Detroit Tigers: Hypothetical free agent starting pitcher fits part 1

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.