Tigers give RHP Pelfrey $16M for 2 years

The final piece of the Detroit Tigers’ starting rotation is in sight.

Minnesota Twins’ Mike Pelfrey pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game at Comerica Park, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Detroit. The 31-year-old Pelfrey would join a Detroit rotation bolstered by the signing of right-hander Jordan Zimmermann less than a week ago. He should eat innings for them in the number five slot and figures to have an ERA north of 4.00, but should put up a positive WAR.

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman later reported the deal was two years, for $8 million per year. He is 61-81 with a 4.52 earned run average while playing with the New York Mets and the Minnesota Twins during his career.

Pelfrey has made 29 or more starts in six of his 10 seasons, and every one since 2008, with the exception of injury-shortened campaigns in 2012 (Tommy John surgery) and 2014 (groin, elbow and shoulder injuries). The Tigers then selected outfielder Cameron Maybin. With a double-play combination of Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias, Pelfrey will benefit from better defense than Porcello got with the Tigers, but he won’t get much help from Nick Castellanos at third or Miguel Cabrera at first. Detroit acquired both Norris and Boyd as part of the David Price trade. As he heads for the Winter Meetings in Nashville, he needs at least one and possibly two relief pitchers to supplement a depleted bullpen. They let Al Alburquerque and Neftali Feliz become free agents, declining to tender contracts to the two right-handers. This also opens up flexibility for the Tigers, as they have the big contract of Anibal Sanchez that they could shop, or they could mix and match arms in the rotation.