Detroit Tigers Sign Former All-Star Reliever

The Detroit Tigers disassembled a strong bullpen this offseason, now they're turning to a familiar face in the hopes of a rebirth of his former All-Star form. 

Trevor Rosenthal signs a minors deal with the Tigers. Rosenthal hasn't pitched since his impressive 2020 season pic.twitter.com/HcwLEOzqWF

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 5, 2023

It's a minor league deal for Trevor Rosenthal with an invite to big league camp. He's still just 32, though he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2020. Thoracic outlet syndrome has derailed his career since then. A lat injury in 2022 prevented him from making a comeback last year.

Rosenthal was one of the top closers in the game for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014-2015, when he posted back-to-back seasons of 45+ saves. He had some up and down years since then, including missing the 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery. 

But he was back to top form by 2020, when he recorded 11 saves in the shortened season with a 1.90 ERA for the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres. 

It's certainly a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Tigers, who are hoping to capture lightning in a bottle with the newly-recovered version of Rosenthal.

In his 8-year career, he has 132 saves and a 3.36 ERA, with an elite 12 K/9.

Photo: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports