Let the winter games begin of big-time names finding new homes in the off-season, and the Detroit Tigers got things started by filling a glaring hole from this past season. The Tigers agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal with starting pitcher Jordan Zimmerman on Sunday. The two sides were reportedly in serious talks since Saturday night.
The deal is still pending a physical exam, but if confirmed, Detroit will have gotten off to a great start under new GM Al Avila. After trading for closer Francisco Rodriguez to get much-needed help in the bullpen last week, the Tigers have now found themselves another top-of-the-rotation starter to go along with Justin Verlander.
Detroit traded away now-free agent David Price at the trade deadline after they fell out of the playoff race. The chances of Price coming back were slim, which they knew, so the team turned to another big-time arm in the two-time All-Star Zimmerman.
The former Washington National has a career record of 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA in 178 career starts, all of which came with Washington. He is coming off a 2015 season in which he posted a 13-10 record in a career-high 33 starts, to go along with a 3.66 ERA. He did lead the National League in wins in 2013 with 19 of them.
Another major accomplishment was added to his resume on the final day of the 2014 season, when he no-hit the Miami Marlins at home. He is the Nationals' all-time leader in wins, innings, strikeouts and games started.
The right-hander has been the definition of a workhorse in baseball, being one of just four pitchers to work at least 190 innings and 32 starts in each of the past four seasons. He is only behind Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner with 810 innings pitched in that span.
The Tigers relieved former GM Dave Dombrowski of his duties in August, replacing him with former assistant Avila. The new man in charge has Detroit pleased with the way this winter has begun, as the acquisitions of Rodriguez, Zimmerman and Cameron Maybin are all expected to add excitement and improvement to Detroit in 2016.
The deal is still pending a physical exam, but if confirmed, Detroit will have gotten off to a great start under new GM Al Avila. After trading for closer Francisco Rodriguez to get much-needed help in the bullpen last week, the Tigers have now found themselves another top-of-the-rotation starter to go along with Justin Verlander.
Detroit traded away now-free agent David Price at the trade deadline after they fell out of the playoff race. The chances of Price coming back were slim, which they knew, so the team turned to another big-time arm in the two-time All-Star Zimmerman.
The former Washington National has a career record of 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA in 178 career starts, all of which came with Washington. He is coming off a 2015 season in which he posted a 13-10 record in a career-high 33 starts, to go along with a 3.66 ERA. He did lead the National League in wins in 2013 with 19 of them.
Another major accomplishment was added to his resume on the final day of the 2014 season, when he no-hit the Miami Marlins at home. He is the Nationals' all-time leader in wins, innings, strikeouts and games started.
The right-hander has been the definition of a workhorse in baseball, being one of just four pitchers to work at least 190 innings and 32 starts in each of the past four seasons. He is only behind Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner with 810 innings pitched in that span.
The Tigers relieved former GM Dave Dombrowski of his duties in August, replacing him with former assistant Avila. The new man in charge has Detroit pleased with the way this winter has begun, as the acquisitions of Rodriguez, Zimmerman and Cameron Maybin are all expected to add excitement and improvement to Detroit in 2016.
