The Quest For Relief: Lyon, Tigers, and Saves? Oh My!

Do the Detroit Tigers finally - a long, cold six weeks after baseball's winter meetings - have themselves a closer?  Jon Paul Morosi (who has been lapping his competition this offseason) is reporting on his blog that the team is "nearing an agreement" with reliever Brandon Lyon.  (Apparently, the only thing from making the deal official is Lyon passing a physical.)

Earlier this afternoon, Jason Beck wrote that Lyon had narrowed his choices down to two teams.  However, he acknowledged that the Tigers seemed to have the upper hand over whichever team (the Twins?) was also chasing Lyon.  Apparently, the narrowing has been done.

Lyon's agent, Barry Meister (B-Meister!), didn't reveal terms of the deal to Morosi, but given what he claimed was on the table, the contract is probably at least a two-year agreement.

Pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, Lyon posted 26 saves in 31 opportunities, along with a 4.70 ERA in 61 appearances.  In 59.1 innings overall, he compiled 44 strikeouts and 13 walks.  After August 1, Lyon only registered two more saves, allowing 11 runs in just 7.1 innings.  He eventually lost his closer's job to Chad Qualls in September, but appeared to settle down in more of a set-up (mop-up?) role.

Thanks to msu4lif for both the tip and the headline.  (Hey, we'll always accept submissions there.  Maybe we should do that for the Game Recaps this coming season.)