Detroit Tigers: Ranking All 17 of Al Avila’s 2016 Acquisitions

10. Mike Pelfrey

WAR: 0.4

WHIP: 1.73

SIERA: 5.25

K/9: 4.24

Like Aviles, Mike Pelfrey was signed with a specific purpose in mind. The veteran starter was brought in to provide rotation stability and to eat innings for Detroit.

Just as with Aviles, things didn’t go as planned.

Pelfrey simply allowed too many base runners.

Of all Major League starters with at least 100 innings pitched, the former Met posted the worst WHIP in the league. What’s more, he also ranked in the bottom 10 in SIERA, xFIP and FIP. To round it off, Pelfrey managed to strike out the fewest batters per nine innings at 4.24.

Even during starts where Pelfrey didn’t allow many runs, baserunners were an issue. During an early loss in Houston, the veteran allowed just one run—but walked six and gave up five hits. Additionally, in a late-July start versus the White Sox, Pelfrey allowed nine base runners in 5.1 innings pitched.

The starter was relegated to the bullpen later in the season.

With a year left on his contract, it will be interesting to see what the Tigers do with the veteran this offseason. Some rebuilding in need of innings could take a flier on him in an effort to rebuild his value ahead of the trade deadline.