The Detroit Tigers are not the most active team in free agency this winter, but they've added a few quality pitchers and are looking to continue such a trend.
But, after adding Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen from free agency to the bullpen, the Tigers are now scouring the starting pitching market for rotation upgrades.
According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Tigers are reportedly talking to two veteran pitchers formerly with the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Tigers linked to former Blue Jays, Red Sox starters
"The Detroit Tigers continue to explore the starting-pitching market," Rosenthal and Sammon write, "talking to free-agent right-handers Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt, among others, according to a person briefed on their conversations."
Neither Chris Bassitt nor Lucas Giolito is at the top of the market, but compared to Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, they will be significantly cheaper.
Bassitt is a 36-year-old starter who is coming off a solid season with the Blue Jays. He had a 3.96 ERA in 31 starts, posting 2.1 bWAR for a World Series Blue Jays roster.
And in the postseason, Bassitt pitched in seven games as a reliever, finishing with a 1.04 ERA across 8.2 innings pitched.
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Giolito is a bit younger, only 31 years old, but after some late-season elbow soreness, there's some concern about his ability this upcoming season.
But if the right-hander can reach the heights he pitched at for the Red Sox last season, he'd be a nice pickup. Across 26 starts for the Red Sox, Giolito had a 3.41 ERA.
He went 10-4 with a 2.1 bWAR on the year, posting his best season with one team since 2021. After missing all of 2024 due to injury, his 2025 season was a showcase that he still has the potential to be a quality starting pitcher in the Majors.
Detroit is showing interest in both Bassitt and Giolito this winter, reportedly talking to both as they explore more starting rotation upgrades this offseason.
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