Story by
Detroit Tigers sign Andrew Chafin to minor league contract with invite to spring training
- Story by
- Detroit Tigers sign Andrew Chafin to minor league contract with invite to spring training
LAKELAND, Fla. — Andrew Chafin has returned to the Detroit Tigers .
The Tigers signed Chafin, a left-handed reliever, to a minor league contract Monday evening with a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training. The 34-year-old previously pitched for the Tigers in the 2022 and 2024 seasons.
Advertisement
The contract details are unknown.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Andrew Chafin (17) throws against Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
In the 2024 season, Chafin posted a 3.51 ERA with 31 walks and 70 strikeouts across 56⅓ innings in 62 relief appearances for the Tigers (41 games) and Texas Rangers (21 games). The Tigers traded Chafin to the Rangers at the July 30 trade deadline for prospects Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo.
He made $4.75 million in 2024.
It's unclear if Chafin, an 11-year MLB veteran, will be ready to join the Tigers as part of the 2025 Opening Day roster , but if he makes it, he would join Tommy Kahnle , Jason Foley , John Brebbia , Will Vest , Beau Brieske and Tyler Holton in the bullpen.
Advertisement
That scenario leaves one spot up for grabs in camp.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) ]
In 2024, Chafin ranked in the 97th percentile in chase rate (35.1%), 96th percentile in whiff rate (34.5%), 85th percentile in strikeout rate (28.5%) but 4th percentile in walk rate (12.6%).
Chafin has pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014-20, 2023), Tigers (2022, 2024), Chicago Cubs (2020-21), Oakland Athletics (2021), Rangers (2024) and Milwaukee Brewers (2023) throughout his 11-year MLB career, recording a 3.42 ERA across 508⅓ innings in 601 games.
Advertisement
Chafin lives on a farm near Massillon, Ohio with his wife and kids, making Detroit a preferred destination in free agency due to its proximity to home.
He owns a 2.96 ERA in his 105-game career with the Tigers, spanning 64 games in 2022 and 41 games in 2024.
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign Andrew Chafin to minor league contract
