Detroit Tigers: Five non-Verlander starters to pursue

The Detroit Tigers have starting pitching high on their list of priorities to address this winter

It is no secret that the Detroit Tigers founded their rebuild upon pitching. Double-A Erie’s rotation once featured Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, and Alex Faedo all at the same time. Two have established themselves as legitimate, big-league starting pitchers. One still developing. One injured.

It’s just about how the whole pitching thing goes. Many were justifiably concerned that the organization was relying on a bunch of maybe’s and what-if’s that may ultimately fizzle out, leaving an even-longer playoff draught forthcoming. Timing is everything, though, and new pitching coach Chris Fetter and Director of Pitching Development and Strategies Dan Hubbs have made full-length strides to catch up in all-things pitching and performance.

Most knew the Detroit Tigers could never have an entirely homegrown rotation. So then, they would still need to rely on external sources, and internal dollars, to make their team competitive– a proposition many were skeptical of. But, as evidenced in a recent article from Freep’s Jeff Seidel ($), the Detroit Tigers realize a starter is on their needs list and Siedel argues he feels the Tigers will sign a high-end starter.

Coupled with that thought, though, is his sentiment that the high-end starter will not be Justin Verlander, who will be looking for a high-dollar, multiyear deal despite coming off Tommy John Surgery. I am not a GM for reasons like this. Even if Verlander was not the right piece for the puzzle, my admiration would get the best of me and I’d go get him. Call it financial or fit, but it doesn’t sound as if the Detroit Tigers will be in play.

Other aging stars will hit the market as well: Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer. It’s difficult to picture Kershaw buttoning up any other uniform and Scherzer is likely to have more ready-made options than the club that insulted him with a six-year extension offer in Spring, 2014.

If not Verlander, Scherzer, or Kershaw, then who? Let’s examine.

2. New York Mets RHP Marcus Stroman

Crafty, athletic, forward, out-spoken, maybe even ostentatious. All represent New York Mets starter, Marcus Stroman. He’s a fellow 30-year-old veteran of seven seasons that would offer an upgrade to the Tigers’ current crop of arms.

Stroman

opted out of the 2020 year but proved productive for the Mets this season: 33 starts, 179 innings, 161 hits, 44 walks, and 158 strikeouts; good for a 3.02 ERA and a 3.6 bWAR this season, which

bests all of their pitchers

and only trailed Jeimer Candelario on the team (3.7).

Like fellow free agent Kevin Gausman, Stroman features one of the better chase rates in the league but especially with his slider; an offering in which opponents hit just .184 off of in 2021. Stroman’s fastball velocity is fairly pedestrian, but his sinker is his calling card; showing the bowling ball tumble necessary to generate soft contact.

There is assumed to be loads of interest for Stroman in the offseason. Our friends over at Rising Apple wrote about five clubs who could be interested in Stroman’s services: Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Angels, and the Dodgers. Contract length will likely be a factor–if Detroit enters the sweepstakes, do not be surprised if an opt-out is part of the puzzle to make a deal work.

3. Toronto Blue Jays LHP Robbie Ray

The Detroit Tigers acquired Robbie Ray as part of the deal that sent Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals in 2013 and then subsequently shipped him out after six starts as part of a three-team deal that put Shane Greene in the Olde English D. Much has happened for Ray since–at the time, Ray showed promise but never really had a breakthrough performance.

In Detroit as a 22-year-old, Ray gave up 43 hits and 26 runs in 28.2 innings; good for an 8.16 ERA. Since then, Ray has been electric but has struggled with command even as recently as 2020; where he averaged 9.2 hits per 9 innings and 7.8 walks per nine innings.

Toronto saw some potential, though, as they acquired him from Arizona and re-signed him for a one-year, $8 million deal for this season. Ray likely won’t earn a Cy Young Award, but he probably should. 6.7 bWAR; 32 starts, 193.1 innings, 150 hits, 248 strikeouts, a 2.84 ERA, and a 1.045 WHIP.

Robbie Ray would be a familiar face but would present some inherent risk. Although Ray’s strikeout numbers have been rock-solid throughout his career, his 2.4 walks per nine this season are by far the lowest of his career and could be due for some regression. Ray is a year younger than the former two starters and his left-handedness may present a slight edge, especially given the uncertainty surrounding starter Matthew Boyd.

4. Chicago White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon

All-star Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon would be a welcomed addition to the Detroit Tigers rotation. As was the case with the aforementioned Robbie Ray, Rodon came out of nowhere in 2021 and put together a 5-bWAR season for the White Sox while getting some postseason experience.

Rodon made 24 starts in 2021; pitched 132.2 innings, gave up 91 hits while striking out 185 batters. Rodon’s 2.37 ERA, 2.65 FIP, and 0.957 WHIP, and 5.0 bWAR would all lead starting qualifiers on the current Tigers roster.

He’s is a

Statcast

darling with loads of red in his percentile rankings. 95th percentile in xwOBA, 95th percentile in xERA, 93rd percentile in xBA, 91st percentile in xSLG, 96th percentile in K%, 90th percentile in whiff%, and 80th percentile in fastball velocity.

The lefty will be entering his age-29 season and will likely have a strong market. He’s spent his entire career with the Chicago White Sox, who undoubtedly would like to retain their postseason aspirations. Luring such a starter away will be difficult, but it is the cost of shopping near the top of the pitching market.

5. New York Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard

Perhaps the flashiest of the bunch is also the riskiest. Mets pitcher Noah “Thor” Syndergaard underwent Tommy John surgery before the 2020 season started. There is no good time for such an injury, but Syndergaard likely only missed out on 40-50 starts rather than the typical 60-70 with the pandemic-shortened season in 2020.

A COVID outbreak during his rehab caused a bit of a setback, but Syndergaard did make his way back to the New York Mets in 2021 to pitch two separate one-inning ‘opener’ starts. A scoreless debut with two strikeouts was followed by a 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 1 HR performance in Atlanta.

Syndergaard’s sinker and four-seamer were both

down a couple of ticks

from their 2019 averages, which is not outside of the norm, and figures to improve the further he separates himself from the surgery.

Given his lack of innings post-surgery, medicals will undoubtedly play a vital role in deciding if pursuing the 29-year-old flamethrower is wise. It would be a gamble in any case, but the thought of Chris Fetter working intimately with Syndergaard would fire up this fan.