Detroit Tigers: Why old friend Doug Fister could be an intriguing addition

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila and the rest of the front office need to add some veteran stop-gap options this offseason. One player who could be a fit is old friend Doug Fister.

Detroit Tigers fans remember Doug Fister well.

Acquired in what amounted to be highway robbery from the Seattle Mariners at the trade deadline in 2011, Fister notched a 2.2 fWAR in 70.1 innings down the stretch.

He would go on to turn in fWARs of 3.4 and 4.2 in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Fister was later traded to Washington for reliever Ian Krol, starter Robbie Ray and infielder Steve Lombardozzi.

None of the three stuck in Detroit, making the trade return underwhelming for a pitcher who was so crucial to the team’s run of success.

Krol was later flipped to Atlanta in the Cameron Maybin deal, while Lombardozzi was dealt to Baltimore for shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

Ray would later go onto prosper with the Arizona Diamondbacks, having made the move to the desert in the deal that netted Detroit Shane Greene.

While the decision to move on from Fister was one of many that slammed the Tigers’ window of contention firmly shut, there’s still value in bringing the veteran back to the Motor City.