The first free agent pitcher signing in the Scott Harris era is a familiar name to Detroit Tigers fans. Left-hander Matthew Boyd, who spent seven seasons with the Tigers, returns for a one-year $10 million dollar deal. Jeff Passan of ESPN.com was the first to report it.
Left-hander Matt Boyd and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Boyd, 31, spent seven seasons with the Tigers and returns to a team looking to overhaul its pitching staff under new president Scott Harris.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 1, 2022
As Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic points out, he will return at a higher salary ($10 million) than his salary in 2021 ($6.5 million)
Boyd made $6.5 million for the Tigers in 2021. He was non-tendered after flexor tendon surgery and pitched 13.1 innings for Seattle last season. Now he's coming back on a $10M deal https://t.co/WVIhVL9Ntt
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) December 1, 2022
Boyd spent a majority of 2022 season recovering from flexor tendon surgery with the Giants before they flipped him and former Tigers catcher Curt Casali to Seattle for a few prospects. Boyd pitched for the team he grew up rooting for, as he grew up in Mercer Island, Washington. After six games in Triple-A Tacoma in which he pitched out of the bullpen, he was called up and posted a 1.35 ERA. In his final appearance of the regular season, he pitched three scoreless innings, striking out five and walked just one, ironically enough, against the Tigers on October 4th.
While Matthew Boyd pitched out of the bullpen in 2022, it is expected he will be back in the starting rotation.
(AP Foto/Gail Burton)
