Detroit Tigers: Hypothetical free agent starting pitcher fits part 1

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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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.