The Detroit Tigers are making moves to strengthen their team as they lead the AL Central. They are close to finalizing a trade to bring in closer Kyle Finnegan from the Washington Nationals, trading away two minor leaguers, Josh Randall and RJ Sales, in the process.
This is the second trade for the Tigers in just 24 hours. They also acquired veteran reliever Paul Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians. These trades come as the Tigers aim for a deep playoff run.
Finnegan, who is 33, has had a mixed season with a 4.38 ERA and 20 saves in 40 games. He was an All-Star last year, finishing with a 3.68 ERA and 38 saves in 65 games. Although his recent stats haven’t generated a strong market for him, he rejoined the Nationals on a one-year contract worth $6 million. The Tigers will cover the remainder of that deal before he hits free agency again.
He has a fastball that averages 96.2 mph, placing him in the 80th percentile this season. However, his strikeout rate is relatively low at 19.6%. His 3.60 FIP suggests he’s performed better than his ERA might indicate, making him a valuable addition for the Tigers, whose bullpen has struggled, ranking 27th in the majors in ERA.
The Nationals have been active in trading players to rebuild their roster. They’ve executed five trades since last Friday, aiming to turn veteran players into prospects.
Randall, the first minor leaguer in the trade, has a 4.71 ERA in 80⅓ innings over 17 starts this season. Sales, the other prospect, has a 2.98 ERA in 16 games in Low-A ball. Both are young talents the Nationals hope will contribute in the future.
This trade is a strategic move for the Tigers as they look to enhance their chances this season, while the Nationals continue to focus on rebuilding for the long term.
For more insights on player trades and team strategies, you can check trusted sports reports like ESPN or MLB.com.
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