Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Kyle Finnegan

The 2025 MLB season is now complete, and closer Kyle Finnegan is a free agent.

Finnegan first made his debut during the shortened 2020 season, pitching 24.2 innings for the Washington Nationals and recording a 2.92 ERA. The Nationals would begin to convert Finnegan into their primary closer over the next few years.

From 2021 through 2023, Finnegan notched 50 saves over 202 innings, eventually becoming the Nationals’ top option in later innings. His performances remained fairly consistent over this span, maintaining an average ERA+ of 114 during this span.

In 2024, Finnegan earned his first All-Star nod, recording 28 saves in a career-high 69.1 innings of work. He earned these honors despite the fact that he struggled at times with the home run ball, and generally allowed hard contact at a concerning rate.

In 2025, he began to rely less on his fastball, throwing it only 58.3% of the time. This worked to great effect for Finnegan. He allowed just a .232 batting average against the pitch this year, compared to a .286 batting average the year prior.

On the whole, Finnegan was solid this past season. Despite his 4.38 ERA with the Nationals, Finnegan surged in effectiveness following his trade to the Detroit Tigers on July 31. He allowed just three earned runs in his final 18 innings of work, good for a 1.50 ERA. 

Now a free agent, Finnegan’s options are wide open with most teams around the league will be eager for bullpen reinforcements.

Free Agent Profile: Kyle Finnegan

• Age in 2026: 34 y/o
• 2025 Stats: 57.0 IP, 24 SV, 3.47 ERA, 18 BB, 55 K, 120 ERA+, 1.2 fWAR
• 2025 Salary: $5.38 million
• Qualifying Offer Eligible: No, traded mid-season in 2025

Contract Projection

• Contract Length Expectation: 1-2 years
• Expected AAV: $8-14 million AAV

While Finnegan isn’t necessarily the best reliever available this year, he will benefit from high market demand for bullpen arms. This is especially true given his stuff resurgence and high-leverage experience as a closer.

Finnegan’s velocity dipped slightly in 2025, but he managed to put together arguably his best season to date. His ERA may seem a bit high for a closer at 3.47. That said, his 3.16 xERA and 3.12 FIP are far more encouraging.

He also doubled his previous fWAR total, putting up 1.2 fWAR over his smallest sample of innings since 2020. Finnegan also improved significantly in limiting walks (2.84 BB/9) and home runs (0.63 HR/9), and allowed just a .214 batting average on the season.

Finnegan will still have a bit to prove, as he is far from the best closer on the market. With players like Edwin Díaz, Robert Suarez, and Devin Williams all free agents as well, his value is likely to be set by those that come before him.

Finnegan could also open himself up to serving as a set-up man for a team with a more established closer. This would likely open up his options and potentially net him a better shot at contention.

With Finnegan now entering his mid-30s, he will likely prioritize contract length and opportunities to compete when fielding offers. And, if Finnegan can build on his successes in Detroit in 2025, the team that signs him may land one of the steals of this offseason.

Free Agent Landing Spots for Kyle Finnegan

Detroit Tigers

Perhaps the best fit for Kyle Finnegan would be the team that traded for him at the deadline this season. The Tigers’ bullpen was a bit underwhelming in 2025. Though Finnegan bolstered the staff, they ranked 17th in ERA (4.05) and 24th in fWAR (1.4) as a collective.

Bringing Finnegan back into the fold would help maintain some consistency in the later innings for Detroit. Additionally, Finnegan has reportedly expressed interest in coming back, stating that he made some significant gains in his limited time with the Tigers.

Should Finnegan want to continue to build on these successes, Detroit would likely welcome him back. They would have to replace him otherwise. Given Finnegan is likely to come at a cheaper price point than other closers, he makes for a pragmatic option.

With Tarik Skubal entering his walk year, the Tigers will be in position to go all-in. If the Tigers re-sign Finnegan, and fortify their starting rotation, they could easily find their way back into postseason contention next October.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks had one of the worst bullpens in baseball this year. They ranked 25th in ERA (4.82) and 28th in fWAR (-0.3). They were one of only three bullpens in MLB to register a negative fWAR total on the year, with the others being the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals.

If anybody needs bullpen help, it is the Diamondbacks. They still feature one of the better lineups in baseball, but the team’s pitching overall has been going through it. Justin Martinez is expected to miss most or all of 2026, giving them a clear need at the closer’s position.

Finnegan could step in and serve this role for the Diamondbacks this year. For a team in need of a sparkplug after some major injuries, Finnegan would make for a strong stop-gap closer.

Finnegan and Arizona could make for a mutually beneficial partnership. Ideally, the signing would allow for Finnegan to build on this past year’s success while helping stabilize a desperate bullpen.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The defending champs are a strong pick for Finnegan for a number of reasons. The prospect of joining a Dodgers team looking for a three-peat next October is promising enough. Even so, they also provide excellent pitching development.

In particular, the Dodgers excel at resolving mechanical inefficiencies and optimizing pitch designs. For Finnegan, this could be just what he needs to take the next step forward.

Finnegan has played around with a bunch of different shapes for his arsenal over the years. While he has landed on a fastball/splitter-heavy mix that works well against lefties, he has struggled to find the same consistency against right-handed batters.

The Dodgers’ bread and butter pitch is the slider. Nearly every pitcher with Los Angeles throws some version of one. For much of the Dodgers’ pitching staff, the slider is often their most reliable out-pitch. 

If Finnegan were to develop more confidence in his slider and even out his mix, he could be even more effective. And, with the 2025 Dodgers running out their worst bullpen in years, Finnegan could pose as an interesting high-leverage option.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have shown interest in Finnegan before. They have significant money coming off the books in the near future, and are likely looking to make a splash. If the Cubs do re-sign Kyle Tucker, Finnegan could make for a cheaper option for the back of the bullpen.

2025 did mark the emergence of rookie Daniel Palencia, who racked up 22 saves with a 2.91 ERA in 52.2 IP this year. However, having Finnegan as a set-up man and back-up option for Palencia would galvanize their bullpen and provide much-needed depth.

Arguably, the Cubs have a greater need in their starting rotation. Shota Imanaga will be hitting free agency, and Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd are set to leave after 2026 as well. Not to mention, Justin Steele’s durability will be unknown as he looks to return from injury this season.

Because of the shakiness of the rotation, a strong bullpen will be essential for the Cubs. And, if the Cubs decide to make a splash this offseason, adding a high-leverage option in Finnegan at a lower premium would provide cost control and further stabilize the pitching staff in the later innings.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have an interesting case for Finnegan. The team is coming off of a 75-87 season that saw many players underperform. To make matters worse, they recently lost star closer Felix Bautista to yet another injury.

Baltimore has had one of the better young core groups of players in all of baseball for the past few years. Despite the team’s floundering in 2025, there is still a strong chance the team could push for a resurgence in 2026 and beyond.

With players like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman only getting older, the time is now if the team wants to compete at the peak of their strength. Being hampered by injuries makes this goal more difficult, but Finnegan could be a huge help for this.

The Orioles desperately need pitching help. If they manage to land a top starting pitcher and sign a closer or high-leverage guy like Finnegan to fill in for Bautista as he recovers, they could easily find themselves right back in contention.

Finnegan also fits the price point of the Orioles front office. While the larger names in the closer’s market are likely to command longer-term, high-value contracts, these are inherently riskier. For an Orioles team looking to spend more incrementally for the best value, Finnegan is a very solid option.