Detroit Tigers: 3 scary free agents to avoid signing this offseason

The Detroit Tigers need to avoid starting pitcher Kevin Gausman.

While it has been rumored that the Detroit Tigers are going to target some starting pitching help this offseason, there’s no telling what direction the team could go in. Future Hall of Famers and former Tigers arms Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander certainly would be treats, but there are players to avoid.

One of the players that should be listed as a trick or a scary player is Kevin Gausman. The 31-year old right-handed starting pitcher was worth 5.3 WAR according to Baseball-Reference’s numbers, but he certainly does not have a star-studded resume during the other eight seasons of his career.

In 2021, Gausman logged 192 innings over 33 starts while pitching to a 2.81 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and 227 strikeouts for the San Francisco Giants team, which shocked many this year. While some may buy into a “new version” of Gausman, I’m not one of them.

I think it’s a scary name to see on the market, and I would rather see the Tigers organization pursue other options. Gausman has gotten better during his time in the Bay, but his prior stats do not phase me. If the Tigers are going to hand out a contract to someone who can help bolster the rotation, they should be proven.

The worry with Gausman is that he could be a trick rather than a treat and revert to performances more like his days in Baltimore with ERA numbers well over 4.00. Focusing in on some trusted arms should be the Tigers’ focus this offseason.