Drew Anderson hints his starting role may not be as assured as Tigers fans thought

When the Detroit Tigers brought back KBO success story Drew Anderson on a one-year, $7 million deal with a hefty $10 million club option for 2027, president of baseball operations Scott Harris confirmed that he would be competing for a starting role. After all, it's a valid assumption for a team paying that kind of money to a guy who hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2021.

Except … that’s not exactly what Anderson is saying.

Anderson openly admitted that nothing has been locked down with AJ Hinch, Chris Fetter, or even Harris. No promises. No assurances. Just a “come to spring training and win it” message.

That’s not the language of a guaranteed rotation arm. That’s competition talk. And for a fanbase desperate for stability behind the top of the rotation, that’s … unsettling.

Drew Anderson's comments on role with Tigers add more uncertainty to pitching plan for 2026

This signing already came with uncertainty. Anderson dominated in Korea, but the Tigers gave real money — not a flyer, not a minor-league deal, but a contract that screams “we believe in you" — to a guy who was more than four years removed from his last stint in the Majors. And that raises an uncomfortable question: was Anderson signed as a solution, or just another option?

From a front-office perspective, this is classic Tigers baseball under Harris. Flexibility. Competition. Let the best arms rise. No roles handed out in January. In theory, that’s smart roster building.

But from a fan perspective? It’s exhausting.

Because Tigers fans aren’t just craving upside — they’re craving clarity. After years of “wait and see,” “evaluate in camp,” and “we like our internal options,” hearing that even a $7 million pitcher doesn’t have a defined role feels like more uncertainty piled onto an already murky pitching picture.

If Anderson is a starter, great. Let him start. If he’s a swingman, say it. If the bullpen is on the table, own it. But the idea that his role is completely open suggests the Tigers themselves may not fully know how they’re deploying one of their biggest offseason additions. And that’s where the anxiety creeps in.

This isn’t about doubting Anderson. It’s about wondering whether the Tigers are once again hedging instead of committing — building depth without ever drawing hard lines.

Spring training is going to matter, a lot. Because if Anderson has to win a job instead of being trusted with one, that tells us something bigger about how this organization still operates.

Tigers fans hoped this signing meant progress. Right now, it sounds like another audition.