Drew Anderson’s early collapse has Tigers stuck with a costly problem

It’s getting harder to dress this up as “early-season struggles.” At some point, the Detroit Tigers have to call what they’re seeing from Drew Anderson exactly what it is: untenable.

The numbers aren’t just bad — they’re alarming. A 7.94 ERA through his first 11 1/3 innings, 10 runs allowed in just seven appearances, and outings that feel like tightrope acts without a net. Every time Anderson enters a game, the margin for error disappears. And more often than not, it’s the Tigers who end up paying for it.

That’s a far cry from the pitcher who dominated overseas with the SSG Landers. In two seasons in the KBO League, Anderson looked like a legitimate frontline arm — piling up 245 strikeouts with a 2.25 ERA in 2025 alone. But the translation back to MLB has been anything but smooth.

His stuff doesn’t miss bats the same way. His command has wavered. And perhaps most concerning, there’s little indication that a turnaround is imminent. Even his “successful” outing — the one that resulted in his first hold — came with the quiet understanding that it could have just as easily been a loss if not for late-game heroics.

Drew Anderson has been a disaster, but the Tigers are stuck with him after signing him to a bad contract

When it comes to Anderson, here’s the uncomfortable reality: the Tigers may not have a choice but to keep running him out there.

Detroit committed $7 million to him this season, with a $10 million team option looming in 2027. For a franchise already navigating the delicate balance of payroll and competitive window, that’s not insignificant money. And historically, this organization has shown little appetite for eating contracts — especially not this early into a deal.

That creates a frustrating loop. Anderson struggles, but he keeps getting chances. Not necessarily because he’s earned them — but because the Tigers can’t justify cutting bait on that investment just yet.

It’s a dangerous game. Every outing becomes a risk to the bullpen, to the standings, and to clubhouse trust. Teammates can only pick up the slack so many times before it starts to wear. And fans? They’ve already seen enough.

At some point, the Tigers have to decide what’s more costly: the money they’ve already spent, or the games they’re continuing to lose. Right now, they’re trying to avoid both — but if Drew Anderson doesn’t figure it out soon, they may not have that luxury much longer.

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