Is Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal window an ‘illusion’ with Scott Harris?
On “Days of Roar,” Evan Petzold and Scott Bentley discuss what Scott Harris said about the Detroit Tigers’ timeline to win with ace Tarik Skubal.
The Detroit Tigers already have a struggling bullpen.
To make matters worse, the Tigers — led by president of baseball operations Scott Harris — demoted one of their best relievers when they were less than a week away from cutting one of their worst relievers.
Everything became clear Friday, Aug. 8, when the Tigers promoted right-handed reliever Codi Heuer from Triple-A Toledo in hopes of improving the bullpen. To add him, right-handed reliever Luke Jackson was designated for assignment, but the Tigers could’ve cut Jackson after the July 31 trade deadline.
Keeping Jackson hurt the Tigers.
Here’s why: The Tigers lost right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee from their active roster and left-handed reliever PJ Poulin from their organization — all to keep Jackson for one more relief appearance.
Those players could still be here.
“We make decisions when we make decisions,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday’s game. “We’re trying to configure our bullpen the best way we can to give the opportunity to guys that we have. There’s always conversations about when and what and where.”
After the July 31 trade deadline, the Tigers needed to open spots on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters.
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The Tigers decided to option Hanifee (as the 26-man roster move) and designate Poulin for assignment (as the 40-man roster move), rather than cutting ties with Jackson.
One week later, the Tigers parted ways with Jackson anyway.
Jackson pitched in his third and final game Tuesday, Aug. 5, following his first game July 27 and his second game July 29. By Friday, the Tigers designated him for assignment and replaced him with Heuer in the bullpen.
On July 26, the Harris-led Tigers signed Jackson — a 33-year-old who has pitched in 10 MLB seasons, including a career-best 2021 campaign — to a one-year contract. The Tigers hoped to help Jackson revive his career, but he didn’t stick around long enough, lasting just 13 days on the Tigers’ roster.
The entire situation seemed like a waste.
And it cost the Tigers.
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Poulin, 29, was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals and threw a scoreless inning in his MLB debut. Before the Tigers dumped him, he posted a 3.38 ERA with 17 walks and 62 strikeouts across 42â…” innings in 35 games for Triple-A Toledo.
Hanifee, 27, had a 3.10 ERA in 46 games for the Tigers, including a 1.26 ERA in 13 relief appearances since June 22. Before the Tigers demoted him, they named him as one of their two “Relievers of the Month” for July, alongside left-hander Tyler Holton.
Hanifee isn’t eligible to return from Triple-A Toledo until Aug. 17 at the earliest — unless there’s an injury in the big leagues.
“It’s a little bit of a tough luck scenario with him,” Hinch said Saturday, Aug. 2, when the Tigers optioned Hanifee. “We had to make a move. If you look at the configuration of our bullpen and our rotation, there are very few guys that have options.”
Since June 1, the Tigers’ bullpen ranks 27th in MLB with a 5.03 ERA. The Tigers have seven qualified relievers during that stretch, with Hanifee’s 2.92 ERA leading the way.
But Hanifee pitches for the Mud Hens, not the Tigers.
And Poulin pitches for the Nationals, not the Mud Hens.
It didn’t have to be that way.
“What’s the best configuration?” Hinch said before Friday’s game, referencing the eight pitchers in the bullpen. “Does power work? Do sinkers work? Does a breaking ball work? Everybody has a certain strength. We make decisions when we do.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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