“Detroit Tigers sign free agent right-hander to deal.”

The Detroit Tigers could be a busy team this winter.

After putting together an incredibly good playoff run considering where it was just a few months before the start of the postseason, this franchise has a chance to emerge from the rebuilding phase and become a perennial contender.

Because of this, the Tigers have been mentioned in various rumors centered around high-profile players like Alex Bregman to bolster their infield and a handful of star pitchers who are free agents.

Whether they’ll be able to land someone of that caliber remains to be seen, but Detroit has made a move.

According to Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors, they signed reliever Ricky Vanasco to a minor league deal and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate.

The right-hander was acquired from the Tigers in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the deadline last season, and after being signed to the active roster in September, he made two starts to close out the year, posting two scoreless and hitless throws scored innings.

Vanasco was selected in the 15th round by the Texas Rangers in 2017, but his career was somewhat derailed when the 2020 minor league season was canceled and he underwent Tommy John surgery in September of that year, which left him until held on hold until 2022.

He has performed well in the minors since returning from injury, and now he could have the opportunity to be part of this Detroit bullpen next season after signing this contract after opting out after the year had to become a free agent.