Another Free-Agent Miss: Tigers Move On From Kenley Jansen

Last offseason, the Detroit Tigers took three big swings in free agency, signing Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, and Kenley Jansen. All three were brought in to strengthen a pitching staff that desperately needed additional insurance as the Tigers looked to make a run at the World Series.

Unfortunately, none of the three major free-agent signings lived up to the expectations surrounding their arrivals.

Justin Verlander was injured after just 3.2 innings pitched and did not return until the second-to-last game of the season, where he made what would ultimately be the final appearance of his career.

Framber Valdez took over the No. 2 spot in the rotation before eventually becoming the Tigers' No. 1 starter following the Tarik Skubal trade. Although Valdez put together above-average numbers, the expectations surrounding his arrival were much higher than what he ultimately produced on the field.

Then there was Kenley Jansen, the nearly 40-year-old closer who has been pitching in the MLB since 2010.

Jansen was brought in to serve as Detroit's closer and help solidify a bullpen that desperately needed a veteran arm capable of getting the job done in high-pressure situations. Unfortunately, Jansen wasn't the answer.

He finished the season with 22 saves and a 3.20 ERA, but he also surrendered too many critical opportunities throughout the year. Those blown saves cost the Tigers opportunities to build momentum and left fans increasingly frustrated as the season progressed.

The Tigers held a $12 million option on Jansen for another season. Despite the bullpen remaining in turmoil, Detroit decided it could find better options elsewhere, declining his option and giving him a $2 million buyout. Jansen will now have the opportunity to test the free-agent market once again.

Over the last nine years, Jansen has posted an ERA below 3.00 just twice. His decline had become increasingly noticeable, with only a handful of standout seasons sprinkled in along the way. Bringing in Jansen was a massive risk for Scott Harris, but with a depleted bullpen, the Tigers were desperate for an experienced arm.

Still, this move continues a troubling trend of disappointing free-agent signings under Harris. The Tigers' president of baseball operations has consistently shown more trust in his farm system and player development than in spending aggressively outside the organization. At this point, that philosophy is becoming increasingly apparent.

If you're hoping the Tigers make another series of major free-agent splashes this offseason, similar to what they attempted last year, it might be time to temper those expectations. As things stand, Detroit appears to believe its best chance of winning baseball games is sticking with the players it has developed and continues to mold within its own pipeline rather than spending significant resources on outside additions.

Jansen was another swing and a miss for the Detroit Tigers. They'll need to find a solution for a bullpen that was egregiously bad last season, but one thing is certain: It won't involve bringing Kenley Jansen back.