Detroit Tigers Bring Back Veteran Lefty Reliever

As the Detroit Tigers look to move back into contention in 2024, they've aided their bullpen, bringing back lefty Andrew Chafin, who pitched for them in 2022.

As the Detroit Tigers look to move back into contention in 2024, they have made a move to aid their bullpen.

Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press on social media:

Source: Andrew Chafin's deal with the #Tigers has a base salary of $4.25 million in 2024, plus up to $1.25 million in incentives. 

The club option for 2025 is $6.5 million with up to $1.25 million in incentives. $500,000 buyout on the option. Deal expected to be finalized Monday.

Source: Andrew Chafin's deal with the #Tigers has a base salary of $4.25 million in 2024, plus up to $1.25 million in incentives. The club option for 2025 is $6.5 million with up to $1.25 million in incentives. $500,000 buyout on the option.

Deal expected to be finalized Monday. https://t.co/wNw0AAtLCF

— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) December 10, 2023

It's a good move for Detroit, as manager A.J. Hinch now has more matchup ability out of that pen. In addition to Chafin, the Tigers have traded for Mark Canha and signed Kenta Maeda this offseason. They also inked manager AJ Hinch to a long-term contract extension.

As for Chafin, he's a 33-year-old veteran of 10 years. He's pitched with the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Athletics, Tigers and Brewers in his career. He spent 2023 with both the Diamondbacks and Brewers, going 3-4 with a 4.73 ERA. 

He had a great year in Detroit in 2022, registering a 2.83 ERA over 64 games, so the team certainly hopes that he can get back to those kinds of numbers.

In addition to getting contributions from the newcomers, the Tigers will hope they can get a healthy year from the rest of the pitching staff. The young core of Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning who the team planned to build around has never been able to be healthy at the same time.

Detroit finished second in the American League Central in 2023. 

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