The Yankees at least know what they’re getting, which is more than the Tigers know. Farnsworth can be outstanding — nearly unhittable. But he’s one of those guys whose results in New York have never matched his stuff. Joe Torre lost total confidence in him last year, and that could have affected the pitcher’s performance. He has been much better this year under Joe Girardi, who seems to have a better feel for his pitching staff than Torre did.

So maybe Jim Leyland can work his own brand of magic on Farnsworth and somehow give him the confidence to take the ball in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and come away with the save. It’s not an ideal situation. A proven track record trumps potential every day in every sport.

Farnsworth is still just 32, but in 10 major league seasons, he has just 27 saves in 55 attempts. In 2005, when he split his season between Detroit and Atlanta, he had 16 saves in 18 opportunities and an ERA of 2.19. Other than that season, though, he’s never pitched up to his talent as evidenced by his 4.42 ERA.

He’s got another problem: Farnsworth doesn’t do well when he pitches on consecutive days. Detroit desperately needs a stud who can pitch three days out of four if needed. Farnsworth won’t give them that.

In the right spots and with a big dose of self-confidence, he’ll make Detroit better. But he won’t make them winners. There are no relievers on the market who can do that for them.

But the Tigers are just hanging on in the AL Central behind the Twins and White Sox. No matter what happens, they probably figure they’re going to lose Rodriguez at year’s end. They think that Brandon Inge can handle the catching the rest of the way, and they pray that Farnsworth can be what he’s never been — an every-day closer. And if he doesn’t, at least they can say they tried.

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