Reorganizing Tigers' bullpen depth chart after 2025 trade deadline moves

The Tigers went all-in on pitching help at the trade deadline and acquired two starters — Chris Paddack and Charlie Morton — and four relievers — Rafael Montero, Kyle Finnegan, Codi Heuer, and Paul Sewald. Heuer was immediately sent to Triple-A upon the trade with the Rangers, and Sewald returned to the IL, where he'd been with a right shoulder strain before leaving the Guardians.

Detroit's made a few roster moves to fit all of the new guys since the deadline. Dietrich Enns was DFA'ed and then traded to the Orioles to open a 40-man space for Heuer, Matt Manning was traded to the Phillies and Chase Lee was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Montero and Finnegan, and Brenan Hanifee was optioned on Friday night to accommodate Morton. Troy Melton will also move to the bullpen and cede his spot in the rotation to Morton.

With all of that shuffling, what does the Tigers' bullpen look like in the aftermath?

What does the Tigers' depth chart look like after new bullpen acquisitions?

1. Kyle Finnegan (closer)
2. Will Vest (set-up)
3. Troy Melton
4. Tyler Holton
5. Brant Hurter
6. Tommy Kahnle
7. Luke Jackson
8. Rafael Montero

Given AJ Hinch's propensity for mixing and matching relievers, some of this isn't totally set in stone. Finnegan left a closer role in Washington and will presumably take it back up in Detroit, but Will Vest's 2.51 ERA and 16 saves has made him a solid choice to finish out close games despite some recent struggles. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if we saw more of Vest in the eighth and Finnegan in the ninth.

The Tigers have used Tyler Holton every which way and will probably continue to do so. He's started some games, closed others, and has pitched as many as two innings and as little as 1/3 this year alone. Last year, he pitched as many as three. We should also expect to see Melton in some long appearances now that he's in the bullpen.

Tommy Kahnle has definitely pitched his way out of the set-up role (he had a 19.64 ERA in July), so we'll probably see more of him in the sixth or seventh alongside Brant Hurter, Luke Jackson, and Rafael Montero.

Heuer has yet to make his first appearance in Triple-A, but he joins Chase Lee, Dylan Smith, and Randy Dobnak (who also came over in the Paddack trade) as potential next men up in the event of an injury or demotion. If Sewald ever manages to pitch for the Tigers, he'll join the middle relievers.

So the Tigers walk away from the deadline with some shifting, but most of all, a lot of faith that the struggling relievers who have been here the whole time will clean some things up.