The Tigers made a much-needed addition to their bullpen Tuesday morning, signing left-handed reliever Tom Gorzelanny to a one-year contract.
The 32-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, posting a 0.86 ERA in 23 relief outings for Milwaukee. Gorzelanny, who didn't pitch until mid-June while recovering from surgery, didn't allow his first run until his 14th game of the season, and only allowed three all year.
Gorzelanny started his career as a starter, and was used mostly in that role until 2010, with little success. He's 37-47 with a 4.62 ERA in 121 career starts, while he has posted a 2.88 ERA in 138 games out of the bullpen.
The Tigers certainly can't count on him to repeat last season's numbers -- his best performance before 2014 was when he went 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA as a long reliever with the Nationals in 2012. However, if he can come near the numbers he posted in Washington, it would give the Tigers the consistent left-handed specialist they have struggled to find in recent years.
