Detroit Tigers sign veteran pitcher Phil Bickford to five-year deal, eyeing a comeback from a tumultuous 2024 season.
Phil Bickford's MLB career has been marked by twists and turns. The 30-year-old pitcher was twice drafted in the first round - 10th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 and 18th overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2018. However, after making his major league debut, Bickford struggled to find consistency, spending most of his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last season was a particularly rocky one for Bickford. Despite being released twice and designated for assignment four times, he still managed to accumulate 187 major league appearances from 2020 to 2024. However, those appearances were not without their challenges. In just 8 1/3 innings with the New York Yankees, Bickford allowed eight earned runs, a stark contrast to his time in New York.
The Detroit Tigers, looking to bolster their bullpen, have signed Bickford to a minor-league deal, which was initially reported on January 13 but didn't appear on his official roster page until a week later. The team is eager to give the veteran pitcher a fresh start, and with the recent signings of Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, competition for spots in the bullpen will be fierce.
Bickford's career has been defined by perseverance, as he has faced numerous setbacks, including being traded once and released twice. Now, he will have the opportunity to prove himself in Detroit, where a good spring training could ultimately lead to a spot on the major league roster. With 152 of his 187 appearances coming with the Dodgers, Bickford is eager to take advantage of this chance and make a lasting impression.
Phil Bickford's MLB career has been marked by twists and turns. The 30-year-old pitcher was twice drafted in the first round - 10th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 and 18th overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2018. However, after making his major league debut, Bickford struggled to find consistency, spending most of his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last season was a particularly rocky one for Bickford. Despite being released twice and designated for assignment four times, he still managed to accumulate 187 major league appearances from 2020 to 2024. However, those appearances were not without their challenges. In just 8 1/3 innings with the New York Yankees, Bickford allowed eight earned runs, a stark contrast to his time in New York.
The Detroit Tigers, looking to bolster their bullpen, have signed Bickford to a minor-league deal, which was initially reported on January 13 but didn't appear on his official roster page until a week later. The team is eager to give the veteran pitcher a fresh start, and with the recent signings of Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, competition for spots in the bullpen will be fierce.
Bickford's career has been defined by perseverance, as he has faced numerous setbacks, including being traded once and released twice. Now, he will have the opportunity to prove himself in Detroit, where a good spring training could ultimately lead to a spot on the major league roster. With 152 of his 187 appearances coming with the Dodgers, Bickford is eager to take advantage of this chance and make a lasting impression.
I'm not sure if I'd be too optimistic about Phil Bickford's chances in Detroit, mate... He had some rough seasons in LA, including getting released twice 
. But at the same time, you've got to admire his dedication and perseverance - he's been around the block a few times! 
What I'm worried is that with all these new signings, it might be tough for him to carve out a spot on the team, especially in the bullpen 
. Still, a fresh start can work wonders, right? Maybe this is just the boost he needs to get back on track... 
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we believe in you!" But what if it's just a case of people feeling sorry for him? 
Anyway, I guess it's good for Detroit to give someone a shot - at least Bickford has 152 appearances under his belt, so he's not completely clueless 
. Now all they gotta do is help him put it all together and maybe... just maybe 
...
.
... he's got nothing to lose, right? 
The fact that he's willing to take on a minor-league deal shows he's still hungry for success 
. And with the Tigers' recent signings of Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan, competition in the bullpen is gonna be fierce 
... has he finally reached his ceiling? Or is this just another one of those rollercoaster rides he'll have to endure 
. Guess only time will tell! 
. One thing's for sure, 187 appearances is a lot of mileage on a guy's body - hope he's got some tricks up his sleeve...or at least a good trainer 
guess they really did say goodbye to his career lol but seriously though detroit tigers seem like they're trying out for a bad 90s baseball movie - "one last hurrah" kinda vibes 
I'm so hyped for Phil Bickford's comeback! 
He's been through so much, but that just shows he's got the 
. One minute he's on top, signing big deals, and the next he's getting released left and right 
. He went from having all that promise to struggling with consistency 
. But hey, you can't write off 30 years of experience 
. The Tigers need a fresh arm in their bullpen, and maybe Bickford's the guy to bring some stability 
.
. If he can get his mojo back, who knows? Maybe we'll see Phil Bickford as a key cog in Detroit's rotation 
?
...
! He's been through some ups and downs, but it's awesome that the Detroit Tigers are giving him another shot 
. The fact that they signed him to a minor-league deal shows they're willing to take a risk on him too 
️
.