Tigers map their offseason priorities: bullpen whiffs, then answers for the back end

Detroit has started an offseason bullpen reset after declining Kenley Jansen’s option for next season. President of baseball operations Scott Harris framed the move as the opening step in a broader makeover for the Tigers’ late innings, with a clear priority on increasing strikeouts from the bullpen.

At the Major League Baseball General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, Harris said pitching would be the focus “throughout this winter,” specifically targeting “more swing-and-miss to the back end of our ‘pen.” He also said the Tigers want a stable, veteran presence that can handle both right-handed and left-handed hitters, and add leadership in the clubhouse.

By the numbers, Detroit’s bullpen strikeouts were a team concern in 2026. The Tigers averaged 8.36 strikeouts per nine innings out of their bullpen, the third-lowest mark in the American League and 23rd among MLB teams. Among Tigers relievers with more than 30 innings, Harris pointed to the strikeout gap as part of the reason the team is emphasizing whiff potential.

The internal picture is mixed but not empty. The Tigers’ whiff rates included Tyler Holton at 23.4 percent, while Kyle Finnegan’s whiff rate rose to over 25 percent for the first time since 2022. Harris also discussed Will Vest’s progress as he works back from a season that included hip and elbow surgeries in late summer, with Harris saying Vest looked good during recent workouts and is expected to be ready for next season.

Whether that makeover includes a traditional closer remains open. Harris acknowledged the free-agent market for closers is not deep, and he suggested the Tigers’ approach is wider than one specific role, saying he expects roster-building to be driven by overall bullpen needs and bullpen leadership rather than a single label.

Harris did not commit to replacing Jansen with another proven closer. Instead, he described the Tigers’ intent to add right-handed relievers who can throw strikes, miss bats, and get lefties and righties out, while also pointing to depth on the left side from both development and top-end performance.