Detroit Tigers Sign Kyle Finnegan to Two-Year Deal Worth $19 Million

The Detroit Tigers have signed veteran reliever Kyle Finnegan to a two-year contract valued at $19 million, with an additional $1 million in potential bonuses. This move comes as the Tigers finalize their roster, which currently stands at full capacity, indicating that a corresponding roster adjustment will be necessary.

Finnegan, who previously played for the Washington Nationals, was acquired by Detroit at the trade deadline during the last season. At that time, he had a 4.38 earned run average and a strikeout rate below 20%, which was considered a modest contribution for a significant bullpen acquisition. However, the Tigers identified his potential for improvement through adjustments to his pitching strategy.

Impressive Transition and Performance

In Washington, Finnegan predominantly relied on his fastball, throwing it nearly two-thirds of the time. His splitter was used around 30% of the time, with a slide-in slider on occasion. The Tigers encouraged him to enhance the use of his splitter, leading to a more balanced pitch mix. By August, his pitch distribution had shifted to almost a 50-50 split between the fastball and splitter, and by September, he featured his splitter over 55% of the time.

The results from these adjustments were swift and significant. Finnegan allowed just three runs across 16 innings during the regular season with the Tigers, striking out 23 batters out of 66 faced, effectively doubling his early-season strikeout rate. His swinging strike percentage also saw a notable increase of five percentage points. Finnegan secured four saves and three holds, maintaining a high-leverage role under manager A.J. Hinch, even after facing a brief injury setback due to a groin strain.

During the postseason, he contributed 7.1 innings with three earned runs, despite only recording three strikeouts. Over the course of the season, Finnegan achieved a 3.47 ERA and a 24% strikeout percentage across 57 innings pitched.

Future Prospects and Team Needs

As he prepares for the upcoming season, Finnegan enters with a career ERA of 3.56 and a 23.5% strikeout rate over nearly 300 major league appearances. His recent performance has shifted teams’ perceptions, especially considering his non-tender status last offseason. After not receiving a contract from the Nationals, he rejoined the team on a $6 million deal with deferrals.

With this new two-year contract, Finnegan marks the first multiyear agreement of his career, aligning closely with the MLB Trade Rumors prediction of a two-year, $20 million deal. He will reunite with Will Vest in the Tigers’ bullpen, both of whom are expected to play pivotal roles in high-pressure situations.

Despite bringing Finnegan onboard, the Tigers’ bullpen still ranked 25th in the league for strikeout rate last season. As they look to bolster their pitching staff, the team may pursue additional high-strikeout relievers, particularly right-handers, while relying on southpaws Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter.

The specific salary distribution for Finnegan’s contract remains undisclosed, but if his average salary of $9.5 million is evenly allocated, the Tigers’ projected payroll would rise to approximately $157 million, reflecting a significant increase of around $15 million from the previous season.

In the broader context of the league, several notable relievers remain unsigned, including Robert Suarez and Kenley Jansen, as teams continue to navigate the free-agent market. The Tigers’ strategic moves underline their commitment to strengthening their bullpen and enhancing their competitiveness in the upcoming season.