Three Free Agents the Tigers Must Sign this Offseason
By Bob Heyrman
Michael Pineda
Ok, I didn’t do this on purpose, but the fact of the matter is the Detroit Tigers aren’t in the market for starting pitchers like Steven Strasburg, Garet Cole, or Madison Bumgardner. Michael Pineda pitched last season in the AL Central against the Tigers. Yes, it’s a common theme for this article, but again not on purpose.
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Pineda is best known for his work in the New York Yankees rotation but produced a very successful season with the Minnesota Twins last season. Michael finished with an 11-5 record to go with his respectable but not amazing 4.01 ERA. He was able to pitch 146 innings striking out 140 hitters last year, which would be a little light for what Detroit would expect from a top of the rotation arm.
Yes, in Detroit, he’d be a top-four maybe three starter behind Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, and perhaps Michael Fulmer if he is able to return to form.
The good with Pineda is he doesn’t walk anyone. He only walked 23 batters in ’19, but he yielded 23 home runs, which were the second-most of his career. He’s a soon to be 31-year old starter that on a playoff team would be the fifth starter.
He may be intrigued with a young up and coming Detroit team taking on more of a leadership role that may land him at the top of the rotation on a one-year deal knowing if he pitches well, he’d be able to cash in one more time in a year from now.
Related Story. Could The Tigers Be Targeting Starter Michael Wacha?. light
Some players prefer a more significant role rather than being a playoff scratch. Pineda and Detroit are a fit.