ORLANDO, Fla. -- When Mike Fiers was inducted into the Nova Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame last month, J.D. Martinez was in the audience to cheer him on.

The two friends played college ball together a decade ago and although they won't have a reunion on the Detroit Tigers, Fiers said he got "good feedback" from Martinez about his experience in Detroit.

The Tigers, of course, dealt Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in July. He's now a free agent on the verge of a massive payday.

Fiers got a comparatively inexpensive one-year, $6 million deal with the Tigers after he was non-tendered by the Houston Astros.

Both Martinez and Fiers have known Tigers general manager Al Avila (and his son Alex) for years from the ball fields of south Florida.

"I had a couple different teams (interest), but I know Al Avila and his family and have played against the Tigers for years," Fiers said during a teleconference with Detroit media this week. "This team, they say it's rebuilding, but I know it's definitely good enough to win."

The Tigers think Fiers is a strong bounce-back candidate (and perhaps a trade chip in July). He pitched well in Houston for much of 2017 (including a 10-start stretch in which he went 6-2 with a 2.36 ERA, striking out 69 in 61 innings) before struggling down the stretch and eventually losing his spot in the starting rotation.

"Throughout a baseball season, it's such a long year, and you're going to have your ups and downs," Fiers said. "I had a bad late last four or five starts, but other than that I feel I pitched very well."

He did not make the playoff roster during the Astros' World Series' run.

"It's something I wasn't too happy about, but at the same time I've got to support my guys and support my team as best I can," he said. "Winning a World Series is definitely a dream."

Fiers is reuniting with pitching coach Chris Bosio, with whom he worked briefly in the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2011.

"Bosio and I just clicked that year," Fiers said. "He's a guy that really stands up for his pitchers and stands up for his team and really fights for you on the mound. It just shows what kind of drive he has and what kind of passion he has for the game and for all his pitchers. I think the pitchers will definitely like Bosio. He's definitely a winner."

Fiers thinks the Tigers can be, too.

"This team can hit, and if we can pitch and give the team a chance to win, this team is definitely capable of winning the division," he said.