The Detroit Tigers made a major move to stabilize their bullpen this offseason, signing veteran closer Kenley Jansen - the active MLB saves leader and one of the most accomplished relievers in baseball history. On paper, it looks like a no-brainer: Jansen steps in, locks down the ninth inning, and the rest of the bullpen falls in line behind him. But according to President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris, the Tigers may be taking a more fluid approach.
Harris recently said the team has “at least three or four closer types” on the roster, naming Will Vest, Kyle Finnegan, and Tyler Holton alongside Jansen. That’s a bold statement, and it raises some eyebrows - not because depth is a bad thing, but because there's a difference between having options and creating confusion.
Let’s break this down.
First, the Tigers do have multiple relievers with late-inning experience. Kyle Finnegan has been a full-time closer before and held his own.
Will Vest showed flashes of reliability in high-leverage spots last season. Tyler Holton, while effective in his role, has limited experience in true closing situations.
So yes, there’s versatility here. And in a long 162-game season, that flexibility can be a real asset - especially when injuries inevitably hit or matchups dictate a different look.
But let’s not pretend all closer experience is created equal.
Kenley Jansen is on another level. He’s sitting at 476 career saves - just two shy of tying Lee Smith for third all-time.
With 24 more, he’ll join Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman in the ultra-exclusive 500-save club. That’s not just experience - that’s a Hall of Fame résumé.
So the idea that Jansen might not be the everyday closer? That’s hard to wrap your head around.
It’s fair to say that Harris values depth and wants to keep his options open. But when you have someone like Jansen - a proven, elite closer who’s thrived in pressure-packed situations for over a decade - the path forward seems obvious.
You hand him the ball in the ninth. Every time.
Unless he’s unavailable, there’s no reason to overthink it.
And let’s not forget: one of Detroit’s biggest problems last season was inconsistency in high-leverage innings. Will Vest was solid, but the bullpen as a whole struggled to lock down leads.
Blow-ups from other relievers cost the team winnable games. That’s the kind of volatility that can derail a season - especially for a team trying to claw its way back into contention.
Jansen brings more than just saves. He brings structure.
He gives the bullpen a clear identity. When the ninth inning is accounted for, it allows manager AJ Hinch to define roles for the rest of the staff.
That clarity matters. It’s the difference between a bullpen that functions like a machine and one that’s constantly scrambling to find the right combination.
Hinch ultimately has the final say on how the bullpen is deployed - and that’s the way it should be. Harris builds the roster; Hinch manages the game. But this is one of those situations where the answer is staring everyone in the face.
Tyler Holton has been valuable as a multi-inning reliever. That’s where he thrives.
There’s no need to push him into a closer role just to experiment. Finnegan and Vest can handle setup duties or fill in when Jansen needs a breather.
But when it’s the ninth inning and the Tigers are up by one, there should be no debate about who’s jogging in from the bullpen.
Kenley Jansen is that guy. He’s earned it. And if the Tigers want to take a real step forward this season, they’ll lean on his experience to bring order to the chaos that’s plagued their bullpen for far too long.