Detroit Tigers Acquire Veteran Overseas Standout on MLB Contract

The Detroit Tigers just made a move to strengthen their pitching staff, signing veteran right-hander Drew Anderson to a one-year Major League contract. There’s a club option for 2027, which shows they’re not messing around.

After carving out a second act overseas, Anderson finally gets a real shot at sticking in a big-league rotation from Opening Day. That’s the kind of chance he’s chased for years.

Who Is Drew Anderson, and Why Did the Tigers Sign Him?

Anderson isn’t a prospect or a household name. Still, he’s exactly the type of under-the-radar signing that can quietly reshape a rotation.

At 31, he’s a late bloomer. His game matured in Japan and Korea, and Detroit thinks that version of Anderson can hold up in the American League Central.

Detroit first brought Anderson in on a minor-league deal before the 2024 season. They invited him to spring training and started him at Triple-A Toledo.

He then headed to the KBO’s SSG Landers, and that’s where things clicked. As a full-time starter, he put up numbers that forced MLB front offices to pay attention.

A Look at Anderson’s Overseas Breakout

What changed for Anderson overseas? Honestly, it was just getting a real opportunity and a clear role.

After years of bouncing between roles and rosters in MLB, he finally got the ball every fifth day. He ran with it.

He capped off his second overseas stint after two seasons in Japan, where he sharpened his pitch mix and command. The Tigers are betting on that version— not the reliever who bounced around earlier in his career.

From Reliever to Starter: Anderson’s Career Evolution

Anderson’s story shows how a role change can unlock a pitcher’s best self. The Phillies drafted him in the 21st round back in 2012, and he debuted in MLB in 2017.

He spent time with the Phillies, White Sox, and Rangers. For years, teams used him mostly as a reliever, always on the edge of the roster.

He appeared in parts of five MLB seasons but never pitched more than nine games in any one year. That lack of stability made it tough for him to find rhythm or identity on the mound.

Why the Starting Role Fits Anderson Now

In Korea, Anderson became a full-time starter, and it just worked. As a starter, he could use his entire arsenal, mix pitches on his terms, and go after lineups multiple times.

That’s the guy the Tigers are rolling out this spring. Detroit’s already committed to him as a starter, which says a lot about their belief in his transformation.

How Anderson Fits into the Tigers’ Rotation Picture

The Tigers are putting together a rotation that mixes youth, upside, and now, some international polish. Anderson slots into a group with a real chance to be one of the deeper staffs in the division.

Detroit’s projected rotation now looks like this:

By signing Anderson, the Tigers aren’t just plugging a hole. They’re adding options and flexibility.

If injuries hit or a young starter stumbles, Anderson gives the manager and front office a steady veteran who’s handled pressure abroad. That’s not nothing.

Why This Signing Matters for Detroit’s 2025 Outlook

Teams that want to contend don’t just lean on prospects or big names. They need steady professionals who can fill gaps and sometimes snag a win out of nowhere.

Anderson’s one-year deal, with a team option for 2027, keeps risk low and potential reward high. If his KBO run translates, Detroit gets a budget-friendly mid-rotation starter who can rack up strikeouts and comes with a built-in option year.

If things go south, the Tigers aren’t tied down for long. For a team looking to move up in the standings, this kind of calculated risk on a 31-year-old with some new energy feels pretty logical.

 
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