Scott Harris' trade deadline might go up in flames after Tigers broadcast's injury scare

Kyle Finnegan has, far and away, been the best trade deadline acquisition Scott Harris brought in. Codi Heuer's in the minors, Paul Sewald might not pitch at all, Chris Paddack was demoted to the bullpen, and Charlie Morton has a nearly 6.00 ERA (to give credit where it's due, Rafael Montero has shown drastic improvements). Finnegan has been basically unhittable ever since he got to the majors, and the Tigers have been enjoying a closer tag-team with him and Will Vest.

However, the Tigers might find themselves left with just Vest for a spell. On Wednesday, during Detroit's series finale against the Mets, Finnegan was spotted on the broadcast warming up in the bullpen before he stopped and went down into the tunnel.

Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press was quick to follow up: Finnegan reported right groin tightness. It's unclear yet if he'll need an IL stint or if taking him out of the equation was a cautionary measure.

Kyle Finnegan abruptly leaves Tigers' bullpen with right groin tightness during finale vs. Mets

Finnegan was the Tigers' August Reliever of the Month for his quite literally perfect month — he pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings and only gave up three hits and three walks. He's the only relief pitcher who was moved at the trade deadline to do that.

He's also been saving grace for Harris, given all of the detractors who absolutely hated what the PoBO did (or rather didn't do) at the deadline. The Tigers were previously linked to closers like Jhoan Duran and David Bednar, but instead they went out and got Finnegan, who left the Nationals with a 4.38 ERA thanks to some recent blowups in the closer role there.

Since arriving in Detroit, he's been both a closer and a set-up man and has formed something of a dream team for the Tigers alongside Vest, though Vest has been knocked around a little more throughout August.

If Finnegan needs an IL stint, there goes the one of the only trustworthy high-leverage arm the Tigers have. Tommy Kahnle has made it pretty clear that he isn't reliable, and Montero's improvements don't mean that the Tigers should put him on the mound in the ninth inning in a one-run game.

Hopefully, Finnegan's exit was precautionary, or he'll just need a few days' rest and be able to avoid the IL. The Tigers are still in the chase for the No. 1 seed in the AL during the playoffs, and they really can't afford to lose their best reliever right now.