March 19: The Tigers have officially announced the deal with a press release. Pineda may be delayed in joining the club, however, as he works to solve issues relating to his visa, per Chris McCosky (via Twitter). Whether or not he’ll be ready to start the reason remains up in the air.
That matters for Pineda, whose contract includes a number of innings bonuses, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Pineda will receive $375K for hitting each of the 50, 75, 100, and 125 inning benchmarks, and he would receive an additional $500K for tossing 150 and 175 innings. In total, that amounts to an extra $2.5MM that he could add to the $5.5MM base sum.
March 18: The Tigers have fortified the back of their rotation, reportedly agreeing to terms with Michael Pineda on a one-year, $5.5MM guarantee. The deal, which is pending a physical, also contains another $2.5MM in possible incentives. Pineda is a client of ISE Baseball.
Detroit has ben searching for additional rotation help in recent days. General manager Al Avila acknowledged they made an unsuccessful run at Zack Greinke before he signed with the division-rival Royals. The Tigers were linked to Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, both of whom the A’s have made available via trade. Avila implied yesterday that the Detroit front office might not meet the A’s ask on those two starters, though, and it seems they’ve instead pivoted to Pineda.
Tigers fans have seen plenty of the big right-hander over the past few years. Pineda has spent the last three seasons with the Twins, generally offering capable if not overwhelming production. He worked 282 cumulative innings with Minnesota, pitching to a 3.80 ERA while holding opponents to a .257/.296/.428 slash line. Pineda’s 21.6% strikeout rate in that time was a bit below the league mark, but he only walked 4.8% of batters faced and generally did well to keep the ball in the park.
Pineda’s availability was a bit spotty during his Twins tenure. He had four injured list stints between 2019 and 2021, although none of those stays on the shelf lasted more than a month. He also missed some time late in 2019 and early in 2020 serving a suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. When able to take the mound, Pineda generally performed alright. Last season, he tossed 109 1/3 frames in 22 appearances (21 starts), pitching to a 3.62 ERA.
That came with a career-worst 19.2% strikeout percentage, though. Pineda also averaged a personal-low 90.9 MPH on his fastball and had the lowest swinging strike rate (10.5%) of his eight-year big league career. That seemingly contributed to a lack of leaguewide interest at last summer’s trade deadline, as the Twins held onto Pineda all year despite moving a few players in July amidst a disappointing season.
Pineda’s stock isn’t as high as it had been earlier in his career, but it’s still a plenty sensible dice roll for the Tigers. Detroit has a top four of Eduardo Rodriguez, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning, but the final rotation spot remained up in the air. Swingman Tyler Alexander and non-roster invitees Chase Anderson and Wily Peralta seemed the likeliest candidates for the #5 spot heading into today. Pineda’s signing will presumably push Alexander back into a multi-inning relief role, with Anderson and Peralta competing for depth spots. It’ll also help Detroit brass keep the innings totals of their younger arms in check.
Avila said yesterday the Tigers were prepared to make an offer to Greinke comparable to the $13MM guarantee he received from the Royals. It doesn’t come as much surprise they had enough in the coffers to put less than half that on the table for Pineda. Detroit’s projected player payroll is up to around $129MM, according to Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. That’s well above where they’ve been in recent seasons as they’ve been firmly amidst a rebuild, but it’s nowhere near the franchise-record levels of years past (or the luxury tax thresholds). How far owner Chris Ilitch is willing to push isn’t clear, but it stands to reason there may still be some room for the front office to explore further additions.
Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press first reported the Tigers were in agreement with Pineda on a one-year deal. Jon Heyman of the MLB Network was first to report the financial terms.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Perfect
So there I was, blaming Scott Boras and all of his disgusting, greedy tactics….being so un-American and selfish, to have driven up the price of hotdogs at the ballpark- because let’s face it- there is something essentially wrong paying that much for a hot dog and it is absolutely evil that they can ask that much for a damn hotdog and do!
Ive always blamed Scott for singlehandedly ruining the game experience and hurting this country so badly with his greed- driving up the price of hotdogs for the fans….
Then I see this guy…..
Tigers getting incrementally better.
Just wait until Miggy is off the books. I can’t hate on him. The man loves playing baseball and it shows on his face every time I see him play.
I would have given Miggy the same contract, even if I knew he would fall off so early. Fans only get so many chances to see generational players and personalities. Miggy is my favorite player ever.
Agreed
They sure are.
I love seeing it too. I get to the U.P. once or twice a year. Been looking at maps of it recently as I am planning a May backcountry turkey hunt. I have stayed in the ubiquitous incredibly inexpensive cabins there many times. Always a bar nearby.
Awesome folks, great baseball fans. & instead of the abject, automatic “hatred” of the Yankees (& us) they see us as a formidable & traditional rival worthy of respect. I am definitely rooting for them.
On Big Mike: Though his pure stuff is dimmed, I think he has the talent & guile to kind of remake himself. He’s a trip to watch throw with all the faces & gyrations.
Im rather intrigued by there roster as well. Feel like they have that sneaky dark horse potential to them.
Maybe “Pete,” but a lot has to go right.
Of course it does, “For”.
Pitching market is even thinner now
Michael Pineda and thinner are not often mentioned in the context of each other
Don’t body shame Big Mike.
They better check his neck for pine tar before he signs that contract
You don’t have to check, it’ll be dripping off ….
Something tells me the Tigers dont care about people with cheating pasts on their team
Yeah, but come on, AJ Hinch has….. hmmmm, okay, okay, I see where your going there.
Brixton lol I see what you do there homie
didn’t put it together with hinch.
i was thinking all the guys canseco mentioned in his books (juan gone, pudge, miggy, etc…).
Last veteran cheater with a young rotation, took the tigers to the world series in 2006. See Rogers, Kenny.
that was an honest mistake and he he wiped off the little bit of stuff on his hand. You yankee fans are too sensitive.
So good they signed him twice in a row
The real rumor is that after he signed the contract, the pen was covered in goop
Hope they have his jersey size…in stock
His jersey size is “Huskey”
A’s probably wanted Manning or Jobe involved.
I would’ve traded Manning for Montas before you could blink. Has zero movement on his fastball … I hope I’m wrong, but I think he’s gonna be a bust.
Still too early in Manning’s career to give up on him, so happy Tigers didn’t bite on Oakland’s sell off. Plus if they would have had to include Jobe or Madden the price becomes excessive. I like what Avila has done and know with their improved defense at catcher, SS and CF the pitching will be that much better
Agree. Tigers arent in a position to mortgage the future to win now. Plenty of time to compete with their young core.
I agree with this. I just don’t see Manning as part of the future – even though technically he still is at this point. He’s just a guy I think you move while he has value. Watch him pitch. His stuff isn’t good.
Two years from now, Manning could very well be the #1 or 2 starter in their rotation. He’s going to be around for quite a while.
You likely are, but more importantly, the Tigers think you are wrong. Manning is still young and only had 98 days of service time last year. So the Tigers have 6 years of control over him. You don’t trade that for a guy with an injury history and 2 years of control unless you don’t think he’ll ever amount to anything. He still is a work in progress, but he showed enough promise last year to suggest he will amount to something.
We can’t look ahead 5 years from now to see who is right and who isn’t. But if you’ve evaluated enough pitching, you’ll see what I’m saying. The Tigers have no choice but to hope they are right. They have a lot invested in him.
I’ve heard scouts/analysts saying he could turn out to be the best of the young arms… You might not be seeing something that they are. Remember when Max looked like garbage when he first came to the tigers?
Good point on max! I remember everyone saying that he was gonna be a bullpen arm long term because no one’s body could handle the violent delivery and head whip …
No, Mark. I think in Faedo and Manning they have their 8th and 9th inning guys of the future. Not what you want from first round picks but that’s what you get with two-pitch pitchers.
Would be thrilled with that. Can pay for another starter. Late inning guys are hard to predict from year to year.
“traded Manning for Montas”
Is that because you think Montas would push the Tigers into the world series? No? sooooo your plan is to trade away a future player with lots of upside and control for a rental player that isn’t going to be here for a championship run.
….smart.
real smart.
I don’t think Manning has seen his last game as a Toledo Mud Hen
The A’s are too smart to want Manning for Montas.
So smart that moneyball has never won them a thing…
It has made them a consistent contender with short rebuild times over the years. Their problem is their owner can’t/won’t spend. But you can’t win if you don’t make the playoffs to begin with.
When you apply analytics correctly and have money. You get the Dodgers.
Gives Tigers good starting depth
Another guy the Twins apparently wanted back but dont even give an effort. Twins will have a AAA staff this year. Pineda should be ok for 5 innings a game if he stays healthy.
An inning shy of a complete game outing in today’s baseball.
Twins got Correa (as I’m sure you know by now) and they’re apparently one of the favorites to land Montas too.
I don’t need no Spider Tak. Just give me a gob of goo on my neck.
Interesting. Did not think the Tigers would add another starter. But signing Pineda made a lot more sense than trading for Montas or Manaea.
I think it was going to be Pineda or Cueto once they lost out on Greinke. Who I didn’t know they were even going after until it was already over. Even though I wanted them to.
Man, is it me or does Michael Pineda look like he ate CC Sabathia?
CC is thin now.
You weren’t kidding. He also seems to have lost some control too.
https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/02/ex-yankees-ace-cc-sabathias-hitting-problems-bad-tee-shot-nails-fan-draws-blood.html
Yeah, but CC’s still a 6’7 man. Either that or Pineda tried to prevent himself from ever using pine tar again, by eating every barrel on earth. And chased it with some pizzas.
3B better keep his glove up or he may catch a stray popped uniform button at 100MPH in the forehead
…..lol
Great move by the Tigers..they now have their 5th starter and with Alexander as a spot starter and Peralta, Hutchison, Wentz and Faedo in Toledo have enough backup for starters #’s 6-10
Peralta will probably make the team right out of spring training, even if it’s as a middle reliever.
Peralta is beloved in the tigers clubhouse, but has visa issues much like last year. We might not see him till June depending on what kind of shape he’s in.
MFP……..why would it take till June to resolve though??
You’re scaring me, lol!!
And Chase Anderson, too.
Pine tar boy.
If Manning doesn’t look ready, Alexander takes his spot in the rotation. Next year, Turnbull replaces Pinada.
Hopefully Turnbull comes back the same so get stronger some don’t come back the same. 50/50. Faedo and Wentz will give us some hope if they come back fine.
Plus, we have Peralta, Hutchison and Chase Anderson for depth.
I really like this signing and I’m so glad Avila didn’t give the A’s they’re asking price for Montas or Manaea.
Manning was probably in that ask and probably another high P prospect. I know prospects have a shelf life but you can’t sell them until you absolutely need to do it.
Pineda is an example of why advanced metrics can be considered garbage at times
Well all we heard was he wanted to come back but the boy genuises have been golfing in Ft. Meyers all week. To get a major league shortstop and 2 more starters was too daunting a task for them.
About that SS…
Welp, they heard ya, apparently, lol! Correa and last I heard they were the front runners for Montas.
Just what the Tigers need. Avila gets a lot of crap from the fans, but he’s done a pretty good job this year.
It’s hit and miss, he’s drafted well, he’s done great with the farm and staying patient. But he’s absolutely garbage with trades
Admittedly, his trade history isn’t very good.
Totally agree. It started with the rejects that the tigers received for J.D. Martinez all the way to the rejects they received for Verlander. Candelario seems to be the only “catch” during the whole salary dump
On paper, maybe, but it’s ridiculous to say he’s done a good job. We won’t know until at least October to determine how good of job he’s done and arguably many years after that.
Most of his signings and trades have been awful. We have some good talent, but those were no brainer picks due to having high draft position. He still needs to do a ton to prove he’s a good GM. I think his strengths are that he doesn’t have a big ego and will listen to Hinch.
I like the moves on the surface, but he hasn’t earned my trust yet. I hate to say this, but I don’t ever remember bringing in a bunch of free agents has worked. I truly hope all this works out, but I’m not totally sold.
That’s absolutely NOT true!
We have given him a wagon load of carp and have offered to trade him to Boston for a bucket of Dooley’s baked beans……
But nobody gives a crap here!
Al Avila is improving but, its been a long rebuild and the team is not .500.
The trades were mostly bad and player development has been almost negligible. Most of the free agents were busts too.
Plan B pans out.
Badoo crushed that ball today…
A’s want high end prospects and Tigers aren’t ready to part with any of those guys just yet.
Not a fan of this move after reading his Wikipedia page. Lot of injuries, the DUI, the banned substance suspension, the pine tar issues.
Not the type of player I’d take a $5.5 million dollar chance on.
That’s not a lot of money lol. It’s a one-year deal. No risk.
5.5 million on a 1 year deal is peanuts in baseball
Not true. That’s roughly 42.678% of the Pirates total roster payroll.
Nice move. Good price. He might get hurt signing the contract, but still……………
It’s not my money, obviously, but this seems like a great deal.
Well, ok…..
Now if Miggy would just retire already…..
He wants to get his 3,000 hits & he’s 13 short. Then, it’s a matter of piling on his existing 502HRs for the next two seasons until his contract is up.
Not at $32M / yr. Miggy is batting 3rd and 4th the next two years.
He (Cabrera) had 16 and 75 last season. That’s serviceable, if not great.
Yeah if only one of the greatest players of all time would just go away. Get out of here Miggy! Take all 3 of your crowns & get out!
Great pickup!! Low cost for someone who only has to be a back of the rotation starter.
The Tigers were never paying Miggy for what he was going to do, they were basically paying him for what he had already done. And the fact that he was going to get 3000 and 500 in a Tigers uniform. But if that is the case I have no problem with it. This man won a Triple Crown in the Old English D! And I witnessed it! I will be able to tell my grandsons that I remember that season and went to a few games. For that, I will gladly take the 20 HRs and 80 RBIs (which really aren’t that bad of numbers).
As for Manning possibly being a bust? He’s had like 15 pro starts? He has improved little by little. And even if he can never put it all the way together as a starter, he can be one hell of a RP. Imagine his arm not having to conserve any energy and just fully letting it fly! I think he’s going to be fine. And even if it is only Mize, Skubal and Jobe that make it as quality starters. Hitting on 3 of 4 draft picks ain’t too bad. Not to mention you Madden and Briske as wild cards who may end up better than any of em! Nice time to be a Tigers fan!
I love this move. Bravo Mr Avila. I really appreciate the approach this off-season, keep improving and not anchoring this team down for a decade. Farm is still intact.
The central is going to be fun to watch this year!
Forget about the VISA, just use your MASTER CARD !!
Seems like several visa issues throughout the league, I wonder what that’s about.
Tigers looking like a real contender.