Detroit Tigers Acquire Seasoned Reliever Luke Jackson

The Detroit Tigers have recently beefed up their bullpen by acquiring a seasoned reliever. Right-handed pitcher Luke Jackson, who has a decade of experience in Major League Baseball (MLB) and was most recently with the Texas Rangers, has inked a one-year contract with the Tigers. The new association was formalized on Saturday, July 26. Under this agreement, Jackson will receive the prorated MLB minimum for the remainder of the 2025 season while the balance of his $1.5 million salary will be picked up by the Rangers.

Jackson was incorporated into the team line-up for the match against the Toronto Blue Jays held at Comerica Park immediately following his signing. The Tigers’ thereunto inconsistent bullpen management has led to frequent changes. A.J. Hinch, the Tigers’ manager, highlighted these changes prior to Saturday’s game, revealing a somewhat revolving-door situation for recent pitching additions.

In an association like this, the past matters, but what matters the most is the future. That perspective explains the Tigers’ optimism about Luke. Despite any empathy for those not currently on the team, Hinch regards Jackson’s entry as an opportunity for the latter to contribute his expertise.

Financial details show that roughly $650,000 remains from Jackson’s initial $1.5 million contract with the Rangers, of which the Tigers are set to pay approximately $250,000. Jackson’s career with the Rangers ended on July 25, when they released him. Notably, this came just two days after the Rangers had originally designated him for assignment.

Hinch sees promise in Jackson. He opines Jackson has a lot to offer precisely because of his experience. Describing Jackson as a capable veteran, Hinch hopes he can return to his previous form and reinstate the ability to force batters to swing and miss, a quality he seems to have lost in the current season.

In his 2025 stint with the Rangers, Jackson recorded a 4.11 ERA, 19 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 35 innings over 39 games. The 33-year-old extraordinaire averages a 4.23 ERA across nearly 400 innings over his ten MLB seasons, encompassing 377 appearances. In terms of his pitching arsenal, he relies heavily on a slider, followed by a four-seam fastball and curveball.

Over the span of this season, Jackson’s fastball averages 94.3 mph, with a peak speed of 96.6 mph. The effectiveness of Jackson’s slider is reflected in a 26.5% swing-and-miss rate, albeit this is a definite dip compared to last season’s 32.1% rate.

The Tigers’ quest for a reliable ‘swing-and-miss’ reliever capable of managing high-stake scenarios could potentially end with Jackson. His performance metrics, although not at the top percentile across all measures, show a solid grounding. Though his walk, strikeout, chase, and whiff rates rank relatively low in their percentiles, his ground-ball rate of 54.2% stands in the 91st percentile.

Jackson demonstrated his potential worth at the beginning of the season, successfully saving eight out of nine games within the first 12 attempts as the Rangers’ closer. However, his save rate dropped subsequently, with only one save in his previous 27 outings. Most of his appearances have been in the middle innings (sixth, seventh, or eighth).

Now as a Tiger, Jackson is poised to make a significant and immediate contribution, possibly assuming a role in the later innings. Hinch remains optimistic about Jackson’s tenure with the Tigers, given his extensive experience in the league and previous end-of-game performances this season.

Prior to Jackson, the Tigers had experimented with right-handed relievers Carlos Hernández and Geoff Hartlieb for 37 days and two days, respectively. However, both were eventually designated for assignment. Hinch emphasized the Tigers’ policy of opportunity creation for those who can drive their victory ambitions.

The bullpen has been a testing ground this season for relievers drafted in by the Tigers. Unfortunately, many have struggled to consolidate their positions. It’s hoped that bringing in Jackson will alter this state of affairs, and more importantly, stabilize and improve the bullpen’s overall performance.

The entrance of Jackson into the Tigers’ roster sends a broader message of seizing opportunities and striving to sustain it, no matter how large or small. As Hinch put it, the real challenge lies in finding the suitable mix of bullpen arms that can ensure stability.