Tigers re-sign Joel Hanrahan to minor league deal

The Tigers have re-signed reliever Joel Hanrahan to a minor-league contract that will pay him $1 million if he makes the major league roster, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Hanrahan could earn an additional $2.5 million in incentives based on time spent on the major-league roster.

Hanrahan, 33, never appeared in a major-league game for the Tigers after signing a minor league deal with the team in May as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. The former All-Star has suffered setbacks throughout the rehab process, but the Tigers are taking a low-risk gamble by re-adding him to a late-inning bullpen mix that already includes Joakim Soria and Joe Nathan.

For his seven-year major league career with the Nationals (2007-2009), Pirates (2010-2012) and Red Sox (2013), Hanrahan has a lifetime 3.85 ERA while saving 100 games in 362 appearances. He was named to consecutive All-Star teams in 2011 and 2012 en route to posting ERAs of 1.83 and 2.72 in each season, respectively.