Detroit Tigers: Predicting the 2018 bullpen

Shane Greene

Unless he is traded, Shane Greene will start the 2018 season as the Detroit Tigers closer.

Greene made the complete transition into the bullpen last season.

He was a starter for the Yankees in 2014-2015 before coming to the Tigers in the Robbie Ray trade. He made three starts for the Tigers last year, but appeared in 47 other games out of the pen.

Greene struggled in 2016, pitching to a 5.82 ERA. His 3.13 FIP indicated a ton of bad luck befell him that season.

Indeed he rebounded well in 2017, finishing the year with a tidy 2.66 ERA. His 9.7 K/9 was the highest of his career, although his 4.52 BB/9 was concerning.

Greene took over as the closer after the Tigers dealt Justin Wilson and Alex Avila to the Cubs in exchange for Jeimer Candelario.

In his 21.2 innings as the Tigers closer, Greene had a 2.49 ERA and struck out 23.

He also earned nine saves.

Greene has been talked about extensively as a trade candidate this offseason. We even projected a few trade options for Greene here.

He is under team control through 2020 however, so the Tigers are not in a major hurry to deal him.

Expect Greene to be the closer on opening day 2018 if he is not dealt this offseason. He is a candidate to be dealt at the trade deadline, assuming he has a strong start to the season.