The Detroit Tigers added to their pitching staff, signing free agent and former Houston Astros starter Mike Fiers. The deal is for one-year and $6 million. The team gets the deal done just before Major League Baseball’s winter meetings, as the Tigers get a head start on their off-season. According to reports, they beat out the Baltimore Orioles for Fiers signature.
Mike Fiers has agreed to 1 year, $6M deal with #Tigers pending physical. #Orioles had offered 2 years. @anthonyfenech first reported it was close.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 8, 2017
Detroit Tigers Sign Pitcher Mike Fiers
The 32-year-old has a career ERA of 4.15 over seven MLB seasons. However, Fiers had a rough season, playing for the World Series Champions. He was 8-10 with a 5.22 ERA, and 1.42 WHIP in 32 starts. Fiers pitched 153 1/3 innings and had 146 strikeouts. The major problem was home runs allowed, as he gave up 32 on the season.
Fiers was removed from the Astros rotation when they acquired Justin Verlander on August 31, 2017. He did not appear on the team’s post-season roster in any round.
Fiers is 42-47 in 141 career appearances, including 123 starts. His career WHIP is 1.291. In 2015 Fiers threw a no-hitter. The Tigers are taking a relatively low-cost risk that he can eat up innings for the team next year, as well as bounce back closer to his career norms. With the Tigers in full rebuild mode, he could also be an attractive trade candidate at the deadline, should he have a strong first half of the season.
With this signing, the Tigers 40-man roster is now full. However, they can make additional moves to free up spots in the coming weeks.
Mike Fiers: “I’ve got to thank the Astros for trusting in me, trading for me and having me pitch those 2 ½ years there. But it definitely sucks leaving those guys, who you built great relationships with and bonded with for so many times throughout the year.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) December 2, 2017
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