The Tigers are in talks with free agent starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, tweets Jon Morosi of FOX Sports. Sources tell Morosi and Ken Rosenthal that talks have become serious. The Dodgers and Cubs have also been tied to Zimmermann.
MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes rated Zimmermann as the seventh best free agent. Dierkes anticipates a six-year, $126MM contract for him. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd profiled Zimmermann in more detail earlier this offseason. A reliable righty, Zimmermann’s stock fell slightly this season due to a decline in his strike out and whiff rates from 2014. He also reverted to a league average HR/FB ratio, leading to a higher-than-normal 3.66 ERA.
The 29-year-old right-hander (30 in May), has a career 3.32 ERA with 7.43 K/9 and 1.82 BB/9 in over 1,000 innings. His most recent campaign for the Nationals included similar numbers in 201 innings with the aforementioned regression in home run rate.
Detroit, once possessed of an elite rotation, has lost Max Scherzer and David Price in recent seasons. Additionally, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez have become unreliable due to injuries and performance decline. A possible addition of Zimmermann could serve to provide stability to the rotation.
Zimmermann rejected a qualifying offer from the Nationals, so any signing team would have to surrender a draft pick. The Tigers select ninth overall – a protected pick – so they would surrender their second pick.
Dang, Jordan was the guy I thought was realistic for the Giants. Still don’t believe they will bid on Greinke or Price
I don’t think there’s a definite “fit” for Jordan Zimmerman. He’s a reliable starter and a guy that every team wants in their rotation. Every fifth day, he’ll be there. I don’t think I will ever be surprised when I hear that a team is in on him, because he makes sense for every team.
Right; he’s a fit for any team that has the $$ for a horse that’s averaged 200+ IP for four consecutive yrs.
The Tigers didn’t have a 200 inning pitcher last year. He’s a “fit” more than most teams.
I agree, any of the big spenders will want him, he was the Nats most consistent pitcher over the last 3 years.
I think they’ll get Iwakuma, who I consider better. Then also either Chen (they could use a second lefty) if he settles for four years or else Leake, who is fine and who they seem to like.
Iwakuma will not leave Seattle.
The problem with iwakuma is that he doesn’t give you innings like samardjiza or Zimmermann do. Tigers probably want to see less of their bullpen, not more
Iwakuma would be a perfect fit for SF, but I don’t see that happening unless Seattle really lowballs him, from all indications he really wants to come back to Seattle. Iwakuma is good but keep in mind that he will be 35 in less than 5 months, Zimmerman is definitely the considerably higher upside arm going forward
I believe the giants will shock everyone and get greinke
won’t really be a shock since everyone is predicting it.
Not great news for the teams who are going to lose out on the Price/Greinke sweepstakes. I guess Cueto will still be available.
Lets wait until he’s actually off the board, it is the “silly season” after all.
Very true!
Watching him for six years, I don’t know that he’s necessarily going to conform, but the smart move would be to wait until they are off the board so maybe he’ll see that.
I’d be willing to go 140M/7yrs. Get it done Avila
That would be too much in years, too little in AAV. He’ll probably get 6/125,maybe 6/130.
I was hoping another year may lower the AAV, but you may be right
Dont screw this up motown we need zimmerman
If the Tigers really wanna contend soon, they need to think bigger. Imagine if they had retained Scherz and Price somehow?
KC’s starting staff was mediocre, even with the addition of Cueto, but of course, the key was the pen. Detroit’s SP would be adequate with the addition of Zimmerman; all you need is something competitive and hope they all have a good year at once, and the four they would have with JZ fits that description.
Norris, verlander, and anibal are all crapshoots going into next season. Combine that with Zimmermann moving to the al with declining peripherals and I gotta disagree.
You are so right⚾️ Don’t like giving a 30 y.o. pitcher 6or7 yrs.
I don’t think it makes sense to sign ANYONE for that many years, regardless of age, but teams are forced to if they want a highly-productive player for 4 or 5 yrs. They’re willing to eat the $$ just to stay competitive.
The only “crapshoot” of those three is Sanchez. JV still knows how to pitch and there’s nothing wrong with his arm. Norris is a lock #3 and one year of still decent stats for JZ does NOT constitute “declining peripherals”. Regardless, pitching is always a difficult factor to predict in most cases, no matter the recent performance.
I don’t think they could afford bigger than Zimmermann with their current payroll.
I know that I am stating the obvious, but if the Tigers want to regain top spot in the AL Central, then signing Zimmermann would be a hell of a place to start in order to make that wish a reality.
So true
It’s a nice place to start even though I think Zimmermann might be making a mistake leaving the NL.
I see Zimmermann as the bottom rung of the top tier or top dog of the 2nd tier. Either way, he is the guy I have hoped that Avila would target and lock down early before the big money gobbles up the top dogs and then tries to feast on the 2nd tier.(Sorry, Turkey Day still has me thinking of food.) Don’t let a few extra million $$ get in the way of locking Zimmermann down now. He is a great fit for Detroit and will pitch well in our big home park.
It is important to get this deal done soon, then finish up stocking the BP. Get Zimmermann signed now!! To finish up the rotation get his old teammate, Fister to return to Detroit.
He’s the one guy I worry less about in the back end of the contact. 35 years old is a lot less scary than 37 (price) or 38? (Greinke)
No Fister, please. Chen would be the better option in rounding out the new rotation. I like the thinking of bringing on Zimmermann.
Chen will cost a draft pick, and after restocking a small amount of the farm at the trade deadline, I am not expecting the Tigers to sign two free agents costing draft picks. Fister and Colby Lewis make sense. Short term deals that provide a potential 200 innings.
The Tigers have draft pick protection. Adding a second QO free agent will only cost them their third pick. If you’re going to dip into free agency I think it is best to go big in a year when your top pick is protected.
The Tigers need young impact players to offset their rising salaries. Without them, you will watch the current talent, like JD, leave because they can’t afford them. Even a third round pick is valuable when you have a barren system.
As Chen’s agent, Boros says Chen needs “at least Porcello money”. He is starting the bidding at $22-23MM per.
And he is not going to get it.
I would hope not
He will because Boston set the price.
$120 odd million certainly doesn’t buy what it used to – times are changing. He was definitely hittable last year – this feels like a Zito-Giants type scenario.
I agree with your first statement. Seems laughable to be referring to $120MM as “affordable”, “less expensive”, or “cheaper”. Reminds me of when my oldest daughter referred to her college tuition as “only” 30,000 a year.
With the uncertainty in innings from JV (I’m betting he’s back to normal), Anibal, and Norris, any 200 innings pitcher will be welcome in Detroit. I like Zimmerman as being less expensive, and with a better track record of reliability. He’s as close to a young Beuhrle as anyone. I don’t, however, see the Tigers going after more than one free agent requiring a draft pick (barring late night phone calls from Boras to Illitch). A second starter might have to be more of a crapshoot, such as Fister, Latos, Lewis or even a reunion with Simon (who claims to have been pitching thru injury). Who ever it is, a past track record of providing innings, even if not last year, would be needed.
I think the tigers should be focusing on the bullpen first then getting a starter, the cubs need to get back in the mix for zimmermann, he is a perfect fit for them
I personally think if JZ joins the Tigers rotation it will end up biting them in the butt, look at Anibal and verlander deals just never works out. Hopefully they could sign leake or a cheaper option for less money and less years so they can actually have money left over to sign a big bat cause miggy can’t continue what he’s been doing for years. I just know there will be cheaper options and decent options on the board after price,Grienkie and Zimmy sign. A lot of teams need to be smart this offseason but who knows, someone could shock the offseason and make huge deals
Rather have a guy who can eat innings and has upside than just an average guy at 80% of the AAV (like Leake). Why go cheap for that last 20%?
JV seems to be back. He is the exact same age as Grienke for some perspective.
Anibal is a #3 pitcher. No need to expect any more out of him.
The AL Central seems like it’s gonna be a lot of fun next year. With the competition between KC who are the AL Central champions, MIN who’s young talent is uprising, and DET if they can have their stars remain happy and them pursuing good players.
I meant healthy
Both would be helpful. Healthy and Happy. Can we add Lucky?
Zimmermann would be a great get for the Tigers. He’s been healthy, a horse, reliable, steady. He’s a good fielder and commands the mound. Oh yeah, he can hit a little too.
Zimmermann to the Tigers makes sense.
Skip the top tier and focus on the guy you want.
Draft pick lost means less to the Tigers than other contenders because their 9th pick is protected.
Looks like Zimmerman wants to stay close to home, Cubs and Tigers are a good fit.