Tigers sell Jake Brigham's rights to Japanese team

Anthony Fenech | Detroit Free Press

Jake Brigham’s short stint with the Detroit Tigers has ended.

The team announced this afternoon that they have sold Brigham’s rights to the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan.

The 27-year-old right-handed pitcher signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers earlier this month.

This past season, he allowed 16 earned runs on 28 hits in 16 2/3 relief innings with the Braves, his only major-league experience. In nine minor-league seasons, Brigham has a 4.27 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

The cash considerations Rakuten received for Brigham were not disclosed by the Tigers.

Brigham has spent time with the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 MLB draft by Texas. He is a Winter Garden, Fla. native.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.