Tigers sign former top draft pick of division rival to assist ailing pitching staff

The Detroit Tigers are searching for bullpen answers, so they’re turning to a familiar AL Central name in hopes of uncovering one.

Detroit agreed to a minor league deal with former Cleveland Guardians reliever Nick Sandlin this week, adding another experienced arm to an increasingly taxed pitching staff. Once viewed as one of Cleveland’s more reliable middle-inning weapons, Sandlin now arrives in Toledo looking to revive his career after injuries and declining stuff derailed his last two seasons.

For a Tigers bullpen suddenly dealing with injuries and inconsistent swing-and-miss production, the move carries little risk — and potentially sneaky upside if Detroit can help the former top draft pick rediscover his slider-heavy form.

Tigers take low-risk flier on Nick Sandlin amid growing bullpen concerns

On the surface, Sandlin's numbers are rough. The 29-year-old allowed 11 runs in just 8 2/3 innings with the Los Angeles Angels last month while struggling badly with command and generating a career-low swinging-strike rate. Still, it's easy to forget he was once a very reliable reliever inside the AL Central.

From 2021-24 with Cleveland, Sandlin posted a 3.27 ERA across nearly 200 innings while carving out a role as a dependable middle-inning weapon. His funky low-slot delivery and sweeping slider made him particularly difficult on right-handed hitters, and at his best, he missed plenty of bats while limiting hard contact.

That version of Sandlin may not fully exist anymore. His velocity has steadily declined since debuting with a 94 mph fastball, now sitting closer to 91-92. He also underwent offseason elbow surgery before signing with the Angels, which likely contributed to both the diminished stuff and lack of command.

But for Detroit, there’s almost no downside here. The Tigers’ bullpen numbers look respectable overall with a 3.83 ERA, but the underlying indicators suggest this group could use reinforcement. Detroit ranks in the bottom third of baseball in swinging-strike rate for the second straight season, and injuries are already beginning to thin the late-inning picture.

Will Vest landing on the injured list with forearm inflammation exposed how fragile bullpen depth can become in a hurry. Beyond Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen, there isn’t an overwhelming amount of proven swing-and-miss relief depth in the organization right now.

If the Tigers can help Sandlin rediscover even part of the slider-heavy approach that made him successful in Cleveland, this could become a sneaky valuable addition by midseason. And if it doesn’t work? Detroit loses virtually nothing beyond a Triple-A roster spot.

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