Should the Detroit Tigers Look Outside the Organization for Another Closer?

The Detroit Tigers parted ways with last year's closer, Kenley Jansen, a few days ago, opting out of his $12 million contract and paying him a $2 million buyout to leave town.

However, a team riddled with bullpen woes last season now finds itself right back where it was at this point last year, before spending big money to bring in Jansen. So, the question is simple: Will Scott Harris go back to the well and try to land one of the top closers on the market to become the lockdown ninth-inning option the Tigers had hoped Jansen would be?

The Tigers could stay in-house, though the current crop of relievers doesn't have anyone who screams, "Let me close out 30-plus games a year." In fact, it's quite the opposite. Most of the bullpen has struggled to consistently protect leads, and it seemed like every time a reliever entered a game, the Tigers were simply hoping to keep the score where it was.

The bullpen was one of the worst in the league last season, and for that to change, Detroit will need exponential growth from the players already on the roster, along with potentially another big-name addition.

The thing about sports is that you'll try and try again, but a lot of the time, you won't be as successful as you want. That gets stressed even more in baseball, where hitting safely three times out of every 10 at-bats can make you one of the greats. Scott Harris should keep that thought process in mind and not be afraid to take another swing at finding the right guy.

Wondering who the top closers are this year? Let's dive into three candidates who could fill the Tigers' ninth-inning role next season.

The safest established closer on this list, Iglesias is still producing at a high level, finishing 2026 with 34 saves and a 2.55 ERA.

Iglesias will likely demand a significant contract, but the 36-year-old is still getting the job done on the mound. He's recorded at least 29 saves in each of the past four seasons, posting an ERA of 2.75 or better in three of them.

If Detroit wants an established closer who can immediately step into the ninth inning, Iglesias would be one of the best options available.

Fairbanks is another proven ninth-inning option with plenty of experience closing out games.

He recorded at least 23 saves in three consecutive seasons with Tampa Bay before leaving for Miami, where he finished last season with 19 saves but a putrid 6.31 ERA.

Perhaps a change of scenery and an opportunity to pitch in Detroit would be all Fairbanks needs to get back to the form he showed just a year earlier.

There is certainly some risk involved, but the Tigers could be getting a closer with plenty of experience at a potentially more reasonable price.

With 25 saves in 2026 and 57 over the past two seasons, Pagán is a legitimate closing option. His 3.38 ERA last season was a little less than ideal, but that's just one year removed from a 2.88 ERA in 2025. Pagán has shown he still has plenty left in the tank.

The 35-year-old has spent 10 seasons pitching in the big leagues. Although he recorded 20 saves back in 2019, he didn't consistently receive closer duties again until 2025.

Now, after showing he can handle the pressure of the late innings over the past two seasons, Pagán will look to secure a nice contract while helping a team win games.

Pagan does have a $10 million player-option, but he may find greener grass on the open market.

The Tigers may not pursue a closer aggressively in the free-agent market this offseason. There are plenty of underlying factors that could influence that decision, including a looming labor dispute, last year's significant investment in Jansen and the organization's willingness to trust a shaky bullpen to improve internally.

However, if Detroit wants to make some noise for the second consecutive offseason at the closer position, these three would be among the best bets to bring in a legitimate ninth-inning option who could make a massive difference.

The Tigers have already seen what happens when their bullpen struggles to protect leads. If they want to take another step forward, finding a reliable closer could be one of the most important moves Scott Harris makes this offseason.