Is Kei Igawa a good fit through Rule 5?

He was once one of the best starters in the japanese league. He led the league in strikeouts in 2002, 2004 and  2006. But since coming over to the Major Leagues, the starter has struggled. In 16 appearances and 13 starts, Igawa is 2-4 with a 6.66 ERA. Oh man, does this mean he could be the Devil in disguise? Maybe. But he could also be worth the shot.

Igawa throws a fastball that touches 92 MPH and has a great changeup that sits anywhere between 77-81 MPH. The major issue with Igawa seems to be his delivery. When his stuff is working though, he could well be worth an add to the 25 man roster. The Tigers took chances with Armando Galarraga and Freddy Garcia last season. It will be interesting to see if they even consider him.

I would speculate that if Robertson or Willis are traded, management could think about it. Igawa went 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA at AAA Scranton. He 117 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched and only walked 45. Opponents only hit .241 against him in 2008.