Detroit Tigers Should Have Signed Doug Fister Over Mike Pelfrey This Past Offseason

When the Detroit Tigers signed Mike Pelfrey to a reported two-year, $16 million deal over the offseason, many fans were not particularly enthused. By some measures, Pelfrey did have a decent 2015 campaign with the Minnesota Twins, but he was coming off of a three-year stretch in which he was just 11-27 with a 4.94 ERA (83 ERA+) and a 1.54 WHIP over 64 starts.

Through his first nine starts in a Tigers uniform, Pelfrey has gone 0-4 with a 5.55 ERA (73 ERA+) and a 1.81 WHIP. According to fWAR, he has been the American League’s least valuable pitcher up to this point in the season with a mark of -0.3.

Another pitcher who was a free agent this offseason was former Tiger Doug Fister, who ended up signing a one-year deal with the Houston Astros. Fister posted a 128 ERA+ over his two-and-a-half year tenure with the Tigers before being traded to the Washington Nationals after the 2013 campaign. Fister had a great 2014 campaign with the Nationals, but he wasn’t the same guy last year.

Through nine starts with the Astros this season, Fister’s numbers aren’t great, but they look quite respectable for a No. 4 or No. 5 starter. His numbers are certainly better than Pelfrey’s as well.

Fister is currently 4-3 with a 4.12 ERA (97 ERA+) and a 1.26 WHIP. He also has a .248 BAA this season, compared to the whopping .347 that opponents are hitting off of Pelfrey.

Furthermore, Fister has gone six or more innings in six of his starts this year, which is something that Pelfrey has only managed to accomplish three times. Pelfrey twice eclipsed the 200-inning mark during his days with the New York Mets, but it has been a while since he has shown that type of inning-eating efficiency.

Of course, it still isn’t even June yet, and Pelfrey could very well end up giving the Tigers some quality starts down the stretch this summer. Right now, though, it is looking like Fister might have been a better fit at the back of Detroit’s rotation.

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