FILE - Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, June 26, 2023. Looking to add starting pitching depth, the Cleveland Guardians have agreed to a major league contract with Boyd, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero, file)

CLEVELAND (AP) — In an effort to add starting pitching depth, the Cleveland Guardians have agreed to a major league contract — pending a physical — with free agent left-hander Matthew Boyd, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process could take several days to complete, said the 33-year-old Boyd’s deal was contingent on passing medical testing. He had reconstructive elbow surgery last year.

Boyd is very familiar to Cleveland after spending eight seasons with AL Central-rival Detroit.

The Guardians, who opened a four-game set in Kansas City on Thursday, entered the night with an eight-game division lead despite some question marks with their starting staff. They’ve gotten unexpected production from Ben Lively, who was signed in December, and some of the club’s young pitchers such as Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen have performed well.

Triston McKenzie and Carlos Carrasco have struggled at times, and the Guardians are still waiting for Gavin Williams to make his season debut after the hard-throwing right-hander hurt his elbow in training camp.

Boyd, if healthy, would give Cleveland first-year manager Stephen Vogt some protection. He went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA over 15 starts last season before he was shut down to have surgery two days after his last start.

He pitched a career-high 185 1/3 innings for Detroit in 2019, but that was followed by elbow surgery in 2021 and just 13 relief innings for Seattle the next season.

Boyd is 44-67 with a 4.94 ERA in 160 starts since breaking in with Toronto in 2020.