Detroit Tigers address huge need by bringing back an old friend

The Detroit Tigers badly needed a lefty to add to the bullpen. Well, they just got one. And he just so happens to be an old friend.

Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reports that the Detroit Tigers are bringing back LHP Andrew Chafin on a one-year deal with a club option for 2025. Petzold also reports that he'll make $4.25 million in 2024 plus incentives, and $6.5 million in 2025 plus incentives.

This is an outstanding move. It addresses a major hole in the bullpen. The Tigers basically had no lefty options in the bullpen besides Tyler Holton. Now with Chafin back in the fold, it makes the Tigers bullpen much deeper.

While this is a good signing, there will be some work to do with Chafin. The walks were uncharacteristically high for him last year with Arizona and Milwaukee. In 2021 and 2022, his BB/9 was under 3. Last season, it was 4.91, the highest since the shortened 2020 season, and the highest in a full season since 2018.

Because of that, his numbers were a bit elevated. He had a 4.73 ERA in 51.1 IP for both the D'backs and Brewers. However, he still struck out 11.05 batters per nine innings. The stuff is still there.

Chafin was great for the Tigers in 2022, putting up a 2.83 ERA and a 10.52 K/9 in 57.1 IP. Chris Fetter and company know how to get the best out of him. If they can bring the walks back down, Chafin could once again be a key member of the Tigers bullpen.

This a great signing, but the Tigers coul still use another arm in the bullpen. They need someone else besides Jason Foley, Holton, and now Chafin that can reliably pitch in high leverage situations.

They also need another starting pitcher and another bat. Slowly but surely, the Tigers are addressing their team needs. Hopefully, we see more activity her