Tigers Should Consider Bringing Back Jacob Waguespack as Bullpen Rebuild Begins

The Detroit Tigers have several questions to answer about their pitching staff heading into the 2027 season, particularly after a year in which the bullpen struggled to establish any consistency. With several relievers entering free agency and Kenley Jansen's club option still requiring a decision, Detroit has an opportunity to reshape its relief corps. One of the more interesting decisions involves a pitcher who joined the organization during the season and quietly became a useful contributor.

Jacob Waguespack is among Detroit's free agents following the conclusion of the World Series. The 32-year-old right-hander arrived in a June trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, giving the Tigers another experienced arm capable of handling multiple innings. His emergence provided Detroit with a relatively inexpensive pitching option, and a closer examination of his arsenal suggests there could be reasons to bring him back.

Waguespack is an interesting case because his success does not depend on overwhelming hitters with velocity. According to Baseball Savant, his four-seam fastball averaged 92.9 mph in 2026, while his cutter checked in at 86.8 mph. Neither pitch would stand out strictly on velocity, but the combination helped him create different looks against opposing hitters.

His fastball held opponents to a .171 batting average, while his cutter limited hitters to a .178 average. Those numbers are encouraging, although the expected statistics suggest some caution. Opponents produced a .225 expected batting average against the fastball and a .246 expected average against the cutter, indicating that his actual results were somewhat better than the quality of contact would suggest.

The most intriguing development, however, was Waguespack's changeup. The pitch averaged 84.5 mph and generated a 39.1% whiff rate, easily his best offering in that category. Opposing hitters batted just .098 against it, with a .146 slugging percentage and a .119 expected weighted on-base average. The changeup also produced a 39.5% strikeout rate, suggesting that its effectiveness was supported by more than favorable batted-ball outcomes.

For a pitcher working with a fastball in the low 90s, having an effective changeup can be particularly valuable. Waguespack used the pitch roughly 20% of the time, giving him a weapon to disrupt timing without having to rely exclusively on his fastball and cutter.

His cutter, which accounted for approximately 33% of his pitches, also helped establish a different velocity and movement profile. Rather than asking hitters to cover a single fastball shape, Waguespack could move between the four-seamer, cutter and changeup. That combination gives him a reasonable foundation for continued success, although maintaining his changeup effectiveness will be important.

There are limitations to the profile. Waguespack's fastball generated an 18.9% whiff rate, while his cutter finished at 25%. Those numbers suggest he is unlikely to become a traditional high-strikeout late-inning reliever. The Tigers would be better served viewing him as a middle-relief option who can handle multiple innings and occasionally work in higher-leverage situations when matchups favor his arsenal.

Detroit's bullpen needs more than one addition this offseason. Tyler Kinley and Burch Smith are entering free agency, while the organization must determine whether Jansen's $12 million club option represents a reasonable investment. The Tigers also have several younger pitchers who could compete for relief opportunities next spring, giving the front office flexibility in how it distributes innings.

Bringing back Waguespack would not prevent Detroit from pursuing a more established late-inning reliever. Instead, it could help stabilize the middle innings while allowing the organization to avoid placing too much responsibility on inexperienced pitchers. 

The financial commitment would also be an important consideration. Waguespack is entering free agency without the extensive track record typically associated with expensive relief contracts. A modest one-year major league deal, potentially with a club option, could allow Detroit to retain a pitcher whose arsenal already fits within the organization's pitching development approach, allowing guys like Moises Rodriguez more time to come up. 

The Tigers have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to identify pitchers with specific characteristics they believe can be improved or deployed more effectively. Waguespack's changeup gives them a particularly interesting starting point, especially if the coaching staff believes there is room to refine its usage or improve the fastball and cutter combinations around it.

Detroit should still prioritize adding more swing-and-miss ability to the bullpen. However, bringing back an affordable pitcher who has already demonstrated that he can get major league hitters out would be a reasonable part of that process.

Waguespack does not have to become the centerpiece of the Tigers' bullpen to justify another contract. If Detroit can retain him at a manageable price, his pitch mix and ability to cover multiple innings could provide useful depth while the front office addresses the more significant questions at the back end of the bullpen.