Tigers bring back KBO success story Anderson on one-year deal

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two seasons after the Tigers got their first look at Drew Anderson in camp, they’re bringing the right-hander back to the states after two dominant seasons in Korea. On Monday, the Tigers kicked off their Winter Meetings by officially announcing their reunion with Anderson on a one-year, $7 million contract with a $10 million club option for 2027.

Anderson will compete in Spring Training as a starter, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris confirmed.

Anderson’s reunion follows his first stint with the Tigers as a non-roster invite in Spring Training in 2024 coming off two seasons in Japan. He made an impression in camp, striking out 14 batters over eight Grapefruit League innings while showing a big boost in velocity, but also gave up seven runs on nine hits and was sent to Triple-A Toledo. He pitched in nine games for the Mud Hens, averaging 95.5 miles per hour on his fastball according to Statcast – three mph harder than in his last MLB season in 2021 – before requesting his release to pitch overseas for the SSG Landers in the KBO.

Anderson went 11-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 2024, striking out 158 batters over 115 2/3 innings with just 98 hits allowed. He signed back with the Landers for another year and topped that, posting a 12-7 record with a 2.25 ERA, third lowest in the league. His 245 strikeouts trailed only fellow American Cody Ponce, and Anderson pitched nine fewer innings. Anderson’s .193 batting average allowed was the lowest among qualified KBO pitchers.

“He made a really good impression with us in the spring of ‘24,” Harris said. “I thought he worked really well with our pitching group. I thought he accessed some additional velocity and fastball quality that he carried to Korea with him. In Korea, he was able to hold his velocity across a pretty big workload for a starter. He also added a kick-change that became a real swing-and-miss weapon for him. He still has a curveball.”

Like Ponce, who agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the defending American League champion Blue Jays, Anderson decided to take his improved game back to MLB. The 31-year-old doesn’t get a multiyear deal, but he’ll get a chance to compete as a starter.

“We feel like with the added swing-and-miss secondary pitch, and the familiarity and the foundation of innings, that he can be a real addition to our team,” Harris said. “We’re really excited to add him.”

The Tigers have cast a wide net so far this offseason in their search for starting pitching to complement their trio of Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, All-Star Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty. They’ve been connected at the top end to free-agent starters Michael King, Ranger Suárez and Zac Gallen, but they’ve also looked for potential undervalued candidates. They had interest in converting free-agent closer Ryan Helsley to a starter before he signed with the Orioles, and they’ve reportedly shown similar interest in free-agent reliever and former Royals Opening Day starter Brad Keller, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Tigers’ rotation is murky beyond Skubal, Flaherty and Mize. Reese Olson missed the second half of this past season with a shoulder strain but recently began a throwing progression. Troy Melton is expected to work as a starter after an impressive second half bouncing between the rotation and bullpen, but pitched a career-high 129 1/3 innings between the Minor Leagues, regular season and postseason. Keider Montero will also compete in Spring Training as a starter after a successful late-season stint in the bullpen.

“At this point in December, generally we’re just trying to add as much pitching as we possibly can, trusting that we’re going to be able to figure it out in partnership with A.J.,” Harris said. “I think the thing that really sticks out with Drew is that it’s not just the foundation of innings, it’s the performance, too. The [rate of] bats that he was able to miss in Korea [was] pretty staggering.”