The Detroit Tigers have made their first significant move of the 2025 MLB offseason. The Tigers have re-signed closer Kyle Finnegan to a two-year contract, as reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Finnegan, who was traded to Detroit at the trade deadline, will earn $19 million with the possibility of making $20 million.
The 34-year-old closer joined the Tigers in August and transformed his pitching arsenal. Finnegan posted a 1.50 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with four saves over 16 games. While it wasn’t a large sample size, it was the best baseball Finnegan has played in his MLB career, and the Tigers didn’t want to let him go.
Kyle Finnegan’s outlook with the Detroit Tigers in 2026
Finnegan’s contract has no opt-outs, meaning he will be with the Tigers through the 2027 MLB season. If nothing changes in the back end of the bullpen, Finnegan will likely split the closing duties with Will Vest. Detroit will presumably add more bullpen help, but a one-two punch of Vest and Finnegan in the eighth and ninth innings is very solid.
There was mutual interest between Finnegan and the Tigers all offseason, and they finally completed a deal on “Day 2” of the MLB Winter Meetings. The Tigers reliever’s pitch mix changed when he arrived in Detroit, and he clearly believes in what the organization has done for him.
Finnegan may not live up to his 0.72 WHIP throughout the entire 2026 MLB season, but he is an excellent option for the late innings. Maybe the Tigers will sign another reliever that can pitch in the late innings, but Finnegan’s return is welcome news for Detroit.
