Tigers fans should be upset over how Scott Harris handled recent bullpen decisions

Did the Detroit Tigers just make an obvious roster construction error concerning their bullpen? The Tigers’ bullpen has lately been their biggest weakness. Entering Friday, Detroit’s the unit had tallied a 5.03 ERA since June 1, ranking No. 27 in Major League Baseball during that stretch, per Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold.

President of baseball operations Scott Harris addressed Detroit's bullpen needs at the trade deadline with multiple additions, including Kyle Finnegan and Codi Heuer, who was promoted to the major league roster this week.

Harris’s bullpen reinforcements weren’t all perfect moves, though. In particular, fans are upset over Harris’s addition — and subsequent subtraction — of reliever Luke Jackson, who Detroit designated for assignment on Friday to make room for Heuer.

The Tigers signed Jackson on July 26 following his release by the Texas Rangers. However, bringing Jackson aboard resulted in Detroit losing two relievers, Brenan Hanifee and PJ Poulin. According to Petzold, the Tigers could have avoided this situation even after signing Jackson, had they cut Jackson following the trade deadline.

Failing to cut Luke Jackson harmed the Tigers’ bullpen

“The Tigers lost right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee from their active roster and left-handed reliever PJ Poulin from their organization — all to keep Jackson for one more relief appearance," Petzold explained.

"Those players could still be here. … After the July 31 trade deadline, the Tigers needed to open spots on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters. The Tigers decided to option Hanifee (as the 26-man roster move) and designate Poulin for assignment (as the 40-man roster move), rather than cutting ties with Jackson. One week later, the Tigers parted ways with Jackson anyway. … The entire situation seemed like a waste.”

Hanifee can still pitch for the Tigers, but not until August 17 (barring an injury to a big leaguer), as pitchers must stay in the minors for at least 15 days after an option. 

Poulin, on the other hand, won’t be pitching for the Tigers anytime soon, or perhaps ever again. The 29-year-old was swiftly claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals on August 3. Much to the chagrin of Tigers fans, Poulin threw a scoreless inning for the Nationals on Wednesday in his MLB debut.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch addressed the Jackson mess on Friday, providing a variation on a theme of the popular phrase, “It is what it is.”

“We make decisions when we do,” Hinch said about Jackson, per Petzold.

It wasn’t the most satisfying answer, but then again, the question would have more appropriately been posed to Harris, who is not in the good graces of Tigers fans right now.