It’s nearly impossible to predict relief pitching from season to season, so the Detroit Tigers were completely within their rights to add one more big-league veteran in late February.
Colin Poche has five years of major league experience, and at this time last year, he looked like a solid bet to contribute to the Washington Nationals’ bullpen. But after a brutal start to the season, he found himself back in free agency, briefly signing twice with the New York Mets, and was released outright by August.
Fortunately for him, the Tigers believed Poche was worth another look.
On Wednesday, Poche’s training facility, Driveline Baseball, reported that the 32-year-old left-hander had signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reported that Poche would not receive an invite to major league camp in Florida.
Though there is no guarantee Poche earns his way back to the majors, he has the track record to suggest he could be an effective lefty specialist. His standout season was 2023 for the Tampa Bay Rays, when he pitched to a 2.26 ERA in 60 2/3 innings, while somehow racking up 12 wins as a full-time reliever.
Poche also had two other seasons with a sub-four ERA out of the Rays’ bullpen. He broke in with Tampa Bay in 2019, but missed all of 2020 and 2021 due to Tommy John surgery.
Detroit’s rebuilt bullpen is rather short on left-handed options, especially those with a track record of success, so assuming Poche begins the year at Triple-A, he could have an opportunity in front of him relatively soon if he gets off to a hot start.
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