Tigers Lose Essential Trade Deadline Acquisition to Injury

It's a very tough blow for the Detroit Tigers. Their huge trade deadline acquisition, Kyle Finnegan, has been placed on the 15-day injury list with a right adductor strain. Finnegan has been absolute LIGHTS OUT since coming to the Motor City, with 14.1 scoreless innings as the new closer. He has four saves, that 0.00 ERA and a 0.41 WHIP, along with a 19:3 strikeout to walk ratio.

Kyle Finnegan, who has yet to allow a run for the Tigers since being traded at the deadline, hits the IL pic.twitter.com/IoCdoKwPCH
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 5, 2025

Finnegan suffered the injury while warming in the bullpen during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s win over the Mets. Instead of coming into the game, he was forced to head to the clubhouse for medical attention.

"It just felt tight leading up to the game and I wanted to see if it would loosen up," Finnegan said. "Once I started to warm up, I felt like the smartest decision was to shut it down and not risk injuring it any further.”

Finnegan says he caught it early enough that he should be able to return when he's eligible, on Sept. 16.

In the meantime, if they're lucky, the Tigers will be getting back another high-leverage arm for their bullpen as early as next Wednesday, as veteran closer Paul Sewald is nearly ready to return from his right shoulder strain. He began a rehab assignment on Thursday.

Finnegan suffered his injury the day before his 34th birthday.

He was an All-Star with the Washington Nationals last season, and this year has 24 saves with a 3.21 ERA.