LAKELAND, Fla. — Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin has rejoined the Detroit Tigers on a minor league contract, preparing to participate in spring training with the team that previously traded him to the Texas Rangers last year.
Chafin, a free agent, played in 105 games for Detroit over two separate periods, appearing in 64 games during 2022 and another 41 before his mid-season transfer to Texas in July. In fact, last year’s deal marked the fourth time in five years that Chafin was moved during the trade deadline.
The Rangers chose not to exercise their $6.5 million option on Chafin in November, instead opting for a $500,000 buyout. While with Texas, he made 21 appearances, managing a 4.19 ERA over 19 1/3 innings. Before being traded, he maintained an impressive 3.16 ERA and struck out 50 batters in 37 innings for the Tigers.
Throughout his 11-season career in the major leagues, the 34-year-old Chafin has achieved a 3.75 ERA across 601 appearances for six different teams. The only team he has spent more time with than Detroit is the Arizona Diamondbacks, who originally selected him 43rd overall during the 2011 amateur draft. During his time with the Diamondbacks, he made 377 relief appearances and started three games over eight seasons.
Chafin first appeared in the majors with Arizona in 2014, but was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2020. He made a brief return to the Diamondbacks as a free agent in 2023 before being traded once again that summer to the Milwaukee Brewers. In addition, Chafin spent part of the 2021 season pitching for the Oakland Athletics.
