Detroit Tigers: Five Pitching Staff Upgrades for 2016

Fifth Starter

With so much still owed Verlander on his contract and the need to bring in a major league caliber starter to team with him there’s no money available to throw at a questionable free agent to anchor the back of the rotation. The Tigers also have young arms available who can compete next spring to fill that role.

Kyle Lobstein filled the role capably early in the season but has struggled in his two starts since coming back off the disabled list. Matt Boyd has been hit hard so far since he came to the Tigers and Buck Farmer hasn’t been much better after a promising spring.

It may not be much but those three are the only prospects the Tigers have that are ready within their system to fill out the rotation. Shane Greene could still be a possibility, he’s not arbitration eligible until 2018, but someone in the Tigers’ organization has to find and fix whatever problem he has that every other team in the American League already knows about.

Avila could sign a mid-level free agent to help fill out the rotation while Norris moves to No. 5 but that may not work out better than what he already has available. This spot should be the most interesting roster battle in spring training next season.