The Detroit Tigers finished 2022 with a lousy 66-96 record after spending a lot of money on free agents.
Their ideal goal was to improve upon a promising 2021 finish, but they actually got worse.
Pitching was part of the problem: Spencer Turnbull, Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Joey Wentz, Tarik Skubal and others were injured and/or ineffective for much of the season.
The team wants to improve its pitching under new president Scott Harris, and decided to bring in an old friend.
“Left-hander Matt Boyd and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Boyd, 31, spent seven seasons with the Tigers and returns to a team looking to overhaul its pitching staff under new president Scott Harris,” MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted.
Left-hander Matt Boyd and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Boyd, 31, spent seven seasons with the Tigers and returns to a team looking to overhaul its pitching staff under new president Scott Harris.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 1, 2022
The deal is for one year and is worth $10 million, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
After pitching in Detroit for his whole career, the pitcher left for the San Francisco Giants but was then traded to the Seattle Mariners at the deadline.
He Left Behind A Troublesome Injury
He made his season debut in September, almost 12 months after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in his left elbow.
He pitched just 13.1 innings in 2022, though the results were relatively promising when he was healthy (13 strikeouts, 1.35 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP).
The 31-year-old lefty is expected to be used as a starter.
Now healthy after a long recovery process, he could be ready to help the Tigers move a bit closer to contending in the AL Central.
His career ERA of 4.90 isn’t particularly good, but he can keep it around 4.00 with lots of strikeouts when he is at his best.
The Tigers will need him to eat innings this upcoming season.
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