IMPACTFUL: Detroit Tigers Secure Kyle Finnegan—Will This SIGNING Transform the Bullpen in 2026?

From Locked On Tigers - Daily Podcast On The Detroit Tigers Locked On Podcast Network, Scott Bentley

Kyle Finnegan returns to the Detroit Tigers on a two-year, $19 million deal—could his dominant splitter and high-leverage experience be the game-changer the bullpen needs? Scott Bentley breaks down Finnegan’s impact, his elevated role as likely closer, and how tweaks in Detroit turned him into an elite late-inning arm following the 2025 trade deadline. With Finnegan and Will Vest anchoring the relief corps, questions remain: Is this enough to spark a deeper postseason run, or do the Tigers still need a bullpen overhaul to compete in the AL Central?

The episode also covers the Rule 5 draft shakeup, including RJ Pettit’s exit to the Colorado Rockies and key minor league acquisitions and departures. Around the league, Pete Alonso’s blockbuster move to the Baltimore Orioles signals a shift in contending strategies, raising the stakes in MLB’s winter market. Don’t miss Scott Bentley’s hard-hitting analysis on what’s next for Detroit and the playoff landscape.

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