Tigers sign RHP Mark Lowe to 2-year deal

Hours after telling reporters that his Detroit Tigers were still looking to fix their pitching staff, general manager Al Avila appears to have moved closer to his goal. The Tigers have reportedly signed a two-year deal worth $11 million (originally reported as $13 million) with right-handed reliever Mark Lowe, who pitched for the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays in 2015.

Lowe enjoyed the best season of his 10-year career in 2015, holding opponents to a 1.96 ERA and 2.57 FIP in 55 innings. He upped his strikeout rate to nearly 10 batters per nine innings, while limiting opponents to just 1.96 walks per nine innings, both of which were career-bests. He was also stingy with the long ball, allowing only four home runs all season long.

The rest of Lowe's career has not gone so smoothly, however. He has a career 3.80 ERA, and only totaled 18 2/3 innings combined in 2013 and 2014, spending most of his time in the minor leagues. However, Lowe's average fastball velocity in 2015 was much higher than the two years prior, so there is reason to believe his latest breakout was more than a fluke.