LAKELAND, Fla. -- Have the Detroit Tigers found their fifth starter?
The Tigers signed veteran right-hander Chase Anderson to a minor-league contract on Monday. The deal was recorded on the league’s transactions wire.
Anderson, 34, was a reliable starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers from 2014-2019, but he’s struggled the last two seasons.
Anderson could compete with lefty Tyler Alexander for the fifth spot in the Tigers’ rotation. It’s also possible the Tigers will continue to search for starting options on the fast-moving free-agent market.
In addition to Anderson, the Tigers also signed catcher Ryan Lavarnway to a minor-league deal and invited him to spring training.
Lavarnway, a California native who played college ball at Yale University, has spent parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues, most recently with the Cleveland Indians in 2021.
Anderson was a ninth round draft pick out of the University of Oklahoma in 2009 and made his debut for the D’backs in 2014. In the first six seasons of his career, he went 53-40 with a 3.94 ERA, averaging 27 starts per season.
The Brewers traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays before the COVID-shortened 2020 season and he never got on track. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to last season but was released after posting a 6.75 ERA in 48 innings.
The Tigers will now have 60 players in camp, including 22 non-roster invitees.
This story will be updated.
TIGERS’ SPRING TRAINING ROSTER (non-roster invitees italicized)
Left-handed pitchers (6): Tyler Alexander, Miguel Del Pozo, Eduardo Rodriguez, Tarik Skubal, Gregory Soto, Joey Wentz.
Right-handed pitchers (28): Chase Anderson, Jacob Barnes, Beau Brieske, Drew Carlton, Jose Cisnero, Angel De Jesus, Miguel Diaz, Alex Faedo, Jason Foley, Michael Fulmer, Kyle Funkhouser, Rony Garcia, Bryan Garcia, Garrett Hill, Drew Hutchison, Joe Jimenez, Alex Lange, Ty Madden, Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Ricardo Pinto, Elvin Rodriguez, Nivaldo Rodriguez, Ramon Rosso, Logan Shore, Dylan Smith, Spencer Turnbull, Will Vest.
Catchers (6): Tucker Barnhart, Dillon Dingler, Dustin Garneau, Eric Haase, Ryan Lavarnway, Jake Rogers.
Infielders (13): Javier Báez, Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario, Harold Castro, Willi Castro, Kody Clemens, Ryan Kreidler, Josh Lester, Jack Lopez, Isaac Paredes, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Short, Spencer Torkelson.
Outfielders (7): Akil Baddoo, Daz Cameron, Riley Greene, Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill, Victor Reyes, Jacob Robson.
Notable Tigers’ minor-league signings this winter...
RHP Chase Anderson
C Ryan Lavarnway
RHP Drew Hutchison (re-signed)
RHP Gerson Moreno (re-signed)
RHP Ricardo Pinto (re-signed)
INF Josh Lester (re-signed)
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