Why Detroit Tigers are sending reliever Drew Anderson to ... a team in Korea?
Right-handed reliever Drew Anderson, who impressed in spring training with a big velocity boost as a non-roster invitee, has been transferred from the Detroit Tigers to the SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization.
The Tigers received cash considerations in return.
Anderson, 35, posted a 3.86 ERA with nine walks and 16 strikeouts across 14 innings in nine relief approaches with Triple-A Toledo. He spent the past two seasons pitching for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan.
Sending Anderson to the SSG Landers in Korea was possible through a clause in Anderson's minor-league contract with the Tigers.
MORE ABOUT HIM: Drew Anderson's journey to Japan and return to United States with Tigers
Three things had to happen for Anderson to join an Asian team.
First, Anderson accepts an Asian team's offer. Second, the Tigers don't promote Anderson to the major leagues within a period of time after getting notified. Third, the Asian team pays the Tigers an agreed-upon buyout.
Anderson triggered the clause in his contract and asked to be sent to Korea, so the Tigers transferred him. The transaction with the SSG Landers took place during Friday's 8-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
The Tigers signed Anderson to a minor-league contract in late January. He posted a 2.78 ERA across 155⅔ innings, spanning 46 games, during his 2022-23 seasons with the Carp in Japan.
He was trying to get back to MLB for the first time since 2021.
Carson Kelly injury
The Tigers scratched catcher Carson Kelly from Friday's starting lineup with left ribcage soreness.
It's not an oblique-related injury, but it's something he's been dealing with.
"Carson was in the original lineup," manager A.J. Hinch said, "then reported some ribcage issue, which he's been managing of no real issue, other than today it sort of locked up on him, and he was moving around pretty gingerly."
The Tigers don't want to play without two catchers healthy.
"He wasn't going to be available as the game progressed," Hinch said. "He wasn't moving around any better at the end of the game than he was at the beginning. We'll take at him. We're not overly concerned, but it's a position that's pretty risky to only have one."
DILLON DINGLER: Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler's glove is MLB-ready. His bat, however, needs work
ANTHONY BEMBOOM: Catcher Anthony Bemboom brings his always-ready experience to Tigers
For Friday's game, Jake Rogers replaced Kelly in the lineup as the catcher and in the batting order as the eight-hole hitter. The Tigers have two catchers in Triple-A Toledo: Dillon Dingler and Anthony Bemboom.
Dingler, a 25-year-old prospect, is a member of the 40-man roster, whereas Bemboom — a 34-year-old journeyman catcher — isn't currently on the 40-man roster. The Tigers, though, could transfer right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (right elbow surgery) to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Bemboom.
Dingler wasn't in Friday's starting lineup for the Mud Hens in Toledo.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Detroit Tigers are sending P Drew Anderson to team in Korea?
