The Tigers and right-hander A.J. Achter have agreed to a minor league contract with an invite to Major League Spring Training, reports SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (on Twitter).
Achter, a longtime Twins farmhand, will return to the American League Central after spending the 2016 season with the Angels organization. The 28-year-old made his big league debut with the Twins back in 2014 and has appeared in parts of each season since, but he received his lengthiest and most successful Major League stint with the Halos last year. In 37 2/3 innings out of the Angels’ bullpen, Achter worked to a 3.11 earned run average. Achter displayed solid control (2.9 BB/9) and posted a roughly league-average ground-ball rate, but he also showed an inability to miss bats at the Major League level. In his 37 2/3 frames, he picked up just 14 strikeouts (3.3 K/9). Achter entered the 2016 campaign with a career 9.1 K/9 rate in the minors and with 19 strikeouts in 24 1/3 Major League innings, but the extreme levels of contact against him led ERA estimators such as FIP, xFIP and SIERA to each peg him well north of 5.00.
With a career 2.79 ERA and solid K/BB numbers in Triple-A, Achter is at the very least a solid depth piece to have on hand. He’ll have a homecoming of sorts in joining the Tigers — Achter is from Ohio and went to college at Michigan State — and hope to force his way to the bullpen of a Tigers team that is attempting to trim its payroll this winter.
Completely unrelated, but is there any way to stop this obnoxious Office Christmas Party video ad from popping up every two seconds or every single article I read on this app??
Super irritating
I wanted to see this movie but now I don’t thanks to this.
Yes, stop using the app like I did. I just go through the mobile website now.
wouldn’t touch this dude.
I won’t touch any dudes. Well unless the money offer is greater than how much I value my own dignity…
2k?
Come on, don’t lowball me, 2.5!
2.25
Throw in a Sprite and deal!
That SIERA makes that ERA look pretty suspect. Be interesting to see how he adjusts to the Tigers though. Hope it works out.
As a Twins fan, I look forward to A.J. making the Tigers 25-man roster. Attn Comerica Park denizens – if Pelfrey AND Achter pitch in the same game, you’re in for a long night….
So last year year the guy had a WHIP of almost one and a half and 14Ks in 37 innings – my question is – how much of a blow out does the game have to be before he can be safely brought into a game – sheeesh – and he’s not even left handed – what’s the point?
It’s only a minor league signing.
He may be an early stage Right Handed Rich Hill, we have no idea, you can’t presume about a players career until it’s over.
Guy almost tossed 3 no hitters for the Angels last season. Solid pickup for Detroit.
You must be thinking of someone else, he has been a relief pitcher since 2011
He meant three ALL hitters. Every batter faced got a hit.
He’s not Chapman, but he’s cheap.