Detroit Tigers news: Matthew Boyd, Daniel Norris, come to terms

Four key players from 2019 avoid arbitration on Friday and reach agreements with the Tigers

The Tigers have come to terms with all their players eligible for arbitration on Friday. Let’s start with the two left-handed starting pitchers in Daniel Norris and Matthew Boyd. Norris had a strong second half of the season posting an ERA of 3.69, WHIP of 1.17 and a K per 9 of 9.1 in 14 starts including a strong finish in September where he posted a WHIP of 0.87.  His 2.9 WAR made him one of the highlights in a beleaguered rotation. Norris will make $2.96 million.

Matthew Boyd will make $5.3 million next season. He posted his first 200 strikeout season in which 238 strikeouts lead the team and posted a 3.5 bWAR in 2019. With all the trade rumors and proposals about Boyd this off-season, Boyd looks to repeat his 11.6 K per 9 form and reduced the number of home runs he gave up last year (39)

This was the first year of eligibility of arbitration for Buck Farmer as he will be back at $1.15 million. Farmer held batters to a .195 batting average in the second half in the season and held right-handers to a .232 batting average.  The biggest stride Farmer made was lowering his walk rate from 13% to 8% and improving his strikeout rate from 18.5% to 25.3%.

JaCoby Jones comes back at $1.575 million. Jones got off to a good start with a BAbip of .324 to start the first half of the season including a month of June with a choice .291/.351/.547 and hitting 4 home runs in 86 at-bats. A back injury derailed his second half of the season but look for Jones to continue his consistency in 2020.