Detroit Tigers: What’s on their 2022 post-lockout to-do list

While there is definitely no shortage of relief-pitching options available on the free agent market, there seems to be a relatively small list of pitchers with proven experience closing games. The Tigers have put the pedal-to-the-metal to begin the offseason and there’s no reason they should think about lifting now.

The Detroit Tigers should sign Kenley Jansen to be their closer

Kenley Jansen went from a minor-league catcher to relief pitcher on the Dodgers’ big league roster in roughly a year. Since then, he has blossomed into one of the game’s very best closers. His extensive track record consists of three All Star appearances, two NL Reliever of the Year awards, a World Series ring, 350 saves, and a 2.37 career ERA with 1,022 strikeouts. He is just the 12th reliever in MLB history to record 1,000 strikeouts in his career. The long story short with Jansen is that he’s the best of the best.

The longtime Los Angeles Dodger, Kenley Jansen is now 34 years old and entering his second career trip through free agency. Coming off of a five-year, $80 million contract that he landed with the Dodgers back in 2017, Jansen features one of the best cutters in the game. Throwing the pitch just under 60% of the time in 2021 and just over 60% in 2020, Jansen relies heavily on the mid-90s cutter that is absolutely deadly and has been giving hitter fits since he burst onto the scene in 2010.

Since becoming a full-time reliever, Jansen has never appeared in less than 51 games in a season dating all the way back to 2011. His career strikeouts per nine inning percentage is at 13.0, which is good for sixth in active relief pitchers that have over 100 appearances to their name (courtesy of that statistic is thanks to Stathead, a baseball nerd heaven for someone like myself).

In MLB Trade Rumors’ annual top 50 free agent predictions, they had Jansen ranked as the #29 free agent going into the offseason and predicted that he would land a two-year, $26 million contract in free agency. My prediction? The Detroit Tigers continue to spend spend spend and sign Kenley Jansen to a three-year, $39 million contract, essentially adding another year at $13 million to MLBTR’s prediction.

The Detroit Tigers should sign Sean Doolittle to pair with lefty Gregory Soto

In his prime, Sean Doolittle was one of MLB’s best left-handed relief pitchers. While 2018 was his last truly dominant season, Doolittle has been a serviceable back-of-the-bullpen option for the Nationals, Reds, and Mariners.

A two-time All-Star, Sean Doolittle is a strikeout artist who is very effective at limiting the walk and the home run, traits that all teams could use on their staff. Bouncing from the Reds to the Mariners in 2021, Doolittle ended the season with 56 appearances, striking out 53 and walking just 23 in 49 innings.

Should Detroit bring Sean Doolittle aboard, he would serve as a left-handed setup man for new closer Kenley Jansen and would pair nicely with Gregory Soto, a reliever the Tigers gave a look at in the closer’s role in 2021 but is best served as a long-relief option.

Miguel Del Pozo is another intriguing but inexperienced left-handed option for the club, but he is not quite ready to be in the same conversation as Doolittle or Soto.

The Detroit Tigers should sign Mitch Moreland as their first baseman

Now I know the Detroit Tigers are not made of money, but the club currently has something of a black hole on their depth chart at first base. One option on the free agent market who wouldn’t break the bank for the Tigers is former Gold Glove winner Mitch Moreland.

Moreland, 36, is a former All-Star and World Series champion who still possesses double-digit home run power and is durable enough to present Detroit with a reliable and cheap option at first.

With an aging Miguel Cabrera the only true first baseman currently on the 40-man, the Tigers also have catcher Eric Haase and utilitymen Harold and Willi Castro on-hand and capable of playing first but all four of the previously mentioned players are not first baseman by trade.

Mitch Moreland has put up better numbers against right-handed pitchers in his career, but that is mostly due to the sample size (he has appeared in 1,100+ games against righties and just 571 against southpaws). While has has shown the ability to hit for power against all pitching, he would slot in nicely in the Tigers lineup, potentially splitting time at first base and designated hitter with any number of Eric Haase, Miguel Cabrera, W. Castro, H. Castro, Jonathan Schoop, and Jeimer Candelario.

The Detroit Tigers need to take a long look at Spencer Torkelson and Isaac Paredes

Spencer Torkelson and Isaac Paredes may still be only 22 years old, but they seem to be on the fast track to Major League Baseball stardom.

Starting with Torkelson, the big slugger split his time in 2021 between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A for the Tigers, ultimately finishing his first professional season with 30 home runs, 91 RBI, and an above average slash line of .267/.383/.552.

Torkelson was drafted as the first pick in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft by the Tigers as a third baseman, a move that was something of a surprise at the time due to the fact that he had never played a single inning at third all throughout his college career. In 2021, “Tork” split his time defensively between both third base and first base. He spent some time in his collegiate career in the corner outfield too, a spot he could potentially see some time at going forward.

While Torkelson is still just 22, he showed this past season that he’s the real deal. With the previously mentioned massive black hole at first on the Tigers depth chart, he would be an intriguing option to get some playing time there in 2022.

Middle-infielder Isaac Paredes, unlike Torkelson, has already seen major league action in parts of both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He has started his big league career a bit slow, with two home runs and a .215 batting average through his first 193 plate appearances, but his minor league career has been a bit more impressive.

Spending the vast majority of 2021 in Triple-A, Paredes hit 12 home runs with 44 RBI and a .260 batting average. The number on his stat-line that jumps out the most is the fact that he walked (59 times) more than he struck out (50 times). This is actually not even the first time Paredes has done this in his professional career either, as he also accomplished the feat in 2020 (splitting time between MLB and the Mexican Pacific Winter League) and struck out just four more times than he walked in 2019.

Paredes is primarily a third baseman by trade, but he saw significant time at second this past year and is capable of playing shortstop too. That versatility paired with his excellent eye and up-and-coming bat skills should earn him an extended look at the big league level.