GOOD NEWS: Tigers Shake the Market by Securing Kyle Finnegan on a Two-Year Deal Amid a Turbulent Reliever Landscape
The Detroit Tigers made one of the most intriguing bullpen moves of the offseason, agreeing to a two-year contract with veteran reliever Kyle Finnegan, according to multiple reports. The deal lands at a critical moment, as the relief pitching market has been heating up and thinning out rapidly, making Detroit’s timing as significant as the acquisition itself.
Finnegan, 33, has spent the last several seasons emerging as one of the most durable and quietly effective late-inning arms in the league. His velocity, command under pressure and ability to pitch across multiple leverage situations made him one of the more coveted names available. For a Tigers team trying to climb meaningfully into contention within the AL Central, securing a reliever with Finnegan’s profile provides both stability and upside.
What stands out most is the strategic efficiency of the move. While several contenders have been scrambling for bullpen help, often at inflated prices, Detroit moved quickly and decisively. This is the type of mid-market aggression that signals a franchise trying to turn a competitive corner. For the Tigers’ front office, the signing fits seamlessly into a broader pattern: calculated investments in reliable, high-floor players who fill immediate needs without compromising long-term financial flexibility.
Finnegan brings more than experience. He brings predictability—something Detroit’s bullpen has sorely lacked. Over the past three seasons, he has posted consistent strikeout rates, maintained a fastball that sits comfortably in the upper 90s and shown an ability to limit damage even in high-traffic innings. In an era where reliever volatility is the norm, Finnegan is the type of pitcher managers trust in games that matter.
For Detroit fans, this move also represents a shift in tone. In recent years, the Tigers often found themselves reacting to the market rather than shaping it. The Finnegan signing suggests they’re no longer content to sit back and wait for opportunities. They’re taking them.
The deal’s timing is also crucial. Many reliever targets have already come off the board, and prices were beginning to balloon as teams became more desperate late in the cycle. By acting when they did, the Tigers avoided a bidding war while still addressing a glaring roster need.
Finnegan’s role in Detroit will likely be a flexible one. He could slot into eighth-inning duties, serve as a matchup-driven late-game weapon or even step into the closer role depending on how the rest of the bullpen settles. His versatility makes him a stabilizing force for manager A.J. Hinch, who has often had to piece together late innings with inconsistent results.
The Tigers aren’t a finished product, and no single reliever is going to transform a roster overnight. But this signing reinforces a growing sense that Detroit is building with intent—one well-constructed move at a time. Whether this addition becomes a turning point or simply a solid piece of the puzzle remains to be seen, but it unquestionably moves the Tigers closer to the kind of bullpen reliability required to compete deep into the summer.
In a market where relievers have become one of the scarcest—and most unpredictable—commodities, Detroit found one they believe in. And just as importantly, they acted like a team ready to win.
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