Tigers should take worthwhile risk on Yankees pitcher who had 2025 option declined

The Detroit Tigers only lost one player, Shelby Miller, to unrestricted free agency once the 2024 World Series came to a close. For the most part, the exact same roster is going to be returning for another go-round in 2025, but there are some spots that could use some love.

Despite the fact that Tigers relievers finished with the fifth-lowest bullpen ERA in the game last year while also throwing the most innings, there's room for another player to be thrown into the mix.

Beau Brieske, Jason Foley, Tyler Holton and Will Vest spent the vast majority of the season dominating the opposition and forming a rock-solid quartet in the back-end of the Tigers' bullpen. Even Brant Hurter and Brenan Hanifee made it up to The Show and immediately starting shoving.

But there's also a spot that will likely be held down by the old and unreliable veteran Kenta Maeda. The Tigers need to do what they can to form their own super-bullpen like their division rival Cleveland Guardians have done with theirs.

That Emmanuel Clase-Cade Smith-Hunter Gaddis-Tim Herrin foursome was one of the best the game of baseball has ever seen. The Tigers may not have bullpen upgrades high up on their priority list since there are some offensive holes to be plugged and at least one spot in their starting rotation up for grabs.

Regardless, they could use another arm in that 'pen. How about former Yankee Lou Trivino?

The Tigers should target Lou Trivino in free agency

After having his 2025 option declined by the New York Yankees, Trivino is back on the open market. The right-hander made 25 appearances for the Yankees in 2022, posting a sparkling 1.66 ERA alongside a still-impressive 3.34 FIP and 240 ERA+. That's the last we've seen of him at the big-league level, as a Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2023 and 2024 seasons.

With that brand new elbow in tow, Trivino is a quietly solid arm that is guaranteed to come for cheap. The Tigers aren't exactly strapped for cash, but bringing in a low-cost pitcher like Trivino would help them in their pursuit for talent on the higher end.

Trivino has five big league seasons under his belt and posted above-average stat lines in three of them (three-and-a-half if you count that second-half showing for the 2022 Yankees). He's consistently been an oft-used arm over the course of his career and even has quite a bit of closing experience under his belt.

Detroit's bullpen is young and largely inexperienced. Signing a clear bounce-back candidate like Trivino makes all the sense in the world. We're going to make it all about money here, and it's important to remember that saving money to sign Trivino instead of a Tanner Scott helps the Tigers out in their pursuit of a big bat (or two...) in free agency.