The Detroit Tigers are absolutely, 100% exercising Drew Anderson’s $10 million club option for 2027, and honestly, it’s one of the easiest decisions Scott Harris will make all offseason. With a long lockout looming, and everyone expecting minimal free agent movement until a new CBA is locked in, the Tigers can’t afford to let a proven big league arm walk away for such a reasonable price. You just can’t!
That Versatility Is Everything
Anderson’s return to the major leagues after four years tearing it up as a starter in Japan and South Korea went pretty darn well, all things considered. He had to bounce back and forth between the bullpen and a starting role, which isn’t easy, but he handled it. He rocked 11 starts for the Tigers, putting up a 2.61 ERA with a 4.45 FIP. Not bad, right? And then out of the bullpen, he stacked up 56.1 innings, with a 4.63 ERA and a 4.11 FIP. That’s basically a full season’s work from the pen, plus he still threw 51.2 innings as a starter. That kind of flexibility is exactly what the Tigers need. They’ve got a pretty deep group of rotation options, but the bullpen is still screaming for right-handed help. Anderson covers both bases.
Breaking Down the Arm Talent
Sure, Anderson was a little too generous with free passes and let up a few too many homers, but his relief strikeout rate was one of the best on the team. His FIP numbers as a starter might suggest he got a little lucky, but the dude keeps the ball on the ground, clocking a 48.4 percent ground ball rate on balls in play. Combine that with a 12.4 percent swinging strike rate, way above the 10 percent league average, and a high chase rate, and you’ve got a guy who knows how to get outs. Throughout the season, the Tigers helped him refine his pitch mix. His four-seamer, that nasty kick change, and his curveball were the main weapons. They tried rolling with his slider more in late April and May, but that experiment went sideways fast. They rightly ditched that pitch more and more as the season went on, opting for the curveball instead. He only threw the slider 4.8 percent of the time, yet it gave up three of the 16 total home runs he allowed all year. Yikes. That slider needs some serious work before it’s more than just a “show me” pitch.
Where Does He Fit?
Here’s the rub, though: Anderson was super useful as a starter, but breaking into the rotation next year is going to be tough without a rash of injuries. You’ve got Framber Valdez, Jackson Jobe, Troy Melton, River Ryan, Keider Montero, and hopefully a finally healthy Reese Olson all probably ahead of him on the depth chart. So, at least to start the year, Anderson is almost certainly in the bullpen. He’s not really a high-leverage guy, either. He functions best as a fifth starter or, more likely, a bulk and middle relief arm. That still offers huge value, especially with a $10 million price tag.
So, the Tigers know what they’re getting: a versatile arm who can eat innings, whether starting or coming out of the pen, especially when they need to bridge that middle relief gap. With the free agent market looking thin and a lockout on the horizon, this move is just plain smart business for the Tigers. They’re getting proven MLB talent at a cost-effective price, and that’s a win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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