Detroit Tigers trade left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin to Texas Rangers
The Detroit Tigers have traded Andrew Chafin.
Chafin, a 34-year-old left-handed reliever, has been traded to the Texas Rangers, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the agreement. He learned of the trade following Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park.
The return is unknown.
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Chafin has a 3.16 ERA with 16 walks and 50 strikeouts across 37 innings in 41 relief appearances in the 2024 season. He signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract last December with the Tigers, which included a $6.5 million club option for 2025.
The club option means the Rangers can keep Chafin for the 2025 season.
The Rangers needed an upgrade in the bullpen, specifically a reliever who dominates against left-handed hitters. Chafin, a left-hander, specializes in left-on-left matchups, limiting left-handed hitters to a .180 batting average with a .474 OPS.
Chafin, an 11-year MLB veteran, has been the best pitcher in the Tigers' bullpen in 2024. It was his second stint with the Tigers, the first happening in 2022.
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Chafin struggled to generate ground balls in his second go-around with the Tigers, but he still operates as one of the best strikeout artists, ranking in the 92nd percentile with a 30.9% strikeout rate, the 95th percentile with a 34.4% whiff rate and the 97th percentile with a 35.4% chase rate.
Along with the Tigers, Chafin has played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers. He has a career 3.39 ERA across 489 innings.
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers trade reliever Andrew Chafin to Texas Rangers
