Tigers need to consider drastic measures with Kyle Finnegan after failed return

The Tigers' loss to the Twins on Tuesday was, in a word, disgusting. Not only was it their second consecutive loss by 10 or more runs, it was even worse than the night before, with a final score of 15-2.

The blowup was not any one person's fault; rather, there was plenty of blame to go around. A Dillon Dingler throwing error opened the floodgates for Minnesota in the fifth, and Troy Melton lost it by the sixth. The score was 7-1 when Kyle Finnegan entered the game, but it was 12-1 when he exited.

Finnegan came on with one out, courtesy of Melton, but immediately gave up a double, then a walk, then an RBI single, then a sac fly, then a walk, then a three-run homer, after which he was replaced by Beau Brieske.

It was Finnegan's worst outing of the season — and he was having a pretty bad season up to that point. His 4.07 ERA after the blowup doesn't do his ineffectiveness justice, but his 1.63 WHIP is a better representation of how untrustworthy he's become.

He's still owed $8 million in 2027 and has a mutual option worth $10 million for 2028. Not only should the Tigers not exercise it, they should let go of Finnegan as soon as the season ends.

Tigers need to face the music and non-tender Kyle Finnegan after the 2026 season

We'd love for the Tigers to get rid of him right now, but they do still have 20-odd games to play, and unfortunately, Finnegan is still a better answer than any of the arms Detroit has stashed away in the minors right now.

We can all admit by now that the Tigers aren't going to come back from this series. Keep Finnegan on the roster for a few more weeks, use him sparingly, but non-tender him at the first available opportunity.

The Tigers hate eating money, but Scott Harris needs to embark on a full teardown of this bullpen in the offseason. The market is going to move quickly given everyone's fear of a lockout, but Harris needs to be at the forefront, snapping up at least two new late-inning arms to replace Finnegan and Jansen immediately.

He had the opportunity to do something about it at the trade deadline, but passed. Maybe when the threat of having to give up prospects is somewhat alleviated and he can just focus on buying, something will actually be done. Regardless, Finnegan can't be on the roster next season.

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