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

Help needed

As it stands, the Tigers have a significant need for veteran performers to help bridge the gap to the next great Detroit team.

Adding Fister would certainly help in that regard.

The starter enjoyed a career renaissance of sorts with the Red Sox in 2017, flashing the form that made him so effective in a Detroit uniform.

Fister made 15 starts for Boston, totaling 90.1 innings in 18 total appearances.

All told, the veteran pitched to a 4.88 ERA, but that was partly due to a handful of poor starts. His 3.98 FIP and 4.18 xFIP certainly suggest he was a better pitcher than his ERA would indicate.

What’s more, the former Tiger allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 15 starts for the Sox.

Fister also got back to missing more bats, with a 7.6 swinging strike percentage that was his highest since pitching in Detroit.

The veteran also set a career high with 8.3 punch outs per nine innings and a 21.2 strikeout percentage.

While Fister threw well for Dave Dombrowski’s Boston team, the Red Sox will have plenty of rotation options next season, making the starter a hypothetical candidate to sign elsewhere when he reaches the free agent market this winter.

Former Detroit Tigers David Price and Rick Porcello will return, as will Chris Sale and Drew Pomeranz.

Boston also has Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright, Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez on hand has additional options.