DETROIT -- The Tigers’ search for immediate bullpen help brought them to an old offseason target. Veteran right-hander Tyler Kinley signed a deal on Monday for the remainder of the season and jumped immediately into Detroit’s relief corps for the Tigers’ series opener against the Rays at Comerica Park.
The 35-year-old Kinley was designated for assignment and released last week by Atlanta, which had acquired him from Colorado at last year’s Trade Deadline and then signed him back on a one-year, $4.25 million deal last offseason. The Tigers had interest last winter before he re-signed.
“We looked into him as a free agent and had interest in him because of the exact skill set,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
Once the Braves cut ties, the Tigers’ interest remained. Since Atlanta ate the remainder of his contract -- including a buyout on his $5.5 million option for next year -- Detroit can pay him the prorated minimum salary, making it a low-risk acquisition.
“The Tigers were pretty aggressive with me,” Kinley said. “We had a lot of conversations in the offseason. I’m excited to be here, and excited to be a part of this group.”
If Tigers pitching coaches can get Kinley back to his 2025 form, it’ll be a worthwhile investment. Kinley allowed just two runs on 11 hits over 25 innings down the stretch last season with the Braves to go with a 5-0 record. That included a pair of efficient eighth innings at Comerica Park last September in wins over the Tigers.
When Kinley is in form, he leans on his slider for soft contact and ground-ball outs. He was in the top percentile among MLB pitchers last season in low hard-hit rate, sat in the 93rd percentile for average exit velocity and finished just outside the top 10 percent for whiff rate, all according to Statcast.
Kinley’s hard-hit rate and average exit velo are even better this season by raw numbers per Statcast, the latter down a mile and a half from last season. His .287 expected wOBA is tied for the best of his nine-year MLB career, while his .203 expected batting average is his second best. But with a bump in average launch angle, a jump in barrel rate and a rise in walk rate from 2.2 to 4.2 per nine innings, Kinley has given up more damage. He has allowed seven home runs off his slider, more than twice his 2025 total, many of them from left-handed hitters. Right-handed batters have hit him for less power, but for a higher average.
“I feel strong. I feel healthy,” Kinley said. “Ups and downs throughout the year. I think one thing that I harp on is that I usually finish strong. That’s one thing that I’ve done well in my career, so I’m excited to get the opportunity to finish strong here in Detroit.”
Kinley mixes into a Tigers bullpen that has transitioned in recent weeks. While left-hander Drew Sommers has taken on more leverage work, right-hander Tanner Rainey has seen opportunities since he was selected from Triple-A Toledo a couple of weeks ago.
“We haven’t necessarily handled right-handed hitters as consistently as we want to, and that is the draw,” Hinch said. “He’s going to give us a little bit of a different look.”
Kinley takes the 26-man roster spot of Ty Madden, who was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after a three-run, five-out appearance Sunday at Kansas City. To open a 40-man roster spot, Detroit designated right-hander Ricky Vanasco for assignment. Vanasco allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in 6 1/3 innings across five appearances in May. He owns a 5-1 record, four saves and a 2.53 ERA across 35 appearances for Toledo.