Detroit Tigers Five Free Agent Pitchers Team Should Sign

Casey Fien

2016 Teams: Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers
2016 Stats: -0.8 WAR, 6.43 FIP, 3.86 SIERA, 12.3 swinging strike percentage, 8.1 K/9, .288 BABIP

Another former Tiger on the free agent market, Casey Fien was drafted by the Tigers in the 20^th-round of the 2006 draft. He would only make 11 appearances in a Detroit uniform, but found considerable success elsewhere.

From 2012 to 2015, the right-hander notched a 3.54 ERA and a 3.33 FIP in 223.2 relief innings for the Twins.

After struggling in 13.2 innings for Minnesota early last season, the Dodgers took a flier on the reliever. While Fien didn’t post numbers similar to his earlier days in the Twin Cities, he did turn in a 3.73 SIERA and a swinging strike percentage of 13.

Relievers with the ability to put up those kinds of numbers are exactly what the Detroit Tigers need at this point. Outside of Bruce Rondon, Shane Greene and Justin Wilson, there aren’t many pitchers with in the bullpen with the ability to rack up strikeouts.

Potential Role in Detroit

Given his past success and strikeout tendencies, Fien would slot in as a seventh inning option for the Tigers. He wouldn’t initially challenge the likes of Rondon or Justin Wilson for late-inning work, but he could eventually take on a set-up role if he can find success early.