The Detroit Tigers may not have gone big at the 2025 trade deadline — but they might’ve just gone smart.
Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, Detroit’s bullpen was in urgent need of reinforcements. The unit had been faltering for weeks, squandering leads and overtaxing the rotation. And while fans were hoping for a flashy addition — a high-octane closer with elite strikeout numbers — the front office opted for depth and experience over star power.
They walked away with a handful of arms: Rafael Montero from the Braves, Codi Heuer, and Paul Sewald (currently on the IL). But the move that could matter most down the stretch? Kyle Finnegan, acquired from the Washington Nationals, is a veteran right-hander with real ninth-inning pedigree.
Finnegan Delivers in Pressure-Packed Tigers Debut
Finnegan didn’t have to wait long to earn his keep. On Saturday, he was thrown directly into the fire against the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the National League’s most dangerous lineups.
Detroit was clinging to a 7-5 lead in the eighth when Will Vest surrendered a two-run bomb to Bryce Harper, followed by a single to J.T. Realmuto. That’s when manager A.J. Hinch called on his new closer, and Finnegan answered the call.
He got Nick Castellanos to roll over a ground ball to second, ending the threat and keeping the Tigers in front. Then he came back out for the ninth and slammed the door, retiring the side in order — including a strikeout of Otto Kemp — to secure the victory.
Just What the Tigers Needed
Finnegan isn’t the flashiest name on the trade board, but his resume speaks for itself: 11+ saves in five straight seasons, and a proven track record in late-inning situations. While his strikeout numbers may not jump off the page, his calm under pressure and ability to get outs when it matters are exactly what this Tigers bullpen was lacking.
With Detroit pushing for a postseason berth, games like Saturday’s — where Tarik Skubal pitched brilliantly (7 IP, 3 ER, 10 K, 0 BB) — can’t go to waste. Adding a veteran closer like Finnegan gives them a reliable option to protect leads and stabilize a the bullpen.
Detroit’s Deadline Strategy: Quiet but Calculated
While other contenders paid premium prices for top-tier relievers, the Tigers chose quantity and fit, avoiding an overpay and instead building depth across the bullpen. It’s a gamble, but one that already paid off in Game 1 of the post-deadline era.
And if Finnegan continues to deliver like he did against Philadelphia, Detroit may have landed one of the most under-the-radar difference-makers of the deadline.
