INQUISITR.COM / Sports

MLB News: Detroit Tigers In ‘Serious Talks’ With Jordan Zimmermann

By Mark Suleymanov
Published on: 00:35 PST, Nov 29, 2015

The Detroit Tigers have engaged in “serious talks” with top free agent and longtime Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

Zimmermann, 29, has been connected to several teams with interest in him this offseason, including the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. But this is the first time that the Tigers have been mentioned in relation to Zimmermann. Having spent seven seasons with the Nationals, Zimmermann maintained that he wanted to stay with the only team he’s played for.

Drafted by the Nationals in the second round of the 2007 draft, Zimmerman quickly worked his way through the minors — culminating with his Major League debut in 2009. In the seven years since, the Wisconsin native has enjoyed two top-10 finishes in the Cy Young award voting, made two All-Star teams (2013 and 2014), and been a mainstay atop the Nationals’ rotation.

Leaving all of that behind would be tough for Zimmermann, as he told the Washington Post last November.

“We’re talking baseball and anything can happen. Obviously, I’d like to stay with the Nats. I have no complaints about the Nats. It’s a business. I know that. If they feel they want to trade me and get something in return that will help them later down the road, I totally understand. At the end of the day, I love the Nats. I love this city. I love playing there. When I heard the rumors, I was a little shocked. Come to find out it was just a rumor and someone just published something and it just took off.”

Despite all the trade rumors surrounding Zimmermann last offseason and heading into spring training, the right-hander enjoyed a strong season. In 33 starts, Zimmerman went 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 201-and-two-third innings. Overall, the numbers were strong, but there were some struggles mixed in with Zimmermann’s season.

For instance, Zimmermann allowed more hits (204) than innings pitched (201-and-two-thirds) for the first time since his rookie season in 2009. Also, Zimmerman showed a tendency to surrender the long ball in 2015 as batters took him deep 24 times, the most home runs he’s allowed in a single season.

The Nationals and Zimmermann went through a myriad of extension talks the past two years, never agreeing on an extension. In that time, he witnessed the Nationals give former Tigers’ ace and 2013 AL Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer a record-setting $210 million guarantee over seven years.

While he told the Washington Post he was happy to see Scherzer land that type of income, he expressed some disappointment in not coming to terms on a new deal for himself.

“Obviously it’s definitely shocking when you see a guy get that much money. I’m happy for him. There’s nothing I can really do. We negotiated a little bit and didn’t get very far. So I’m happy for him.”

With Scherzer departed and David Price traded at the trade deadline in 2015, the Tigers lost two out of the last five AL Cy Young award winners in less than one year. Also, veterans Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez have struggled with injuries and inconsistencies, bringing down a once formidable starting rotation.

The team traded Price to they could get prospects, knowing they will not be able to afford him in free agency. While talented, Zimmermann will not command the type of deal that Price will likely receive. Therefore, signing Zimmerman may be the Tigers’ way of reestablishing the team’s rotation.

Since Zimmermann declined a qualifying offer from Washington, the Tigers will have to surrender a draft pick to sign him. The Tigers have the ninth overall pick in the draft — a protected pick — so they would have to forfeit their second pick.

[Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images]

Share this article: MLB News: Detroit Tigers In ‘Serious Talks’ With Jordan Zimmermann
washington nationals David Price Detroit Tigers
More from Inquisitr