Detroit Tigers: Buck Farmer will no longer be a starter

The Detroit Tigers have looked to Buck Farmer to contribute as a starter and reliever over the past four years but he’ll get a narrowed focus in 2018.

Buck Farmer has spent parts of the past four seasons in the majors but hasn’t settled into a consistent role with the Detroit Tigers. He has been used in a mixed role when in Detroit, sometimes being counted on to make a spot start while otherwise coming out of the bullpen.

Farmer’s major league appearances are nearly split with 19 of the 43 being starts. In the minors, the Tigers have kept Farmer stretched out as a starter. In fact, 90 of his 91 minor league appearances have been as a starter going back to 2013 after he was drafted in the fifth round.

Never say never, but Farmer may have made his last start.

According to reports this morning, Farmer has been told the Tigers see him as a reliever and he’ll be preparing for the season to work out of the bullpen.

It’s not a big surprise the Tigers would make this move because there doesn’t appear to have been a good path for Farmer to win a spot in the rotation. The Tigers opted to add veterans Mike Fiers and Francisco Liriano in hopes of rounding out their rotation.

In the past Farmer has often prepared one way in the minors (exclusively as a starter) but then bounced around as needed when with the Tigers. Now he’ll have clear direction in what his role will be and that hopefully leads to better results. Farmer has an ERA approaching seven in his four years as a Tiger (127 innings).

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The good news for Farmer is that he now has a clear role, but the bad news is there is still work to be done. He will now have to show that he can win a spot in the Tigers bullpen