The Detroit Tigers have wasted little time attacking their bullpen after a 2026 season that exposed just how shaky the late innings could get. After adding Jacob Waguespack on a one-year deal and then Emilio Pagan on another one-year contract, Detroit appears to be staying focused on relief help.
Now the Tigers are being linked to another veteran arm.
According to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR on X (formerly Twitter), Detroit is interested in right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias. With Kenley Jansen no longer in the picture after the Tigers declined his 2027 club option, the team seems to be circling another experienced closer-type option.
Iglesias brings a long track record of finishing games. Since making his MLB debut in 2015 with the Cincinnati Reds, he has racked up 287 saves. He has built a reputation as a steady bullpen presence, and that matters for a Detroit team that spent too much of 2026 uneasy once the game got into the later innings.
The fit is obvious on paper, but there’s a catch: Iglesias is set to be 37 next season, so any deal would likely come with some risk. Still, his recent run with the Atlanta Braves has been strong enough to keep him in demand. Since 2022, Iglesias has posted a 2.39 ERA, finished 215 games, recorded 131 saves, and thrown 278.2 innings.
Durability is part of the appeal too. Iglesias has not appeared in at least 55 games since 2020, though that year came in the shortened season. For a bullpen-needy club, that kind of reliability is hard to ignore.
Detroit may not be alone in the chase, though. Romero also reported that the Braves remain interested in keeping Iglesias, which could complicate matters for the Tigers if they decide to push harder.
The right-hander’s changeup is the pitch that stands out most. In 2026, it produced a 40.7% whiff rate and a 28.2% putaway percentage. His fastball averaged 94.3 mph last season, down slightly from 94.9 mph in 2025.
If the Tigers want to land him, they may have to pay up. Spotrac.com lists Iglesias’ market value at two years and $22.7 million after he made $16 million with Atlanta in 2026. If Detroit follows that path, the second year would likely need a club option, much like the one it declined with Jansen, given Iglesias’ age.
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