Detroit Tigers: 3 closers to consider signing this offseason

The Detroit Tigers may not be big spenders, but if they want to lock down their bullpen’s back end, they could sign any of these three closers.

As the Detroit Tigers move through the offseason, they will need to address their bullpen, specifically the bullpen’s backend. The Tigers need a closer; whether that be an internal solution or someone who is brought in via free agency, something needs to be done.

The initial thought was that Joe Jiménez would be the closer, someone who could lock down the ninth inning and earn a save. While it could have just been an off-year, 2020 was not good for Jiménez, seeing him fade from prominence. He seems better suited as another bullpen arm rather than a closer.

The organization also has Gregory Soto bringing the heat in the back end of the bullpen, but the odds are he remains that setup/bridge arm for the Tigers organization. He will likely stay in this role, but a radical move by the Tigers could see him get a few ninth-inning reps.

Beyond that, there are other options like Buck Farmer or Bryan Garcia, who could try and fit the build of the role as well. Farmer has been exceptional the past few seasons, being one of the Tigers’ more reliable bullpen arms.

On the other hand, Garcia rose to the occasion near the end of the 2020 season, emerging as the “closer” when Jiménez was stripped of his duties. Garcia could earn the job again in 2021, but the odds are the “outside hire” will be in the conversation.

The Tigers will likely turn to free agency and the open market to bring in an arm or two that could join the closer conversation. Beyond the benefit of having a steady closer, they also will be adding a trade asset.

The likelihood is that the Tigers would sign these bullpen arms to one-year deals, meaning they could move these pitchers at the trade deadline to acquire some assets in the process. Adding some prospects, even low-level, for these arms makes it all worth it.

Even if the team neglects to move any of the arms they sign, adding a steady and reliable closer only allows the organization to have stability from the ninth-inning guy.

That being said, take a look at three arms the Detroit Tigers should think about adding if they want to have an excellent lockdown arm for the ninth-inning.