The Detroit Tigers were Major League Baseball’s Cinderella team last season, but the unexpected postseason participant requires reinforcements to demonstrate that they have staying strength among the best.
Before losing to the Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series, the Tigers surprised the defending American League champion Houston Astros in the Wild Card round.
However, Detroit’s spectacular late-season run obscured what remains a paper-thin roster, particularly the team’s starting rotation.
Following AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the Tigers’ staff is wing and a prayer. While the organisation has stated that it will invest to improve the team, Detroit is likely in need of more than one starting pitcher.
To that end, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand sees Walker Buehler as a key free-agent signing for Motown.
“Buehler could be this year’s Jack Flaherty, an ideal rebound project for pitching coach Chris Fetter, whose group has shown it can help pitchers get more velocity and chase,” Feinsand explained. “Buehler worked with Tigers pitching director Gabe Ribas while he was a coordinator in the Dodgers system. If Detroit isn’t going to be active at the top of the free-agent pitching market, Buehler could be the best option.”
Buehler entered the 2022 season as one of the league’s best young hurlers. He was coming off an All-Star season in 2021, going 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA.
However, soreness in Buehler’s right pitching elbow developed, prompting Tommy John surgery in August. He missed most of 2022 and all of 2023. The 30-year-old returned to the Dodgers’ rotation in May of last year. However, an injured right hip caused him to miss nearly two months of the season.
When Buehler was healthy enough to pitch last season, he struggled. His 5.38 ERA was his highest since his debut in 2017, and he had a poor 1-6 record with a -1.3 WAR.
Spotrac estimates Buehler’s market value at $3.9 million on a one-year contract. A low-risk, high-reward contract of this nature would enable Detroit to stay active in the free-agent market.