Ex-Red Sox Joel Hanrahan, Detroit Tigers Agree To One-Year Contract

Joel Hanrahan’s journey back to the majors is complete.

The 32-year-old former Boston Red Sox reliever agreed to terms on a contract with the Detroit Tigers on Friday, sources told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal confirmed the report.

Expected to be the Red Sox’s closer entering last season, Hanrahan appeared in just nine games before an elbow injury ended his season in May. He pitched a total of 7 1/3 innings, posting a 9.82 ERA and blowing two saves.

The former All-Star would be a desirable candidate to serve as a set-up man in front of Tigers closer Joe Nathan, according to Heyman. Detroit’s bullpen has struggled mightily this season, ranking 29th in the majors with a collective ERA of 5.67.

Hanrahan reportedly drew significant interest from at least a half-dozen teams, including the Red Sox, before agreeing to the deal with the Tigers. Detroit will visit Fenway Park for a three-game series beginning May 16.

UPDATE (11:25 a.m.): It appears the reports are true. Hanrahan posted the following on his personal Twitter account late Friday morning.

[tweet https://twitter.com/hanrahan52/status/462250736588685312 align=’center’]

UPDATE (12:05 p.m.): Hanrahan’s new contract is a one-year deal, according to an official Tigers tweet that confirmed the agreement.

[tweet https://twitter.com/tigers/status/462261508731183104 align=’center’]