4 offseason decisions the Tigers are paying for right now

2. Signing Matthew Boyd

When the Tigers brought back Matthew Boyd, I was one of the few who didn't mind the move at the time. He had the potential to be a nice bounce-back candidate. Well, he's been anything but that.

In 15 starts, Boyd had a 5.45 ERA in 71 innings this season. His peripherals suggest there's been a bit of bad luck, and he has struck 9.25 batters per nine innings this year, which is second-highest of his career. But he still allows way too many home runs and way too much hard contact.

On top of that, Boyd left Monday night's start in Texas with an apparent elbow injury. Boyd came off flexor tendon surgery in his elbow last year, so he's not that far removed from major elbow surgery.

We don't know the extent of his injury as of this writing, but obviously elbow injuries for pitchers are almost never good news. He could be out for a while.

There were other pitchers the Tigers could have signed at a similar price point. Rich Hill may be 43 years old, but he's been better than Boyd this season and made the Tigers look silly earlier this season. Former Tigers Drew Smyly is still pitching well for the Cubs. Wade Miley could have been signed for half of what Boyd signed for.

Harris may have hit on Michael Lorenzen, but he whiffed on Matthew Boyd.