Detroit Tigers Sign Phil Coke to 1-Year Deal

Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Phil Coke (40) throws against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning in game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Please hold all talk of the Prince Feilder-Ian Kinsler trade, there is infinitely more important news to discuss. Phil Coke is back.

According to the Detroit Tigers’ official Twitter account, the team has come to terms with reliever Phil Coke on a one-year arbitration-avoiding deal.

We’re still waiting on the final terms, but one would have to imagine that the dollar amount is well south of the $2.1 million projected arbitration salary. Coke earned $1.8 million last year and finished the season with a 5.40 ERA. He had been thought of all offseason as a non-tender candidate given his struggles, so it would be surprising if it turns out this deal is for anything close to $2 million.

Coke appears to be little more than a mediocre LOOGY at this point in his career, so it’s something of a surprise that they were looking to bring him back like this, but we’re probably not talking huge dollars, so the risk is quite small. Still, he has a long way to go to prove that he can be an effective big league reliever again.