Detroit Tigers: 4 short-term starting pitcher deals to explore

Jake Odorizzi

Odorizzi has bounced around the last couple of years. His best year came in Minnesota in 2019, where he put up a 3.51 ERA, a 3.36 FIP and a 4.3 fWAR in 159 innings pitched. Results have been pretty mixed ever since.

He signed with the Astros before the 2021 season, where he put up a 4.21 ERA in 104.2 innings. He had a 3.75 ERA in 12 starts with Houston this season before they traded him to Atlanta this past August, where he struggled to the tune of a 5.24 ERA and nine home runs allowed in 46.1 innings pitched.

Odorizzi also did a good job limiting hard contact this past year, with Baseball Savant having him in the 85th percentile in hard hit rate allowed, despite the increase in home runs allowed with the Braves. He’s always leaned heavily on his fastball, while mixing in a cutter, a splitter, and occasionally a slider and a curveball.

Odorizzi just feels like someone who needs a fresh start. He’s been on three teams in as many seasons. Maybe the Detroit Tigers can be the team that gets him back on track.