Detroit Tigers: Benefits of adding veteran closer Trevor Rosenthal
The Detroit Tigers bolstered their bullpen this week. They signed relief pitcher, Trevor Rosenthal, to a one-year minor league deal. Based on how he performs in Toledo, he may be in a Tiger uniform by the end of the month.
Trevor Rosenthal’s baseball career has been a roller coaster. Four years ago, he was an All-Star in St. Louis, saving 48 games. Two years later, he needed to have Tommy John surgery to save his elbow at the expense of the 2018 season. This year, after an inauspicious twelve games in Washington, he was cut by the Nationals. One week later: he signs a contract with the Detroit Tigers.
Rosenthal is a veteran. He has been in the league since 2012 and pitched in 340 games. At the same time, though, he is still a young player, at 29. Put another way, he would not be the oldest player in the bullpen, but he would have the most career appearances.
With the Cardinals, Rosenthal settled into the role of effective closer. He saved 121 games in 141 opportunities. Over that time, he maintained a 2.99 ERA and struck out 435 batters (1.3 per inning pitched). He also did an excellent job limiting opponents’ power, allowing only 17 home runs in the entire six-year span.
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The Tigers are not necessarily getting that Trevor Rosenthal, however. Following the 2017 season, Tommy John surgery cost him all of 2018. His 2019 return with Washington was not a good one. In fact, it took him five outings to record his first out.
In twelve games, Rosenthal gave up sixteen runs while desperately struggling with his control. He walked fifteen and only struck out five, uncharacteristic with the first part of his career. The lone bright spot is that he did not allow any home runs over that stretch, demonstrating he can still keep batters’ power in check.
This unfortunate return is why the Tigers are starting Rosenthal in Triple-A Toledo. It gives him a chance to work through any blocks and reacclimate to high-caliber play. In a way, his trajectory echoes that of Michael Fulmer, once Rookie of the Year and All-Star and currently rehabbing after Tommy John surgery himself. Between the two of them, the Tigers have two projects they eagerly hope develop into the prospects they once were.
The contract, worth $550,000 for one year, is a shrewd signing by Al Avila and the Tigers’ front office. Three years ago, following his All-Star campaign, the Cardinals resigned him at $5.6 million. Now, the Tigers are basically getting him on a rookie contract, granted, it is following an injury.
Next. Moving Miguel Cabrera to a permanent designated hitter. dark
This is a good move for the future of the Detroit Tigers. If Shane Greene is available to be traded by the end of July–and he should be–the Tigers have a veteran ready to come in at the end of games. At that price, Trevor Rosenthal is a steal.