Tarik Skubal name-dropping underwhelming KBO returner might change Tigers' fans opinions

The Detroit Tigers are trying to get their Opening Day roster set down in Florida at spring training. Tarik Skubal may have given a hint on one player who could make a big impact for the Tigers this season who has flown under the radar.

In an interview with Ben Verlander, Skubal gave a shoutout to Drew Anderson, who is coming back to the big leagues after four seasons overseas. Anderson could end up being one of the best signings of the offseason even though he was overshadowed by some other moves.

Tarik Skubal reveals Drew Anderson could be key signing for Tigers

Anderson has looked really solid in spring training thus far. Signed for $7 million with the idea that he will be a starting pitcher for the team at some point, he's pitched five scoreless innings already in Grapefruit League play.

The 31-year-old spent the last four seasons in Japan and in the KBO and he put up some good numbers. Last season in Korea, he pitched to a 2.25 ERA in 30 starts and struck out a whopping 245 batters in 172 innings.

He has pitched in the big leagues before, spending with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and Texas Rangers from 2017 to 2021. He only had 19 appearances across that span, but his last stint in the big leagues wasn't bad. He posted a 3.27 ERA in 22 innings with Texas in 2021.

The Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander signings understandably got a lot more attention. Valdez is an elite pitcher and Verlander is a future member of the Hall of Fame who is returning to the team that he broke into the big leagues with. Yet, Anderson is the exact kind of under-the-radar signing that could save a team if they have some injuries in the rotation.

Skubal is obviously the ace of the staff and he is fresh off winning his arbitration hearing. If there was any fear that his mind might be elsewhere or he might be thinking about free agency or getting traded, it's clear he is very present in spring training and is taking note of how his teammates are doing.

Anderson is off to a good start in his return to MLB, and the Tigers may need him to pitch some big innings for them this season.