Detroit Tigers: Which Tampa Bay Starting Pitcher is Best Fit?

Matt Moore

The Tampa Bay Rays like to lock up pitchers early, signing them to contracts that often end up being extremely team-friendly down the line. Archer is a prime example of this, as is the next name on this list—Matt Moore.

Inked to a long-term deal before the 2012 season, the pitcher excelled during the two following seasons. From 2012 to 2013, Moore won 28 games, posted a 3.57 ERA and struck out 318 batters in 327.2 innings pitched. His best campaign came in the second year of that two-year period, when the left-hander compiled a 17-4 record en route to finishing ninth in the Cy Young voting.

After 2013, injuries and inconsistencies set in. Moore had Tommy John surgery and was limited to just two starts in 2014. The All-Star has made just 29 starts dating back to the beginning of last season. Over those 29 starts, Moore has pitched to a 4.88 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 166 innings pitched.

If the left-hander can post numbers similar to those that he put up in 2012 and 2013, he’d be a fantastic acquisition to the Tigers pitching staff.

Compared to Archer and Odorizzi, Moore would likely be a relatively cheap addition in terms of a trade. As it stands, the Rays are low on depth the in the outfield due to a rash of injuries. Sending a mid-level pitching prospect and Tyler Collins to the Rays would clearly work for both parties.