane Greene a must in 2018

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Shane Greene inherited the role of closer down the stretch during the 2017 season. For the franchise to find success, Greene needs to turn in a strong 2018 campaign.

Detroit Tigers fans saw three different closers during the 2017 season.

First, the job was Francisco Rodriguez’ to lose.

And lose it he did.

The veteran registered a -0.7 fWAR, a 7.82 ERA, a 7.38 FIP and a 5.71 xFIP in just 25.1 frames. Over the same span, he also allowed 3.91 walks and a staggering 3.20 home runs per nine innings.

Couple those numbers with a career-low strand rate (65.8%) and ground ball percentage (30.1%), and it wasn’t exactly a shock when he was cut in June.

Following Rodriguez’ departure, Justin Wilson took over as the closer.

The difference was very night and day, to put it plainly.

Related Story: Al Avila's best move as Tigers' GM

Functioning as Detroit’s closer, Justin Wilson worked to a 2.08 ERA, a 2.62 FIP and a 3.26 xFIP in 13 innings.

He added 16 strike outs while surrendering just four walks and a home run.

However, the Tigers soon traded Wilson to the Chicago Cubs at the July 31, non-waiver trade deadline.

Detroit’s third closer of the season, Shane Greene, will likely enter next season once again in the role.

Shane Greene

Down the stretch, Greene was certainly dependable, notching 23 strikeouts in 21.2 frames over the course of the rest of the season.

More from Detroit Tigers News

• Detroit Tigers: Victor Reyes finding ways to get the job done
• The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?

That stretch also saw him register a 2.49ERA, a 4.08 FIP, a 4.68 xFIP and an 88.2% strand rate.

He also allowed just 19 hits, nine walks, seven runs (six earned) and three home runs.

Moving forward, Greene’s ability to bring stability to the back end of the bullpen will be key.

Rodriguez, in 2016, as well as Wilson brought that same stability to the bullpen in their respective times as closer.

This allowed the rest of the relievers to settle into roles and find success.

It will be key for Greene to do this, especially with so many young arms either in the Majors or close to debuting at the game’s highest level.

These include the likes of Bruce Rondon, Joe Jimenez, Zac Reininger, Jairo Labourt, Victor Alcantara, Bryan Garcia, Paul Voelker, Adam Ravenelle and Mark Ecker.

More from Motor City Bengals

• Detroit Tigers: Victor Reyes finding ways to get the job done
• The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?

The sooner these pitchers can settle into roles at the big-league level, the sooner the quartet, the sooner they can start developing and find their footing in the Majors.

Greene’s ability to bring stability to the Tigers bullpen will also be crucial to the team’s future.

Looking forward

At 29 and with three years of controllability remaining (per Spotrac), the right-hander could very well be a part of the Tigers roster when the team returns to contention.

His ability to shut things down in the ninth while the likes of Rondon, Jimenez, Labourt and Garcia reach their potential would give Detroit a strong bullpen to build around for the long haul.

By the same token, Greene’s three years of remaining controllability also make him a prime trade candidate.

Al Avila and the rest of the front office could conceivably decide to part with Greene before he becomes expensive thanks to arbitration.

If the team decides to trade him now, the Tigers might also be able bring in a significant haul in return.

This is all speculative mind you, but Greene’s ability to pitch in multiple bullpen roles—along with his effectiveness and controllability—would make him plenty valuable to other teams.

Next: Max Pentecost could be a Rule 5 Draft fit for the Tigers

Either way, another strong season from Shane Greene in 2018 will do wonders for the Detroit Tigers future.