Detroit's Doug Fister: The Steal of the 2011 MLB Trade Deadline

The 2011 trade season was an unusually active one. The majority of MLB teams were "buying" at the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Prominent players like Carlos Beltran, Michael Bourn, Hunter Pence and Ubaldo Jimenez were dealt to bolster contending teams. 

But surprisingly, right-handed starting pitcher Doug Fister has been the most effective mid-season transplant.

I can't imagine the agony he felt during his tenure with the Seattle Mariners. In parts of three seasons with the franchise, Fister posted an abysmal 12-30 win/loss record.

That's hardly a reflection of his own pitching. Rather, it is expected when pitching for the majors' weakest offense (Mariners are last in runs scored since the start of 2009).

Early 2011 was simply unfair. Fister performed well over the first four months, averaging nearly seven innings per start and consistently pounding the strike zone (32 BB in 146 IP).

He always kept Seattle in the game; he allowed five runs or fewer in all 21 starts through July, a feat that AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander didn't match.

Fister's 3-12 record—albeit totally misleading—overshadowed his success. The Tigers, however, took notice and inserted him into their rotation immediately upon arrival.

Smart move. Fister is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA and 1.04 WHIP since the trade. His outing on September 5 was particularly impressive: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 13 K (a career-high).

Offensively, Detroit and Seattle are incomparable. His new teammates gave him 10 runs of support during a victory on August 20, equal to the help he got in Seattle...over his final 10 starts!

Comerica Park is also a factor. The Tiger's home field is the largest in the American League and as a contact pitcher, Fister benefits from the extra space.

The 27-year-old rarely throws above 90 mph, but he has confidence in his off-speed pitches.

His mid-70s curve ball is filthy enough to keep hitters on their toes. It was the key to his dominance on Monday.

For the price of an extraneous outfielder and a pair of unproven youngsters, the Tigers acquired a No. 2 starter. Truly a "fister" to the groin of the fading Indians and White Sox.