Kenley Jansen arrived in Detroit last offseason to give the Tigers a proven closer and help steady the back end of the bullpen. The idea was simple enough: Jansen, Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan would lock things down in late innings. Instead, the plan unraveled fast.
Vest’s injuries pushed more of the load onto Finnegan and Jansen, and the Tigers wound up with one of the least reliable bullpens in baseball. Jansen finished the year with a 3.20 ERA, but he also blew six saves, a number that helped define Detroit’s struggles in tight games.
That bullpen collapse looms large as the Tigers head into the offseason. Blown late leads played a major role in Detroit missing the playoffs, and Jansen’s future is now part of the conversation. He made $11 million in 2026 and has a $12 million club option for 2027, but the latest market projection suggests the Tigers may have a clear path to walk away.
Spotrac.com projects Jansen’s market value at one year and $6 million. For Detroit, that makes the decision easier if the front office decides it wants to move in another direction. Jansen is projected to be worth less now than he was when the Tigers signed him, and that gap matters.
If the club option is declined, Detroit would owe Jansen a $2 million buyout. In practical terms, the Tigers would be paying him to test free agency elsewhere. With Jansen chasing 500 career saves, he would likely find another landing spot if he hits the open market.
There’s still value in what Jansen can do in the biggest moments, but his current price tag no longer lines up with his production. His velocity has trended down since 2025, and he allowed seven home runs, a rough parallel to the six saves he lost.
Money matters here too. The Tigers are not built like a top-spending club, and they need to keep their resources flexible with several players nearing arbitration and more money potentially opening up when some free agents come off the books in 2027. Detroit has to make every dollar count.
In Other News...
Tigers May Be Closing In On An Intriguing International Infield Prospect
The Tigers appear to be circling an intriguing international addition as the January signing period approaches, with reports linking them to 18-year-old shortstop Nam Hyun-woo out of Seoul Convention High School. Nam has drawn attention not only as a KBO draft prospect, but also because of the kind of profile Detroit has shown an interest in building around - a young infielder with room to develop and enough talent to merit a closer look from scouts.
Nothing has been confirmed by the Tigers yet, but the fit is easy to understand from their side. An international signing like this would add another possible piece to the organizations infield pipeline, and the early buzz around Nam suggests there is real belief in his long-term upside. For now, it remains a name to watch once the market opens in January, with Detroits next move still pending. [Read more 🡒]
One Tigers Prospect Could Shift Detroit's Entire Pitching Plan
The Tigers have spent the last few seasons leaning on an influx of young talent, and that wave is still rolling through the organization. Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Hao-Yu Lee, Colt Keith, Jackson Jobe and Troy Melton are all part of the clubs broader youth movement, but the pitching side of the equation has been the more urgent concern after Detroit moved Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize and watched Jack Flaherty head toward free agency.
Into that opening steps Andrew Sears, a left-hander drafted in the 10th round in 2023 who reached the majors in 2026 and suddenly has a chance to matter more than anyone might have guessed. If Sears is able to compete for a rotation job, it could change how aggressively the Tigers need to shop for a mid-range starter this winter, and it gives Detroit another internal option at a time when every bit of pitching depth carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Former Orioles Lefty Finds A New Chance After Brutal Setback
The Tigers have added another arm to their pitching pipeline, signing left-hander Nick Raquet to a two-year minor league contract as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. The deal gives Detroit a low-risk, longer-term bet on a pitcher who will spend the entire 2027 season rehabbing, but whose next opportunity could come once he is healthy again.
For a club that has spent plenty of time sorting through pitching depth, the move is as much about patience as it is about upside. Raquet now has some security while he recovers, and the Tigers are planning around a 2028 return if everything progresses as expected. For a player coming off such a brutal setback, it is at least a clear path forward. [Read more 🡒]