Height
6'3"
Weight
205 lbs
Age
32
College
Nebraska
Draft
2012, Rd 21, #668
Experience
5 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsF
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 20 | 6.5036497 | 1-3 | 30 | 1.6204379 | 0.0 | 0 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$7.0M
Guaranteed
$4.2M
AAV
$7.0M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
The Tigers' decision to hand Drew Anderson a $7.0M AAV deal earns a C CVI, reflecting a middle-of-the-road investment in rotational relief help. While Anderson brings solid strikeout upside and has shown flashes of effectiveness in high-leverage spots, this contract feels like Detroit paying market rate for a pitcher whose track record suggests more back-end bullpen utility than consistent setup man production. The one-year commitment does provide flexibility as the Tigers navigate their competitive window, but $7M for a reliever who projects as rotational rather than front-line represents neither a bargain nor a major overpay in today's inflated relief market. Anderson's age and injury history add some risk to even this short-term deal, though the limited term caps the downside exposure. This signing reads like organizational depth-building rather than a move that meaningfully elevates Detroit's bullpen, making it a perfectly adequate but uninspiring allocation of resources for a team still figuring out its contention timeline.
Fan & Media Sentiment
Drew Anderson is riding a wave of genuine optimism in Detroit, with media and fans buying into his Korean Baseball Organization success story and viewing him as a smart organizational pickup. The positive sentiment stems from his development of new pitches during his overseas stint, the Tigers' confidence in giving him a roster spot, and the low-risk nature of what appears to be a modest contract for a five-year veteran reliever. However, this media darling status sits awkwardly against his replacement-level track record, creating a disconnect between the buzz and his actual MLB production history. The narrative would flip quickly if Anderson struggles out of the gate or fails to translate his KBO improvements to the majors, as there's little established performance cushion to fall back on. Right now, public opinion reflects textbook "new team, fresh start" optimism, but it's built more on potential and international intrigue than proven big-league results. This is classic "addition by subtraction from another league" sentiment that could evaporate as quickly as it formed if the on-field reality doesn't match the offseason hype.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 4/4 | vs STL | W 11-6 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
News & Buzz
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