The Detroit Tigers' Best Free-Agency Backup Plans If They Miss on Top Targets

The Detroit Tigers have had a productive offseason to this point. Their biggest priority, Victor Martinez, was promptly inked for another four years, and signings/trades have also yielded Joakim Soria, Alex Avila, Anthony Gose, Joel Hanrahan and Josh Zeid.

Not bad for seven weeks' work.

Assembling Detroit’s squad won’t stop there. Despite answering questions regarding designated hitter, catcher and, to a degree, center field, one glaring blemish still remains: the bullpen.

Speaking recently to Matt Dery on Detroit Sports 105.1 radio, Jon Morosi of Fox Sports believes it is essential that Detroit continues upgrading its relief stocks: "This (signing Hanrahan) can’t be the end of their bullpen spending. You cannot allow the bullpen to be your downfall for the third straight year."

But with considerable cash already spent, what can we expect from team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski? His recent words suggest continued investment but of a more subtle nature, per Chris Iott of MLive: "I'm not saying we're done, but sometimes they're not the big splashy ones. They don't have to be big dollars and big splashes."

Detroit is particularly thin at left-handed relief. Andrew Miller is by far the best lefty available and arguably the best reliever overall on the market. Tigers fans would be tickled pink if their former first-round pick once again donned the home blue and whites; however, Dombrowski’s words seem to imply that Miller is not on the team’s radar.

There are still plenty of other fish in the sea that Detroit may wish to cast a line at if, indeed, Miller is beyond its ambitions.

We cannot forget that there are also internal options. Blaine Hardy was good last season until his performances dropped off late in the year. Ian Krol had an excellent start to the season (2.33 ERA in April-May), but he was awful after that. Kyle Ryan, whom manager Brad Ausmus turned to a few times out of the bullpen in September, is another alternative.

But if the Tigers do decide to look externally, these are the best candidates…

Tom Gorzelanny

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Aug 2, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (32) throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Brewers 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Gorzelanny could be an excellent under-the-radar pickup for Detroit.

His 4.27 career ERA shouts mediocrity, but at 32, the converted starter may now be finding his niche in the pen. After returning from a rotator cuff injury in June for the Milwaukee Brewers, Gorzelanny compiled some of his career-best numbers: a 0.86 ERA and 9.9 K/9.

Gorzelanny’s out-pitch during his career has been the slider. According to Brooks Baseball, hitters have whiffed nearly 18 percent of the time and have hit only .210 off of it. While getting lefties out is his strength, Gorzelanny is no slouch at retiring righties; they hit .216 against him in 2014.  

His history as a starting pitcher would also give the Tigers some versatility. He could provide them with multiple-inning outings or be used purely for lefty-lefty matchups.

Craig Breslow

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Aug 25, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox pitcher Craig Breslow (32) and catcher Christian Vazquez (55) celebrate a win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Boston defeated Toronto 4-3 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-

Craig Breslow went the other way to Gorzelanny in 2014. Rather than produce his finest work, the Red Sox lefty was dismal during his contract year.

Breslow’s future employer will be hoping that he can return to vintage form next year. His 2014 season could not have contrasted more with the previous campaign. Breslow’s ERA for Boston in its championship-winning 2013 year (1.81) was less than a third of what it was this year (5.96).

Prior to this dip, he had kept his ERA under 4.00 every season, bar one, since 2005.

Has Breslow hit a wall, or is last season just a one-off?

Judging by Boston’s decision not to pick up his option, perhaps it believes the former. The alternative answer could be fatigue after a wearying 2013 campaign.

At 34, you’d figure his arm has a few more outs left in it. If the Tigers are convinced of this, they may just pounce on him.

Joe Thatcher

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Sep 24, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Joe Thatcher (54) returns to the dugout against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers should also turn the blind eye toward Joe Thatcher’s most recent performances.

Dealt from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Los Angeles Angels before the 2014 trade deadline, the 33-year-old was a massive failure down the stretch with a 8.53 ERA in 16 games. His ineffectiveness even cost him a place on the Angels’ playoff roster.

Prior to that, Thatcher was producing some of his finest work as a MLB pitcher. In 37 games with Arizona, he had a 2.63 ERA and an impressive 8.33 K/BB ratio.

Thatcher has been an above-average reliever throughout his years in the majors. The eight-year veteran has a solid career ERA (3.40) and averages more than a strikeout per inning.

Similar to Gorzelanny, his slider is his nastiest pitch. According to Brooks Baseball, hitters have hit only .181 off of Thatcher’s hook in his career.

If he can re-find his groove, Thatcher would certainly be an upgrade on the less experienced Krol and Hardy, who need more time to mature.

Unless otherwise stated, all stats in this article are courtesy of MLB.com.

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