DETROIT -- Joel Hanrahan is still working back from elbow surgery for a team eagerly awaiting his return.
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The former All-Star agreed to a $1 million, one-year deal with the
Detroit Tigers, who are hopeful the right-hander can bolster a shaky
bullpen when hes ready to pitch again in the majors. Hanrahan had Tommy
John surgery last May after nine appearances for the Boston Red Sox in
2013.
He saved 76 games over the previous two seasons with the Pittsburgh
Pirates.
"The one area we wanted to address the most with our ballclub has been
our bullpen," general manager Dave Dombrowski said after announcing the
deal Friday.
The Tigers put Hanrahan on the 15-day disabled list, saying they will
not rush him back to the majors. Hanrahan is expected to throw to
hitters next week.
"Right now I feel good. My arm feels good, my body feels good," Hanrahan
said. "Im able to throw a slider again, which I havent been able to do
for a while."
Hanrahan will earn $819,672 of his base salary, or 150-183rds given that
he wasnt on the roster until Friday. He can make $2.17 million in
bonuses based on time on the active major league roster: $310,000 each
for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 105 days.
"Im not going to jump to the conclusion that hes going to be 100 per
cent just because of the nature of the recovery from these surgeries,
but the reports are his velocity has been good," Tigers manager
Brad Ausmus said. "I dont know necessarily back to where he was
pre-surgery, but it doesnt mean he wont get back.
"I do know hes battle-tested in late innings," Ausmus added. "He wont be
intimidated by a situation, which I think is very important, especially
if you work your way into a pennant race by September."
The 32-year-old said Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter -- a friend of his
-- helped recruit him.
Detroit signed veteran Joe Nathan to be the closer in the off-season,
but the bullpen was hurt by a season-ending injury to Bruce Rondon.
Tigers relievers had a 5.37 ERA entering Friday nights game at Kansas
City.
The 6-foot-4 Hanrahan is hesitant to put any timetable on his return.
"I dont think anybodys really saying like, Youve got to be back on June
1," Hanrahan said. "Its kind of a situation where I havent faced a
hitter yet, I havent bounced back from throwing in a game. Its a
situation that, itll come day by day."
Ausmus also tried to temper expectations that Hanrahan will be able to
help soon.
"Youre making the assumption that everything is going to go well, and I
hope it does," he said, "but theres some Ts to cross and Is to dot
before Im ready to say how great this is. But all things equal, Id
rather have him if hes healthy than not have him."
If Hanrahan is healthy and effective, he could end up being one of the
teams top right-handed options in the bullpen, along with Nathan.
Al Alburquerque and Joba Chamberlain have shown the ability to strike
hitters out, but they had ERAs of 4.50 and 4.35 entering Friday.
Hanrahan was an All-Star in 2011 and 2012, and in 2010 he struck out 100
hitters in 69 2-3 innings for the Pirates.
"When anybody comes back from injury thats got an established big league
history, we try to watch all of those guys throw whenever we can,"
Dombrowski said. "Were always looking to upgrade."
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