Analyzing what Andrew Chafin brings to the Detroit Tigers bullpen (again)

Detroit Tigers reliever Andrew Chafin is back for round two.

The Detroit Tigers made a splash in the free agent market, signing Andrew Chafin to a one-year deal to return to the team after pitching out of the bullpen in Detroit a few years back. In 2022, Chafin pitched for Detroit, where he settled in well. However, it was rumored that he was not the biggest fan of any of the advanced metrics that A.J. Hinch and his staff utilize.

The two sides opted to part ways as Chafin elected his opt-out and did not return to the Tigers organization. He spent the 2023 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Now, he's coming back to Detroit on his one-year contract. The deal is worth $4.25 million, with incentives. He also has a club option with Detroit for the 2025 season.

The big and burly left-handed is bringing more to the table than just a mustache, though. He may be great for an interview with his one-liners and great quotes, but the southpaw was successful in Detroit before, so there must be hope that he can do that again, especially with the teams' need to bring in a left-handed pitcher.

In 2023, Chafin pitched in 63 games, accumulating 51.1 innings pitched. He managed a 4.73 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He had 28 walks and 63 punchouts to his credit. While the numbers were not as pretty as they were in Detroit, he still found ways to be effective, or at least as effective as he could be.

Detroit can utilize him as their premier left-handed in the bullpen. With the departure of Tyler Alexander this off-season, their bullpen only has three left-handers with Holton coming in. While Tyler Holton is around still and was a star in 2023, Chafin will be an excellent complementary arm for the Tigers to rely on.

If Chafin and Holton can be a good tandem of left-handers for A.J. Hinch to rely upon, the team's bullpen should be able to improve, at least a little bit, looking ahead to 2024. Joey Wentz is the other left-hander the Tigers have to work with, though he may slide into the rotation as needed.

Chafin is not the end-all-be-all of off-season moves, nor is it the glue to hold things together. But Chafin should be able to eat up some innings and provide the Tigers with smooth outings in the bullpen. If Chafin can snowball good outings in a row, it will allow the Tigers to benefit from having Chafin around.

Detroit has their work cut out for them in 2024, and bringing in Chafin was an excellent move to help add depth to the team's bullpen in 2024.