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Detroit Tigers: Hypothetical free agent starting pitcher fits part 1

By Ben Rosener |
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 9: Brett Anderson #46 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 9: Brett Anderson #46 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during MLB game action against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 6: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Comerica Park on September 6, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 6: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Comerica Park on September 6, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers fans have seen plenty of change in the rotation this season. They could see even more before Opening Day 2018. Here’s a look at some free agent fits.

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has used 11 different starting pitchers since Opening Day.

This batch has ranged from the since-traded Justin Verlander to Michael Fulmer recent call ups like Artie Lewicki and Myles Jaye.

Outside of Verlander and Fulmer, the results have been mixed.

Matthew Boyd, Daniel Norris, Jordan Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez and Buck Farmer have all shown well at times, but struggled mightily at others.

With Verlander already gone and Sanchez a candidate to follow this offseason (the veteran, per Spotrac, has a $16 million option for 2018 that can be bought out for $5 million), new additions could be needed.

This is especially true considering that Lewicki, Jaye, Chad Bell and Drew VerHagen combined to throw just 33.1 innings the quartet’s cumulative nine starts.

In admittedly small sample sizes, all four had FIP numbers north of 5.35.

Add in occasional growing pains from Boyd and Norris and occasional inconsistency from Zimmermann, and the Detroit Tigers could probably do with some additional starting pitching options.

Even if these players are veterans signed to one-year contracts who are eventually traded, Detroit needs the extra options.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 30: Jaime Garcia #34 of the New York Yankees pitches in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 30: Jaime Garcia #34 of the New York Yankees pitches in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Jaime Garcia

Teams have already shown that they’d acquire Garcia on an expiring deal.

The veteran was flipped twice at the deadline this season, going from Atlanta to Minnesota and then the Twins to the Yankees.

In 157 inning split between three franchises this season, Garcia has pitched to a solid 4.24 FIP and a 4.18 xFIP.

He also struck out 7.39 batters to go along with a 2.1 WAR.

The starter also has a dependable track record having pitched to a 3.57 ERA and a 3.56 FIP in eight seasons in St. Louis.

Matt Garza

The ultimate reclamation project, Garza hasn’t had the most successful time on the mound in Milwaukee the last few seasons.

Garza owns a 4.76 FIP and a 1.512 WHIP in 365 innings since the start of the 2015 season.

He may not be the pitcher he was in Tampa Bay or Chicago, but the veteran could soak up innings for a Detroit Tigers franchise that could be in desperate need of a pitcher who can do just that.

Jhoulys Chacin

Chacin was signed last offseason to fill a similar need in San Diego for the 2017 campaign.

The veteran largely delivered, with 174.1 innings and 7.59 strikeouts per nine frames. The ex-Colorado ruler also added a 3.98 ERA and a 4.33 FIP.

He’d be the ideal veteran option to fill in behind the likes of Boyd, Norris and Zimmermann.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 29: Trevor Cahill #34 of the Kansas City Royals pitches to Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the first inning during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 29, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 29: Trevor Cahill #34 of the Kansas City Royals pitches to Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the first inning during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 29, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Brett Anderson

Still just 29-years-old and a few seasons removed from a 2015 season in which he logged a 3.69 ERA and a 3.94 FIP in 189.1 frames for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Anderson split 2017 with the Cubs and Blue Jays.

While he struggled in Chicago, the left-hander did notch a promising 4.14 FIP in 28.1 innings for Toronto.

If he can put up similar stats in a larger sample size in the first half of 2018, he’d become a sure-fire trade chip.

Trevor Cahill

We continue with the former Oakland Athletics section of the piece with Trevor Cahill, who parlayed a successful bullpen role in 2017 with the Cubs into a starting role with San Diego to open the 2017 season.

Cahill found plenty of success with the Padres, turning in a 3.40 FIP and a 3.69 ERA in 61 innings.

What was perhaps most encouraging is that he turned in a career-high 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

His struggles in the second half with Kansas City aside, the ex-A’s pitcher could also develop into a quality trade piece for general manager Al Avila to use in amassing more prospects–especially if he can keep missing bats.

Next: So yeah, the Tigers' SP depth isn't great

After all, the Padres were able to package him in a larger deal that netted the franchise Matt Strahm and Esteury Ruiz.

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