Detroit Tigers: 3 free agent options at starting pitcher

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The Detroit Tigers have a new pitcher coach in Chris Fetter and vacancies in their starting rotation. Let’s look at three pitchers that could fit the Tigers rotation.

The Detroit Tigers keep pushing all the right buttons lately. The hirings of AJ Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter have given fans plenty of excitement in this unusual warm start to November for anyone living in Michigan.

The Chris Fetter hire was an important one due to his work with not only the University of Michigan pitching staff but going back to the Los Angeles Dodgers and a few of the names in their rotation we all saw in the World Series.

For one of the pitchers on this list, his work with getting the most out of a pitcher has could play as an advantage for the Detroit Tigers, who are looking to fill two spots in their rotation.

With the Jordan Zimmermann contract off the books, in theory, Detroit has $25 million-plus to spend. Jake Boes discussed how he would spend the money to fill the various needs on the roster. So, with that, we can use that on how to fill out the starting rotation. So exactly what does the rotation need exactly?

Innings

The Detroit Tigers were dead last in 2020 in innings pitched by the starting rotation. Ivan Nova, brought in to take some pressure off the staff, was limited due to injuries. Michael Fulmer was limited due to post Tommy John precautions and Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal were forced into duty. Spencer Turnbull was the most steady pitcher in the rotation. So a starter who can throw at least 6 plus per start would be nice.

Keep this in mind as well. With Mize and Skubal, signing a starter that can go deep in games can save the bullpen for starts that you have the two young arms going in case something happens and keeping them at an innings limit for the season.

Strikeouts & good luck

30th in strikeouts in 2020 among their starters with a K per 9 of 8.05. Yikes. At least, they were not the 1996 Detroit Tigers who statically, have one of the worst staffs of all time.

Whomever they sign, it should be pretty obvious they have to stay healthy. Matt Moore and Tyson Ross were the arms in 2019 that didn’t even last till May and we already discussed Nova so some good health should be required and some luck.

Let’s take a look at some names that could be cost-effective and could provide either one or the other of what Detroit needs.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 14 (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

RHP Chris Archer

The Pirates decline the $11 million dollar option on Chris Archer and if you look at his stat lines since he arrived in Pittsburgh, you can see why the Pirates wanted to move on. Archer missed the entire 2020 season due to needing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

If that surgery sounds familiar to you, former Tigers starter Tyson Ross had the same procedure. The track record of successful players to return is limited to the likes of Chris Carpenter, Jamie Garcia, and Josh Beckett.

So why should the Detroit Tigers look into Archer post thoracic outlet syndrome surgery? This is a starter that they could buy low on. In this article by MLB Trade Rumors Steve Adams, he breaks down the Pirates having Archer throwing his two-seamer and sinker and how that factored into his overall numbers. Adams mentioned without his sinker, was a passable pitcher. It is a good read that breaks down his numbers.

This, of the three arms to consider, is the one with the most red flags. He has not thrown near 200 innings since 2017 but he has had some good strikeout numbers and his stuff when it’s on, is very effective.

Give him no more than a one-year deal like they have been doing. This an arm you can’t ignore the upside on.

Sep 18, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (12) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports /

RHP Jake Odorizzi

If you watched the MLB post-season, you saw Odorizzi warm up three times in the bullpen in the final game against the Houston Astros but never got to pitch in the final game. Then, you see him walk up to the mound after the game scrap the dirt, and quietly stand there before leaving the mound.

“Just wanted to have one more moment on the mound. It’s treated me really well over the years. Thought it was appropriate, and closure, if so. If not, then see you later.”

He really enjoyed his time in Minnesota and could come back but that quote was quite interesting. Prior to the 2020 season, Odorizzi has been a steady pitcher, making 28 starts for six consecutive seasons. His 2019 season was a good one, going 15-7 and earning an appearance in the All-Star game.

He is more a groundball pitcher but he would be a good fit for the Tigers based on how Detroit adjusted to the shift in 2020. In six starts at Comerica Park lifetime, 34.1 innings, 26 hits, 38 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.36. I think a two-year deal here, which has been rare so far since Chris Illitch has been the owner, would be ideal.

Oct 6, 2020;Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

LHP Mike Minor

Despite his ERA at 5.48, his xERA was 4.21 and he struck out 62 in 56 innings pitched (25.9% K rate) and like Odorizzi, has been a workhorse, 71 starts since the 2018 season and also made the All-Star team in 2019.

What is a concern about Minor is the hard-hit contact number jumped up in a small sample size at 40.4% and batters did barrel up against him at 10.3% clip. His slider was hit pretty hard. But looking at his ZiPS projection from FanGraphs for 2021. 153 innings, K per 9 of 8, ERA of 4.53, good enough for a 2.3 WAR.

Minor could be a good backend starter for a year and he is familiar with the AL Central, spending a season in the Royals bullpen in 2017. The former Vanderbilt product would be a good veteran lefty to throw into the rotation.

Overall, Detroit will need to add two starters to the rotation if they are going to keep some of the younger arms in the minors. Matt Manning could be trying out for a rotation spot now with the good news his forearm issues were minor and Franklin Perez will still need to add some innings after his surgery so it may be some time before we see him starting in the rotation.

I suggested Taijuan Walker and Trevor Bauer (even with his history with AJ Hinch and the Houston Astros) but these three are all bounceback candidates that carry some risk. Detroit may not go after Walker or Bauer, who may get more money elsewhere but unless Detroit can get creative in a trade, they may have to sign what the market has made available.

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