After edging out the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers advanced to a league-best 37-20 record. Even without Parker Meadows for the season so far, manager AJ Hinch has consistently made smart decisions, positioning the team at the top of their division. One such move—shifting Javier Báez to the outfield—has paid off handsomely.
Detroit has done an excellent job balancing immediate success with future potential. Their lineup features young stars like Tarik Skubal and Spencer Torkelson. Once Meadows returns from the injured list, the Tigers will be flush with batting options, likely forcing Hinch to reshuffle the lineup to make room for everyone.
The Tigers also feel confident about their pitching staff. Skubal is currently a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, and the rest of the rotation has delivered strong performances as well. Their bullpen has mostly been solid, particularly with Will Vest stepping up, though veteran John Brebbia has been a weak spot. At 34 years old, Brebbia has struggled, posting a 5.52 ERA, which could put his future in Detroit in jeopardy as the team preps for the postseason.
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As the playoff picture comes into focus, Hinch will need reliable bullpen arms. If Brebbia doesn’t improve, the Tigers might look to offload him. Here are three potential landing spots should that happen later this summer:
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have improved from last season and are positioning themselves to challenge the Yankees in the AL East. While the return of Max Scherzer is a priority, Toronto’s bullpen has been hit hard by injuries, including the losses of Nick Sandlin and Yimi García. Brebbia, who has thrown just 14.2 innings this year, hasn’t been a central figure in Detroit’s bullpen, largely because Hinch has better options. Still, his postseason experience, though limited, could be of value in Toronto, where John Schneider might find more use for him. A possible deal could involve Toronto sending outfield depth like Nathan Lukes to Detroit in return.
New York Mets
One of the top teams in the National League, the Mets have yet to overtake the Phillies. With some fans questioning Juan Soto’s effort and consistency, attention is shifting to the bullpen, which manager Carlos Mendoza knows needs reinforcements. Reed Garrett has stepped up as the setup man behind Edwin Díaz, but depth is an issue. Although Brebbia’s ERA is higher than most Mets relievers, his limited workload might be skewing the numbers. More consistent use could make him a key contributor. Detroit might look to acquire someone like backup catcher Luis Torrens, who sees little playing time behind Francisco Álvarez.
San Diego Padres
If not for being in the same division as the Dodgers, the Padres might be getting more buzz. They’ve made a strong start to the season and are solid in both offense and defense. The one area needing attention is the bullpen. While the starting rotation has excelled—despite Michael King missing a recent start—and Robert Suarez and Jason Adam provide a strong back end, the bullpen depth beyond them is questionable. Manager Mike Shildt could use another experienced arm like Brebbia to stabilize the group.
