 After a couple of poor starts to begin 1983, the Tigers placed him back in the minors.The following year after spring training, the Tigers released him, and he was picked up by the Indians; he was nearly not able to join a team due to how late in spring the Tigers cut him.He began the 1984 season with the Maine Guides and spent most of the season there, going 14-8 with a 3.69 ERA, which led to the Indians calling him up in September.