Tigers insider names dark horse bullpen candidate as Detroit continues to make cuts

As the Detroit Tigers inch closer to final roster cuts, one surprising name has quietly forced his way into a conversation that, on paper, he probably shouldn’t have been part of.

At 35 years old with a career 5.79 ERA across parts of six MLB seasons, Burch Smith is the definition of a non-roster flier — the kind of arm teams bring into camp for depth, not necessarily for meaningful April innings. But spring training has a way of reshaping expectations, and Smith has taken full advantage of that window.

The numbers jump out immediately. In a small sample, yes — but an important one — Smith has shown swing-and-miss ability and, just as importantly, control. His strikeout-to-walk profile this spring (nine punchouts to just one free pass in roughly a week’s worth of work) mirrors what teams are looking for in the modern bullpen: miss bats, limit damage, and avoid self-inflicted trouble.

Smith’s fastball still has life, touching the mid-90s, and the “vertical ride” profile plays in today’s game where elevated heaters pair well with secondary offerings. Add in a five-pitch mix — sinker, cutter, changeup, curveball — and suddenly you’re looking at a pitcher who can adapt to different matchups rather than being pigeonholed into one lane.

Smith's versatility matters, especially for a Tigers bullpen that still feels unsettled at the margins. That, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, is where the opportunity opens.

Burch Smith emerging as dark horse bullpen candidate in Tigers spring training

With injuries thinning the right-handed depth — most notably Beau Brieske’s absence — and inconsistency from other candidates like Brenan Hanifee, the Tigers don’t necessarily need perfection from their final bullpen arm. They need reliability, flexibility, and someone who can give competitive innings in low-to-middle leverage spots without unraveling. Smith is checking those boxes.

What makes him especially intriguing is the contrast between past and present. As recently as 2024, he posted a 4.95 ERA across 50 MLB appearances — not dominant, but serviceable. When paired with improved command this spring, it raises a fair question: is there still something here to unlock?

For a Tigers team trying to transition from rebuilding to competing, these are exactly the kinds of bets that matter. Not every bullpen piece needs to be a high-profile acquisition. Sometimes, it’s about identifying the veteran who has quietly adjusted something — pitch shape, usage, sequencing — and is suddenly one tweak away from being useful.

Smith may never be a headline. But right now, he doesn’t need to be. He just needs to keep doing exactly what he’s done all spring: take the ball, throw strikes, and make it impossible for Detroit to ignore him.