Tigers insider's trade deadline rumor could foreshadow bigger move for closer in free agency

The Tigers' bullpen is in dire need of a makeover this offseason and, lucky for Scott Harris, relievers are the cheapest contingent of the free agent market. While they doesn't necessarily guarantee any movement on the free agent front, it's more likely that we see Detroit sign a couple of bullpen arms over a single position player.

They already started making some progress on that front. Jacob Waguespack was re-signed to a one-year major league deal and Kenley Jansen was let go. Waguespack, Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Drew Sommers, Ty Madden, and Beau Brieske remain in the bullpen, but Madden and Brieske's spots could be in jeopardy.

So there's room for the Tigers to buy here — and they need to. After a huge swath of the Triple-A roster left in minor league free agency, only one pitcher there (Jackson Wolf, who came over in the Casey Mize trade) might be a plausible addition by Opening Day.

MLB.com's Tigers insider Jason Beck reminded fans of Detroit's interest in former Pirates and Yankees closer David Bednar at last year's trade deadline. Bednar went to the Yankees instead in exchange for three prospects, but he's a free agent this offseason (if he turns down New York's qualifying offer).

That interest might be something that needs to be revisited in these next few months.

Tigers should revisit trade deadline interest in David Bednar to help bullpen rebuild ahead of 2027

The Athletic predicts Bednar will end up with a three-year, $57 million deal; MLB Trade Rumors predicts four years and $68 million; and ESPN predicts three years and $60 million. This would put him in the range of a $17-20 million AAV. That's a lot to pay for a reliever — in fact, the Tigers have never paid that much for one.

So they could be more comfortable with someone a little further down the tier list — a Bryan Abreu or an Alex Vesia, maybe, who are both predicted to make somewhere in the realm of $22 million(-ish) over two or three years.

But aside from an awkward 2024 season with the Pirates, Bednar has been basically lights out since 2021. He's eighth on the active career saves leaderboard and picked up 35 in 39 opportunities in 2026.

It's probably a little too much to ask the Tigers to go that far for Bednar, especially if they're married to the idea of Drew Sommers as their future closer, but it doesn't hurt to dream. At least, in this case, Harris wouldn't have to give up prospects for him.

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