Setup men are not a dime a dozen. For a long time, a good starting pitching performance has been seven solid innings. For just as long, managers have only been using their closers for the final inning. It's made the setup man nearly as valuable as the closer.
The going rate now for the best setup man - which Benoit was reputed to be after a brilliant 2010 season for Tampa Bay - is $19 million for three seasons, or what the Tigers are paying him to be their setup man. Obviously, it is not going well. He is getting lit up like the fireworks show at Comerica Park on Saturday nights. It particularly hurt when the Tigers' long winning streak was snapped by Toronto Monday after Benoit threw one meaty "hit me" fastball after another down the middle of the plate, and was shelled in a tight game as a result.
There is a concern here, obviously. The Tigers don't have much bullpen depth. Starting pitching is a strength, but they need to be able to finish. That means getting to closer Jose Valverde, who has pitched well. That means being able to fill in the inevitable eighth inning gap.
Benoit has been a mixed bag in his career. He was utterly dominating last season for the Rays. He missed the entire previous season because of shoulder surgery. He pitched a long time for Texas. He had some pretty good seasons for the Rangers. He has some pretty bad ones, too. He's never been a primary closer for an extended period of time. Setup man is his middle name.
I see two options if Benoit can't handle it. One is obvious - moving Phil Coke to the bullpen for it. He is a gutty pitcher who has proven himself under pennant race pressure. The other is trying rookie Alberto Alburquerque in the role. He does have a nasty slider that is very much confusing opposing hitters, at least the first time they see him.
Neither is as good as the 2010 version of Benoit, but so far he's been the lesser version from pre-2010.