Detroit Tigers need to add starting pitching in the offseason

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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 13: Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers stands on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to Miguel Sano #22 of the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Comerica Park on August 13, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers fans have seen the team’s starting pitchers struggle at times. Regardless of if the team trades away veterans, the Tigers need more starting pitching options.

Detroit Tigers starting pitchers haven’t had the best season.

Sure, Michael Fulmer made it to the All-Star Game and is continuing to find plenty of success in his sophomore campaign.

His 3.5 WAR paces the Tigers pitching staff as he’s made a habit of racking up quality starts.

Meanwhile, Justin Verlander once again looks like the pitcher who should have claimed the Cy Young last season.

His overall numbers on the season are marred by a handful of rough starts, but Verlander owns a 2.38 ERA and 9.93 strikeouts per nine frames in his last 68 innings.

However, outside of the duo, there hasn’t been much else.

Daniel Norris and Matthew Boyd

Daniel Norris has been limited to 16 starts this season due to injury. During those starts he has yet to find much consistency.

Norris is still young (24) and is missing plenty of bats (8.36 strikeouts per nine innings, 9.6 swinging strike percentage), but he has pitched into the seventh inning just twice in 2017.

What’s more, the former Toronto farmhand has failed to reach the five-inning plateau in nearly a third of his starts this season.

There’s also Matthew Boyd, who has seen his run prevention numbers balloon in 2017.

The 26-year-old is currently sitting on a 6.24 ERA, a 5.24 xFIP, a 5.16 SIERA and a 4.77 FIP in 92.1 innings. Boyd’s walks have also gone up.

Last season he surrendered just 2.68 free passes per nine innings. This year, that stat has jumped to an even 4.00.

The good news with both pitchers is that they’re young and have shown flashes of promises.

Additionally, both have time to make adjustments and become effective Major League starters.

However, their struggles certainly haven’t helped from a stability standpoint in the rotation.

This is especially true when paired with Detroit’s lack of depth and the struggles of other veterans.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 26: Buck Farmer #45 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 26, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Lack of depth

Buck Farmer has looked dependable in three starts (18.2 innings combined, 19 strikeouts 13 hits, four walks and one home run) and dreadful in two others (4.2 innings combined, six strikeouts, 14 hits, 13 runs and five home runs).

If he can consistently provide innings that somewhat resemble his three strong starts, Detroit will obviously benefit.

If not, well that’s another story.

Outside of Farmer, Detroit’s top starting pitching options include Warwick Saupold, Drew VerHagen and Chad Bell.

Saupold has found success in a relief role, and given the state of the Tigers’ bullpen, the hurler could stay there.

Meanwhile, VerHagen logged a 4.68 xFIP in 97.1 innings for Toledo this season, and has gotten shelled to the tune of a 7.36 ERA and a 7.11 FIP in 18.1 innings in the Majors.

Rounding out the list is Bell, who has also hemorrhaged runs in his time in Detroit. The southpaw has thrown 42.2 innings in 19 relief outings, pitching to a 5.48 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.

Prospects

In the future, top prospect Beau Burrows should be able to pitch in (pun fully intended).

Burrows is currently at Double-A Erie and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the Majors in the second half of the 2018 season if he performers well in the minors.

That being said, even if Burrows debuts in 2018, the Detroit Tigers probably shouldn’t lean on him too hard given his high ceiling.

Outside of Burrows, 25-year-olds Artie Lewicki and Myles Jaye, there isn’t too much coming in terms of prospect help next season.

Tyler Alexander could be in the Majors in the next few seasons, but he currently has a 5.08 ERA in Erie.

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 14: Jordan Zimmermann #27 of the Detroit Tigers pitches in the first inning during inter-league play against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 14, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Struggling veterans

Jordan Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez have both continued to struggle mightily in the 2017 season.

After down seasons in 2016, the duo haven’t been able to consistently recapture the form that once made each of them successful.

Both have had stretches spanning a handful of starts where each veteran looks as though they’ve turned a corner.

However, those stretches are followed similar runs of starts that include plenty of poor outings.

On the season, Zimmermann has a 6.11 ERA, a 5.48 xFIP and a 5.46 FIP.

His strikeout percentage continues to hover in the mid-teens, while his 5.85 strikeouts per nine innings would be the second-lowest rate of his career.

Meanwhile, Sanchez continues to struggle with the long ball.

The 33-year-old is on pace to set a new career high for home runs allowed per nine innings with 2.67.

All told, he’s been tagged for 82 home runs since the beginning of the 2014 campaign.

According to Spotrac, Sanchez has a $16 million option on his contract for next season that can be bought out for $5 million.

Buying him out should help the Detroit Tigers improve the rotation and save money at the same time.

That newfound cash should be reinvested back into the free agent market.

BALTIMORE, MD – MAY 21: Marco Estrada #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 21, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Free agent fixes

The Detroit Tigers obviously don’t want to overpay for a starter and be stuck with another Mike Pelfrey-like situation.

However, the team could invest in some free agents on one-year deals.

This way, the team could bring Norris and Boyd along slower if need be while filling out the rotation with more consistent arms.

What’s more, if the Tigers fail to contend in 2018, they can always flip the rentals for prospects at the trade deadline.

Detroit will have some cash to work with this offseason should Sanchez be bought out.

In addition to the potential buy out, the Tigers will see past commitments to Pelfrey, Mark Lowe and Francisco Rodriguez come off the books.

There will be likely arbitration raises for Nicholas Castellanos, Shane Greene, James McCann, Alex Wilson, Andrew Romine and Bruce Rondon, but the Tigers should have more money to play with.

The amount of additional capital general manager Al Avila will have to work with will only go up if Justin Upton departs via free agency or Jose Iglesias is traded.

The Free Agent market

Detroit likely isn’t going to be in the bidding for one of the high-priced free agents on the market like Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb or Jason Vargas.

However, the team could still find some suitable rotation fill-ins on one year deals.

This is all speculative mind you, but Marco Estrada, Jaime Garcia, Tyler Chatwood or Scott Feldman could be potential fits.

In conclusion

Regardless of if the Detroit Tigers are rebuilding are not next, the team needs some more rotation options.

Even with Verlander and Fulmer in the rotation, the rotation is tied for the third-worst WHIP in the league and is 20^th in WAR and 29^th in innings pitched.

Only the White Sox have gotten fewer innings out of their starting pitchers. As it stands, the Tigers only have a two inning lead over their American League Central rivals.

Next: Tigers should make more moves like Mikie Mahtook trade

Those numbers simply aren’t going to cut it.

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