Free Agents The Tigers Should Target This Offseason

With Michael Fulmer coming back to the rotation, the bullpen being dumped, and outrighted, here are some suggestions for who the Tigers should set out to bring into the organization.

Starting Pitchers:

The Oakland Athletics brought back Brett Anderson for the last two seasons, but the Tigers should consider the thirty-one-year-old left-hander. Anderson had a great 2019 season for the Athletics, claiming a 13-9 record with a 3.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and ninety punch outs through 176.0 innings pitched.

Detroit could bring him in for cheap since he made $1.5 million last season, the team could sign him with hopes to move him at the deadline if his numbers are as good as they were this season. He could be depth to a fringe contender team if his numbers are decent, just like the Tigers did with Mike Fiers a few years back.

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After Jeremy Hellickson completes his victory lap as a 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals player, Detroit should check in with his camp. Hellickson has been tied to the Tigers the last offseason; it would make sense for them to check in on him again and possibly try to sign the thirty-two-year-old right-hander.

Hellickson only saw the mound nine times in 2019, meaning he does not have a solid resume to back him up on last year alone, but he offers upside as a fourth or fifth starter for the Tigers.

There are a lot of other starters on the market this offseason, but taking a chance on someone like Gio Gonzalez or Shelby Miller could pay off big time for the Tigers 2020 season. Gonzalez was signed by the New York Yankees, dumped off and then ended up with the Brewers, he could offer upside as a Tigers starter if his stats are decent and he attracts trade value.

Miller has been dealing with injuries, consider Miller a comparison to Matt Moore from last season. Miller could return to his former self, being a substantial number three starter, or the injury could cause him to struggle, and he eats up some innings throughout the season.

Relief Pitchers:

The relievers are mostly toss-ups since its very clear that Detroit will not be targeting any of the top arms in this free-agent class. There is a tandem of veteran relievers that the Tigers could consider in the form of Anthony Swarzak and Jared Hughes. Swarzak is a thirty-four-year-old right-handed arm who spent 2019 with the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves, who posted a 4.56 ERA last season.

Swarzak could be someone who could eat innings after the starters depart the game. Hughes is also a thirty-four-year-old right-handed pitcher who posted a plus-four ERA in 2019. He spent 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies and would make a substantial addition to the Tigers bullpen.

The other tandem of relievers that are not just one-inning arms is Drew Pomeranz and Tyler Thornburg. Pomeranz is a thirty-year-old left-handed pitcher who used to be a starter.

If the Tigers wanted to use him as a spot starter or a long reliever, he could be a versatile pitcher for the Tigers if they used him correctly. Pomeranz took home $1.5 million in 2019, so he could be a cost-effective signing for the Detroit. The other part of this proposed tandem would be Tyler Thornburg.

The thirty-one-year-old spent his 2019 with the Boston Red Sox, his stats were not pretty at all but he is someone who could eat up some innings for the Tigers in 2020.