The Tigers’ bullpen issues became even more apparent over the weekend, as they dropped two of three games to the Rangers in Arlington. Tarik Skubal was dominant in the series finale, and Detroit only needed to provide two runs of support to secure his win. However, things nearly unraveled when Tyler Holton threw a wild pitch that allowed Texas to tie the game. In the series opener, Tommy Kahnle surrendered two runs while the Tigers’ offense was shut out.
It’s clear Detroit needs to add pitching at the trade deadline—and possibly another bat. While high-end targets like Jhoan Duran, Ryan Helsley, or David Bednar would be ideal, the team could benefit from adding depth pieces in the meantime.
To that end, the Tigers signed reliever Tanner Rainey to a minor league contract on Friday, according to the team’s transaction log. A member of the 2019 World Series-winning Nationals, Rainey began this season with the Pirates but struggled badly, posting a 10.57 ERA over 7 2/3 innings before being demoted to Triple-A and eventually released on July 8. Detroit picked him up shortly after.
Tigers sign 2019 World Series champion reliever Tanner Rainey to a minor-league deal
Even during his stint with the World Series-winning Nationals in 2019, Tanner Rainey wasn’t exactly a standout performer. He posted a 3.91 ERA over 48 1/3 regular-season innings and struggled in the postseason with a 6.75 ERA. His minor league track record doesn’t jump off the page either, but he made a solid first impression with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, tossing a hitless inning against the Memphis Redbirds in a game the Mud Hens ultimately lost.
When the Tigers need to summon a fresh bullpen arm, Dylan Smith and Tyler Owens remain the top choices. That likely won’t change, but introducing a bit of competition—and having an experienced fallback option—can be valuable. Rainey isn’t expected to be a game-changer, but with his big-league experience, he could be a serviceable stopgap if Detroit needs to rest overused relievers like Tyler Holton or Brenan Hanifee before the trade deadline.
More impactful additions could be on the horizon. The Tigers’ reported interest in elite closers is encouraging, and with enough prospect depth to outbid other suitors, they’re in position to make a significant move. Even if it requires a midseason overpay, it’s a necessary step for a team in need of serious bullpen help.
