The Tigers have signed right-hander Drew Anderson to a one-year deal with a club option for 2027, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The salary figures are yet to be disclosed. Anderson, 32, has a history of bouncing around the big leagues, spending time with the Phillies, White Sox, and Rangers from 2017 to 2021. His performance in these brief appearances was less than stellar, with a 6.50 ERA in 44 1/3 innings. However, Anderson's fortunes changed when he moved overseas to Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, joining the Hiroshima Carp in 2022. Over two seasons, he posted a solid 3.05 ERA. This success led to a return to North America, where the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal in January 2024. Despite a strong start in Korea with the SSG Landers, Anderson was eventually released and returned to the Tigers' system. This year, he had an even better run, making 30 starts and logging 171 2/3 innings with a 2.25 ERA, 35.3% strikeout rate, 7.3% walk rate, and 45.9% ground ball rate. The Tigers are making a strategic move by signing Anderson, who will compete for the #5 spot in spring training. The team's rotation is already strong, led by Tarik Skubal, with Reese Olson, Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty in support. The Tigers have also been linked to free agents like Zac Gallen, Ranger Suárez, and Michael King, indicating a potential shift in their rotation composition as the season progresses.
