Tigers Sign Right-Hander Mike Pelfrey, Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
The Tigers have been gearing to sign another pitcher after inking Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year deal last week, and they have their man. The club announced Sunday that right-hander Mike Pelfrey had signed a two-year deal with Detroit.
Pelfrey started 30 games for the Twins last year, with a 6-11 record and 4.26 ERA. He had Tommy John surgery in 2012 after starting only three games that season, but threw 152 innings in 2013 with a 5.19 ERA. His 2014 season was also injury-shortened, and he only pitched 23 innings.
"I was healthy without any pain but I had those starts where you feel good one game and then you don't feel good the next day; that was kind of an all-year thing," he said of coming back from Tommy John surgery. "In 2015, (that was) the best I've felt in a couple years. I think I got back to being one of those dependable guys."
Tigers general manager and vice president of baseball operations Al Avila praised Pelfrey's clubhouse presence and veteran leadership as reasons for why Pelfrey was a good fit. He said he expects the team to have several young pitchers step up this year, and having someone in the clubhouse to guide them was an important part of signing Pelfrey.
"That's the whole intent, to have a veteran guy who has the good makeup that's gonna go out there and battle his butt off every day, show the young guys the way of how to do it," Avila said. "His numbers – I'm not gonna argue the numbers. He's not gonna have the best numbers in the world. … This is not an analytical signing by any means. This is a scout signing, that we felt the ability is there. The comeback potential is still there."
Pelfrey had also expressed interest himself in coming to Detroit.
"When I talked to my agent, this was one of my top places to be," Pelfrey said. "I know this team isn't very far away. My main thing is this team is really close to winning and getting back."
In addition to Pelfrey, the Tigers announced Sunday the signing of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who Avila said will compete for a roster spot in spring training. He was signed to a one-year deal, on a minimum salary.
Saltalamacchia has played for the Braves, Rangers, Red Sox, Marlins and Diamondbacks during nine years in the majors, and has a .240 career batting average, with 98 home runs and 343 RBI.
According to Avila, Saltalamacchia has the ability to play first base and possibly DH as well. Saltalamacchia has the combination that Avila searches for each year - left-handed hitting power as a catcher, as well as the ability to be a switch hitter.
"I can't say it was a top priority because we like (Bryan) Holaday," Avila said of how much importance resided with finding a left-handed catcher this offseason. "So it wasn't a top priority. Every year, we always look for that kind of combination- it's very difficult to find and .. this year it kind of fell into place with Jarrod."
