The Tigers’ bullpen took a beating in 2026, and the late-inning mess played a major role in Detroit missing the playoffs. That’s a sharp turn from where the unit sat at the start of the year, when it was viewed as one of the club’s biggest strengths.
With Kenley Jansen’s club option likely not being picked up, Detroit will need another arm from the free-agent market. One name that stands out is a familiar one: John Schreiber.
Schreiber, a Michigan native, was drafted by the Tigers in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Wyandotte, MI. He’s been away from the organization for six years, but the fit for a reunion is obvious. After leaving Detroit, Schreiber turned himself into a dependable reliever with the Boston Red Sox, posting a 2.90 ERA and 3.5 WAR in 114.2 innings from 2021 to 2023.
Since then, he’s spent time with the Kansas City Royals and most recently the New York Yankees. His 3.28 ERA in 2026 only strengthens the case that he should be near the top of Detroit’s list.
That stands in stark contrast to his first run with the Tigers, when he struggled to a 6.28 ERA across 28 games in 2019 and 2020. But Schreiber is a different pitcher now, and as a veteran right-hander, he could give Detroit exactly the kind of late-inning stability it needs.
He wouldn’t have to be the closer, either. Schreiber’s job would be to help lock things down before handing the ball to Will Vest, if Vest earns the closer role after his 2026 surgeries. Schreiber has 14 career saves and, notably, a 0.00 ERA in the postseason.
There’s also the financial angle. Schreiber made $3.715 million in 2026, and he figures to come in at a price tag in the $6 million to $8 million range. That kind of number would fit the approach President of baseball operations Scott Harris prefers when it comes to free agents.
If Detroit makes the move, the bullpen picture for 2027 could include Tyler Holton, John Schreiber, Kyle Finnegan, Brant Hurter, Drew Sommers, Ty Madden and Jacob Waguespack.
In Other News...
Tigers May Have Found A Cheaper Matt Vierling Replacement
Scott Harris has made it pretty clear that Detroit is leaning toward a younger, cheaper way of building the roster, which makes the Tigers offseason feel a little different than the usual free-agent shopping spree. With Gleyber Torres potentially headed out and Matt Vierling possibly on the non-tender bubble, there is at least one opening on the roster that could be filled without forcing the club into a pricey commitment.
One name that fits that profile is Mauricio Dubn, a free-agent utility player whose value starts with the glove but got a boost from a career-best offensive season. For a Tigers team looking for flexibility, dependable defense and some lineup competence without paying a premium, he checks a lot of boxes. The question is whether Detroit sees him as the kind of practical fit that can replace what it might lose, or whether the market pushes the club in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]
Riley Greene Just Gave Tigers Fans A Reason To Celebrate
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Greenes recognition also stands out in a baseball landscape full of bigger postseason headlines, from the White Soxs strong run to the latest twists around Shohei Ohtani and a busy stretch of trades, injuries and team evaluations across the league. Even with all that noise, Detroit has its own reason to pay attention here, because nominations like this tend to confirm what the eye test already suggested - Greenes bat has started to carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Can't Fix This Roster Until Scott Harris Solves One Problem
The Tigers spent 2026 living with too much uncertainty in the late innings, and the numbers told the story as plainly as anything can in a bullpen: 32 saves, 32 blown saves. For a club trying to turn a promising roster into a sturdier contender, that kind of volatility has a way of infecting everything else, because even good starts and timely offense can get wiped away once the game gets to the back end.
Scott Harris has already acknowledged the roster lacks depth, and the offseason picture now looks pretty clear from Detroits side. The Tigers have a club option on Kenley Jansen, but whether they keep him or move in another direction, the bigger task is finding a dependable late-inning arm they can trust when games get tight in September and beyond. David Bednar is one of the names that fits the mold, though for now its still just about identifying the fix, not announcing one. [Read more 🡒]