The Tigers have signed Chase Anderson to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to big league Spring Training, according to his transactions log at MLB.com. Additionally, veteran backstop Ryan Lavarnway announced on Instagram he has signed with Detroit. Jason Beck of MLB.com tweets that’s also a minors deal with an NRI to MLB camp.
Anderson, 34, has been a durable member of big league rotations dating back to 2014. Never an overpowering arm, Anderson nevertheless outperformed his peripherals for a few seasons with the D-Backs and Brewers. The changeup specialist threw plenty of strikes and generally avoided hard contact en route to an ERA right around 4.00 for much of his early career. He even posted a 2.74 mark over 141 1/3 innings with the Brew Crew in 2017 and remained a solid starter through 2019.
The past couple seasons have been tough for the University of Oklahoma product. Despite career-best strikeout and swinging strike rates with the Blue Jays in 2020, he was tagged for a 7.22 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, allowing a staggering 11 longballs in that time. The Phillies rolled the dice on a bounceback, guaranteeing Anderson $4MM in hopes he’d right the ship. He continued to struggle in Philadelphia, though, working 48 innings of 6.75 ERA ball.
Philadelphia released Anderson in late August. He caught on with the Rangers on a minor league deal but didn’t get another look at the highest level. He’ll take another crack at it this spring with Detroit, which has an uncertain group at the back of the rotation. At present, Tyler Alexander looks the favorite for the #5 starter’s job behind Casey Mize, Eduardo Rodríguez, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning. Alex Faedo and Joey Wentz are the top depth options, but neither has yet appeared in the majors. Of course, Detroit could still add to the rotation over the next three weeks.
A quintessential third catcher, Lavarnway has appeared in the big leagues in ten of the past eleven seasons. He has tallied 486 cumulative plate appearances, hitting .217/.272/.345 with nine home runs. The righty-hitting backstop played in nine games with Cleveland last season. He spent more time with their top affiliate in Columbus, posting a .260/.338/.520 mark in 199 Triple-A plate appearances.
Matt Manning isn’t ready for the majors. He’s been trash in AA & AAA.
He’s been outstanding at AA and he’s started 7 games at AAA. He’s linked in the article, it would’ve taken you two clicks to find that out.
And he stunk in the big leagues last year.
Again, Avila goes for the guy w/o a fastball. I understand its just depth, but they already signed Dustin earlier, who is the same type. DD knew you can’t teach a fastball, and I could have sworn Avila was his right hand man thru much of his tenor in both Detroit and Miami. Did he learn nothing while Dave’s pupil?
You really want to cry about Avila over minor league signings? Hoping they sign Greinke over the next few days. Haven’t heard a peep about him in connection with any team.
Only if he continues signing soft tossers. Pelfrey, Novoa, Tehran, Urena. All pitchers with no strikeout pitch, that weren’t Avila’s finest signings.
Greinke might retire since no one will let him hit with the universal DH. Poor guy.
Chase “Sinker Specialist” Anderson from the Lone Star state.
So many pitchers named Anderson , like an epidemic, you can fill out a full starting rotation , bullpen and even have a few guys left over who are AAA types for the minor league squad lol
Shaun, Tanner , Brett , Tyler , Chase , Ian , Nick, Brian and Drew
Those are the major leaguers ( yes I have no life shhh)
Haven’t searched MiLB lol
I forgot Lavarnway played 25 games for the 2013 Red Sox and got a ring.
Pretty sure he was on Team Israel in Tokyo
As a Tiger fan, I find myself (probably irrationally) feeling the world – or at least the division – has passed Detroit by since transactions resumed. The Twins completely reshuffled their deck, and I thought that was a team the Tigers were going to stomp.
Did the Tigers just front-load their big transactions so there’s no much more they could/should do except bargain hunt (like sign guys to minor league contracts or see if some quasi-decent free agent doesn’t seem to be drawing enough interest)? Or will a lot more big transactions – with the Tigers or not – be coming in the next few days?
Or did I just get my hopes up for a team that’s not going to make a 12-team (or 14-team) playoff as currently composed?
They could be in the conversation for the 12-team playoff. This is only the start though. No one should expect Greene and Tork to instantly be in their prime in year one.
Against the stacked AL East? It’s gonna take 93 wins still….Detroit is respectable but a lot has to go right for them to get that
I agree. I figured they’d come out right where they left off before the lockout. Instead, crickets other than these two & Hutch. We need either another big bat or big arm……and a lefty reliever too. Which could be Tyler Alexander if we get the other arm.
I think you are looking at it wrong. The tigers are a team just exiting the rebuilding stage. We have no push to make these type of moves.
we added e-rod, Baez, and barnhart and the only major loss is boyd via FA. We also traded a single prospect who is barely in our top 30.
The twins however have been contending for the last few years and feel more desperate. They did add Gray, Sanchez, and Urshela, and could very possibly sign Story. To do this they had to get rid of their starting catcher Garver, starting 3b Donaldson and their 7th ranked prospect. They still only have 3/5 of a starting rotation.
Even if the twins add story the tigers offseason was just as fruitful. Our time will come.
Twins got Bundy too. He’s not much, but he’s a decent backend starter.
Wow, amazing that Lavarnway is still around.
You too can ink a Detroit Baseball Co. pact if you can throw about as hard as Molly Putz.
I for one find it interesting that Lavarnway has appeared in the majors in parts of 10 seasons and has under 100 career hits.
Avila loves these guys that are past their prime, guaranteed to go on the IL, and will NOT help the rotation. Pelfrey. Moore. Urena. Teheran. As stated, the only guarantee is that Chase Anderson WILL get hurt and have to go on the Injured List.
I believe these signings will come into fruition by mentoring some of these younger players. I have no problem whatsoever with minor league depth signings. Every team does it every year. Garneau and Wily Peralta all played well on minor league deals last year. Think positivity.
Obviously hook316 knows better than every single GM, how to sign extremely talented, young and MLB-capable players to minor-league contracts. It’s a real shame that this knowledge has not come into fruition yet!
The Tigers dearly need another starter, but at least they have built up some minor-league depth; Hutchison helped them last year already, so it’s good to have him back as well. These signings may not move the needle at all, but some insurance against injuries is always necessary.
Gruß,
BSHH
Lifelong Tigers fan. And I myself also was a little disappointed we signed no one when the lockout ended. But really, who’s there to sign? I mean props to the Twins for making a bunch of moves but what did they end up with? A catcher who barely reaches the Mendoza line and a decent super utility type in Urshila. The Tigers will be better than last year but anyone expecting a remake of 2006 where we went from mediocrity to the WS will most likely be PO’d. Tork and Greene are going to take some lumps this year, and unfortunately our best pitcher just may be the guy that’s gonna be out all year recovering from TJ (Turnbull). Baez and Barnhart will make us a bit better as well, but we still have holes that will have to be filled over the offseason (or perhaps at the trade deadline).
Who really knows what the sophomore seasons of Mize, Skubal and Manning have in store? Who knows how E-Rod will adjust to a new team in a new division? Can he be a #1 starter? Can Candelario and Baddoo keep getting better or will they slump? Can Schoop stay productive and healthy? Will Cabby continue to show his age as he is now another year older? And they there is the big question. Are Torkelson and Greene just average players or are they the future 3 and 4 hole hitters for this franchise for the next decade? That’s what’s awesome about baseball. You just have to wait and see!!!
GO TIGERS!
Tigers May be waiting for what shakes out in lower priced FA’S Still could use another starter, bull pen guy and LH bat
TAKE ON SALARY FOR PROSPECTS!