Detroit Tigers: 3 free agent relievers they should target this offseason

Trevor Rosenthal

Trevor Rosenthal is a strikeout machine who was a mainstay in St. Louis’ bullpen from 2012-2017. He was their primary closer between 2014-2015, saving 93 games with a 2.65 ERA and a 11.0 K/9. He faltered a bit in 2016, but looked like his old self in 2017 with a 3.40 ERA and a huge 14.35 K/9.

Unfortunately, Rosenthal underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2017. That kept him out for the entirety of 2018. Unlike Michael Pineda and Drew Smyly, who signed low-cost two-year deals when they knew they would miss one season, Rosenthal opted to remain unsigned and rehabbed on his own.

The 28-year-old hosted a showcase on October 3 – roughly 13 months removed from the surgery. Word is the Tigers, along with virtually every MLB team – had a scout on hand to watch the right-hander throw.

The Tigers should consider signing Rosenthal if his cost doesn’t get too high. By the time spring training rolls around, Rosenthal will be 18 months removed from surgery and should be back to his healthy, hard-throwing ways. It’s always a risk to pick someone post-TJ, as often times their control falters and their risk for re-injury is much higher.

However, the Tigers have very little to lose in this situation. Rosenthal is just 28, and if he can return to even close to his old ways he would immediately slot into Detroit’s late-inning situation.

If things don’t work out, Detroit won’t have lost much. Plenty of teams will surely offer Rosenthal small contracts loaded with incentives, but few can offer a clearer path to a late inning role. Rosenthal would be smart to come to Detroit where he has a great chance of grabbing an eighth or ninth inning job.

Jorge De La Rosa

De La Rosa was a regular big league starter from 2006-2016, time primarily spent with the Rockies. He had a few solid seasons, but was more or less a backend starter who ate up innings and didn’t do too much damage.

The Diamondbacks acquired him in 2017 and converted him into a LOOGY. He appeared in 65 games but only threw 51.1 innings, posting a 7.89 K/9 and a 4.21 ERA. 2018 saw him split between the D-Backs and the Cubs. He improved in his second year as a reliever, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 7.55 K/9. While his 4.38 FIP and 4.34 BB/9 weren’t great, De La Rosa shined against opposing left-handers, posting a .387 FIP, 1.17 WHIP and an 8.63 K/9 with a 3.0 BB/9.

The Tigers had Blaine Hardy and Daniel Stumpf as their primary left-handed relievers, although Hardy split time in the rotation. Stumpf had a bad season, posting a 4.93 ERA. While he was decent against left-handers, he was atrocious against righties and had control issues. De La Rosa would give Detroit another left-hander to add into the mix, effectively replacing Francisco Liriano.

Signing De La Rosa makes more sense if Hardy is either gone or in the rotation, as it ensures the Tigers have two left-handed bullpen pieces. De La Rosa will be 38 next season, meaning that he probably won’t be too difficult to sign but that he probably won’t have much trade value.

However, teams are always looking for left-handed relievers around July, and if De La Rosa pitches halfway decent he could get dealt for a high-risk prospect. It’s worth a shot.

John Axford

Axford’s last truly great season was in 2011, but his 2018 season was not as bad as it appeared on the surface. Axford split last season between the Blue Jays and Dodgers, tossing 54.2 innings with a 5.27 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and an 8.89 K/9.

Advanced metrics say Axford wasn’t as bad as the ERA indicates, giving him a 3.98 FIP, a 3.86 xFIP and a 3.67 SIERA. His 8.89 K/9 is slightly lower than what he normally produces, but his 3.62 BB/9 is the best mark he has posted since 2011. That’s right, Axford had the best command he’s had in six years in 2018.

Axford is 36 now, and it’s reasonable to assume there isn’t too much left in the tank. However, he will almost certainly be a bargain this offseason, as teams will be scared away by his age and ERA.

If the Detroit Tigers can snag him on a minor league deal with incentives, they can gamble on his stats lining up more closely with the advanced metrics from last season. And if that’s the case, the Tigers will have stolen a high-3.00 ERA, 9.00 K/9 bullpen arm for next to nothing.

Plus, he would make a very solid trade candidate if he can pitch at that level. If he doesn’t, well the Tigers can cut bait and give one of their minor league relievers an option.

The bullpen market is quite a robust one this offseason, and the Detroit Tigers would be wise to take advantage of a buyers market and snatch someone up for 2019.