Going into this season the Tigers like the other 29 teams have question 
marks. One of the more blaring questions about this team (besides what’s happening with Miguel Cabrera) is what they will do at the long relief position.
Lynn Henning of the Detroit News writes that unlike previous years the Tigers enter camp with only one real option for a long reliever. Besides Brad Thomas, Zumaya, Benoit, Valverde, Perry, Weinhardt and Schlereth are really only one to two inning late or middle relievers. Options they’ve used in the past such as a Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Armando Galarraga and Eddie Bonine are now gone.
Leyland admits that he see’s a hole in the roster however he isn’t worried…
“I feel comfortable with that situation, but … there’s so much involved,” he said. “And there’s all kinds of different scenarios playing out. It’s too hard to figure out right now.”
Even if Leyland is comfortable at this point, the team is still more then likely going to have to go out and acquire a long reliever if they cannot find one in camp.
Now the Tigers can go out and re-sign Jeremy Bonderman who is still looking for a team. However Tigers President Dave Dombrowski said the team is not interested in bringing Bonderman back. There is also Chad Durbin a former Tiger who has worked in the long reliever role before. With Durbin though it seems as though the Rays and Red Sox are hot after him right now.
Lynn Henning however mentions that the Tigers may go internally and bring Charlie Furbush north as their second option at long relief.
Here is what Henning has to say about the Tigers using Furbush as a long reliever…
Having a young left-hander on the level of, say, Charlie Furbush, among Leyland’s likely 12 pitchers would allow Furbush to continue his development in non-pressure situations as he would rack up innings, at least if you consider the normal frequency with which a starter gets dismissed from a game early.
I still like the idea of Furbush getting his experience in Toledo or with Erie during the season, especially if he is being groomed to be a future starter.
Source: Detroit News
