It was just a matter of time before the Detroit Tigers sent one of their starting pitchers packing. With both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer off the market, Detroit reached into it's deep pitching pool by sending Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for three prospects. 

Fister has been a solid under-the-radar top-of-the-rotation pitcher since being traded from the Seattle Mariners to Detroit during the 2011 season. He compiled a 32-20 record with a solid 3.29 ERA in 70 starts with the Tigers. Fister went 14-9 this past season and sported a solid 3.61 SO/BB ratio. 

Fister joins a Nationals' rotation that has to be considered one of the best in baseball. He's likely going to end up as their No. 4 starter behind Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann. That's a ridiculous one through four right there. 

For their part, the Tigers got a nice bounty in return. 

They acquired 22-year-old lefty starter Robbie Ray, who was ranked as the Nationals' No. 5 overall prospect by Baseball America last month. Ray put up an 11-5 record between high-level A ball and AA this past season. He struck out 160 in just 142.2 innings. The youngster figures to start the 2014 season in AAA. 

Detroit also acquired reliever Ian Krol, who put up a ridiculous 0.69 ERA in 21 appearances at AA Harrisburg this past season before struggling in AAA. It also brought in infielder Steve Lombardozzi in the deal. The 25-year old infielder will act as a utilityman for the Tigers in 2014. 

Remember, this is the second big-name player that Detroit has sent packing thus far this offseason. It traded Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler last month. It also figures to be a few moves away from calling it an offseason in preparation for spring training in a little over two months.