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

Hypothetical fit with the Detroit Tigers

This is all hypothetical mind you, but the 33-year-old would be an excellent fit with the Tigers.

Detroit’s future rotation has the potential to be a dynamic group, with Franklin Perez, Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, Beau Burrows and Kyle Funkhouser all flashing frontline stuff.

Elsewhere, the team has other starting prospects likes Grayson Long, Gregory Soto, Sandy Baez and Matt Hall who have the upside to make an impact in the Majors.

As it stands though, none of those prospects are currently ready to join Michael Fulmer, Matthew Boyd and Daniel Norris in the Majors.

Perez, Burrows and Long may be ready at some point during the upcoming season, with the likes of Funkhouser, Baez and Hall not too far behind.

Still, the Tigers need stop-gap options to soak up innings and hold down the rotation until the prospects arrive.

Known commodity

That’s where Fister would provide value.

The veteran could soak up innings in a Detroit rotation that features Michael Fulmer and plenty of question marks.

Boyd and Norris both showed well at times last season, but inconsistency remains an issue for the young duo.

Hopefully they can take a step forward in 2018, as the Tigers are in desperate need of some kind of answers in the starting pitching department.

The rest of the internal candidates include the equally inconsistent Jordan Zimmermann and Buck Farmer, as well as unproven arms in Artie Lewicki and Myles Jaye.

If Fister can pitch at the same level he threw at in Boston, he could also develop into a trade chip.

Next: This recent 17-game winner was just let go. The Tigers should sign him.

Should one or more of Perez, Burrows or Long be ready by the time July 2018 rolls around, Detroit can flip Fister to a contender for even more prospects while filling his rotation spot with a younger pitcher.