Detroit’s rotation has been without its elder statesmen, injured right-handers Jordan Zimmermann and Tyson Ross, for a large portion of the season. It’s going to stay that way for at least a little while longer, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press explains.
Zimmermann, down since April 26 with a sprained right UCL, pitched a rain-shortened rehab game at the Single-A level Saturday and “just didn’t feel comfortable with his stuff,” manager Ron Gardenhire told Fenech, adding: “He wants to get back into a normal routine before he comes up here and pitches, which is absolutely 100% right. You can’t come up here with below average stuff.”
The 33-year-old Zimmermann will make another rehab stint this week with a to-be-determined affiliate, per Fenech. At this point, it’s unclear how much more time Zimmermann will miss. Barring setbacks, though, a pitcher’s rehab stint is allowed to go on for up to 30 days. Zimmermann’s began June 8.
Ross, 32, hasn’t started a rehab assignment since landing on the injured list May 12 with a nerve issue in his right elbow. He’s now dealing with a stiff neck and won’t return to throwing for “probably five days,” Fenech writes.
Thanks to an unattractive combination of injury and performance woes, Zimmermann and Ross are all but guaranteed to go down as failed free-agent signings for Detroit. Zimmermann parlayed high-end production as a member of the Nationals from 2009-15 into a five-year, $110MM contract with the Tigers heading into 2016, but the union hasn’t worked out at all for the club. Zimmermann owns a 5.29 ERA/4.82 FIP in 427 innings as a Tiger, and the former workhorse hasn’t exceeded 160 frames in a season since signing his deal. The Ross investment’s going to hurt Detroit a lot less, as it only gave him a one-year, $5.75MM guarantee last winter. Still, his woeful numbers – a 6.11 ERA/5.92 FIP with 6.37 K/9 and 4.58 BB/9 in 35 1/3 innings – aren’t what the Tigers had in mind when they signed Ross.
Injuries to starters, not just to Zimmermann and Ross, have been an unfortunate theme for struggling Detroit in 2019. In addition to the absences of Zimmermann and Ross, the Tigers have been without righty Michael Fulmer and lefty Matt Moore for all or most of the season. Fulmer underwent Tommy John surgery before the campaign began, while Moore turned in one and a half excellent starts before undergoing season-ending right knee surgery in mid-April.
With Zimmermann, Ross, Fulmer and Moore unavailable, the Tigers’ rotation has seen a potential ace emerge in Matthew Boyd, though the 28-year-old could be an in-season trade candidate. Meanwhile, fellow 20-somethings Spencer Turnbull and Daniel Norris have also offered encouraging signs. They’re the only members of the Tigers’ rotation who have racked up at least 10 starts this season. Ryan Carpenter and Gregory Soto, who have combined for 10 starts, have joined Zimmermann and Ross in recording horrific production.
In further unwelcome news for the Tigers, one of their top position players, Niko Goodrum, departed Tuesday’s loss to the Royals with “significant” right knee swelling, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News tweets. It’s unclear whether Goodrum will require an IL stint, though. The switch hitter’s batting .233/.315/.393 (90 wRC+) with six homers and seven steals on nine tries through 248 plate appearances. More impressively, the versatile Goodrum has seen action at every position but pitcher and catcher this year.
“All but guarantees”? Zimm was a disaster pretty much from the get-go. Not sure why AA had to give him so much money when he was the only buyer.
And they signed him in November….must have been a ton of teams lining up to get him. Probably the same guy who wanted them to sign Pelfrey. And Ross. And Moore. Man we’ve killed it with free agent starters the last 3-4 years! Fiers is the only decent signing that comes to mind in that span.
The Moore deal i didnt mind. I expected a Mike Fiers type deal at the deadline if he pitched well. He seemed to have been pitching well and could have gotten a nice get. Ross on the other hand throws with movement and has no power pitches. He will get tuned up again once he comes back. We can all wait and hope and wonder what next years starting pitching line up will be like… Im guessing
Fulmer
Turnbull
Funkhouser
Burroughs
and Maybe re-sign Matt Moore. I expect Avila to want a lefty in the rotation.
I dont have Boyd in there because i expect the Tigers to deal him at the trade deadline. AA cannot make the same mistake her did with not trading Fulmer two years ago. A team like the yanks or Braves have the bats the Tigers are wanting.
I agree with Boyd. I’d hate to see him go, but I’d hate for him to have the same fate as Fulmer. I’m not against trading Boyd & Turnbull if we get the right pieces back. It would have to be in the off season though, more teams would be at play. Turnbull’s stock would raise considerably if he kept this up all year too. If Fulmer has a decent year next year I’m not against resigning him. He’s young enough.
Fulmer has 3 more years of team control. Honestly he might be an option as a closer if he cant return back to form. He throws hard but his motion is violent.
Boyd could get a bat to plug and play right away. Turnbull is only 26 and still has 5 years of team control. I dont mind him he throws hard and has great movement.
I dont want him to end up like Fulmer either (injured). I also dont want to see him like Mike Maddux. (traded by the cubs to braves).
You gotta think Mize is going to be in the rotation next year
I hope so, I have a feeling Funkhouser, Bulloughs will be in there. AA might allow a 3rd rookie to start. If that happens lets hope we can get as lucky as the oakland A’s teams of Mulder, Hudson, Zito, Haren type of magic.
Good call, for some reason was thinking Fulmer was FA after 2020. He does have a violent delivery. Gotta wonder if Perez will ever stay healthy…maybe bullpen/future closer type role for him…his health record terrifies me. Once he is ready for return I think he should start in the BP just to focus on getting some reps, then if that goes well then move him back to starting. I dunno.
Greg
Greg Maddux
Oops, wrong brother.
Maybe in Sept if all goes well, but I think they want him to build innings in the minors, and there is no rush to start his clock.
Who is this Burroughs some of you speak of? I know of a Beau Burrows, however.
Agreed and considering Zimmerman had arm issues and dropped 6 mph on his velocity. It was a horrible and desperate signing. That contract and Cabrera’s hurt. DD should not have giving Miguel that deal when he was 34. Luckily with this rebuild those are the only two bad contracts on the team. The tigers will have some serious money to spend in the 2021 season.
DD didnt give Miggy the contract. Mr. I did.
At the time, I was hoping we’d either extend Scherzer or Price.
Price Verlander and Fullmer would have been a very solid 1 – 2 – 3 and we’d still be competitive now.
Tigers weren’t the only team. Zim wanted to play close to home and that meant Chicago, Milwaukee, or Detroit.. The Tigers needed to replace a top arm, and at the time, the pundents thought Detroit had a fair, and slightly below value contract. (He signed quickly because Boras was not his agent).
Actually, Zimmermann pitched pretty well in his first month in a Tiger uniform. He was healthy and had the look of a dominant pitcher. Then he hurt his neck, and nothing was ever the same. Injuries happen, and they can make signings that look good at the time look poor in retrospect.
little longer than 1 month. first 10 starts, 8-2, era 2.58 (and that’s with a 7 run outing).
then the injury hit, looks like he tried to play through it for a month, was horrible, went on the injury list, came back, was even worse, has never been the same since.
shame (still think he wasn’t worth the money though. that’s pretty much ace money, and to me, an ace wouldn’t have been willing to get pulled like he did in the 2014 lds).
side rant about that game: matt williams should have looked at the world series ring on his finger and remembered how he got that (by having 2 aces that would have cussed out their manager in that situation, had he tried to pull them)
Me Ilitch is the one who put up big money for Cabrera and Zimmermann. Not a huge Avila fan just saying
Mr
He also gave VMart that extra 4 years.
He really wanted Chris Davis but Avila talked him out of it.
Mr. I wasn’t afraid to spend his money.
Tigers have about $30 mil coming off the books… Nick, Ross, Moore, Mercer, Harrison, and the 6 mil to Houston for JV. Next year we lose another $35 mil with Zimmermann, Greene and the 5 mil to Texas for Fielder.
I could see a couple one year deals this offseason like last year. Maybe Moore again… he won’t be able to pitch til well into the season so he should be cheap. Avila to back up Griener… Smoak at first… Porcello on a one year deal to improve his stock. The rest of the spots filled in with prospects. Castro’s up the middle (Wil and Harold). Candy at third. Lugo bench. Stewart, Daz and Jones in the OF with Niko backing them up.
The next year we can invest in a big free agent or two… Maybe Joc Pederson? Robbie Ray? Mookie Betts? Trevor Bauer? Stroman? Skaggs?
Bauer would be 30 and i like the idea of having an experienced started i just dont want them to hinder the rebuild with a long term commitment to a pitcher over the age of 30. Smoak is interesting as you could give him a 2-3 year deal. Toronto would be silly to let him go. Great infielder and has nice pop in his bat.
Betts would be nice but lets play this rebuild out..
2021 Roster
RF- Greene
CF- Cameron
LF- Meadows
3B- Paredes
SS- Castro
2b- Clemens
1b- Stewart
C- Rodgers
Mize
Manning
Burrows
Skubal
Faedo
Bullpen
Perez
Soto
Garcia
Closer – John McMillon
Gives the Tigers some Pop / speed in the lineup and flame throwers 1-5 and in the bullpen
This is also not including Boyd / Fulmer going to other teams. I expect 1-2 bats for each player. I can see a team like Milwaukee/ or the Mets over paying abit to get a controlled arm for 3 more years after this year.
Wishful thinking on my part but one can hope .
Just because money is coming off the books does not mean it will be reinvested elsewhere. Chris illitch main goal is to cut payroll. I don’t think there is much merit to what he said about making us competitive again. I have a hard time believing we will be making any big free agent signings in the next several years. I hope I’m wrong here.
you could be right. He isnt his Dad and to me i think he lacks the passion. Or to play devils advocate maybe he is the opposite of his dad and will allow the young players time to develop and then add a piece here or there, where his dad traded prospects and gave huge money out in hopes of winning. Ive seen both ways work just not for the Tigers.
I agree. Only time will tell. Could be dumping salary in an effort to sell for maximum profit. Who really knows. I just get a slimy feeling from him! LOL