Doug Fister trade: Tigers, Nationals work out deal for starting pitcher

The 6’8 Fister, who will turn 30 in February, is known as a pitch-to-contact hurler who excels at inducing ground balls. His 54.3 percent ground-ball rate in 2013 ranked fourth in the majors, as did his 2.23 ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio. His ability to keep the ball on the ground also makes him excellent at limiting home runs; his rate of 0.60 home runs per nine innings ranked 11th in baseball last season. Furthermore, his career rate of 0.7 home runs per nine innings suggests that his home run suppression is a sustainable skill. He is also known for his pinpoint control, having walked only 1.8 batters per nine innings in his career. Fister holds the American League record for consecutive strikeouts, with nine on Sept. 27, 2012.

The Nationals’ rotation already boasted three strong starters in Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann. Strasburg, 25, is considered an elite young pitcher, Gonzalez won 21 games with a 2.89 ERA in 2012 and finished third in the Cy Young voting that year, and Zimmermann won 19 games with a 3.25 ERA last season and finished seventh for the Cy Young. The addition of Fister gives the Nats one of the most fearsome rotations in baseball.