Avila And Tigers: Zimmermann Was Number One Target In Free Agency
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
The Tigers welcomed new pitcher Jordan Zimmermann to Detroit on Monday, after the team officially signed the right-hander to a five-year contract. ESPN reported previously the deal was for $110 million.
Zimmermann pulled on his No. 27 jersey and a Tigers cap at Comerica Park, where he will join Justin Verlander next season as the Tigers' headlining pitching duo.
Detroit's front office, according to general manager and vice president of baseball operations Al Avila, went after Zimmermann starting with the first day of free agency. Both the analytics and the scouting departments had Zimmermann as their top target.
"Other teams that were out there, I was the second or third option," Zimmermann said, explaining that he didn't want to wait until January or February to sign. "I wanted to sign early. We knew what my value was. … For those guys to come after me and want me that much, it means a lot, and I'm excited to get this jersey on Opening Day and get out there and start playing some meaningful games."
Zimmermann is a former two-time All-Star, who went 13-10 in 33 starts with the Nationals this season. He pitched 201 innings, striking out 164 and accumulating a 3.66 ERA.
As someone who Avila called a "horse on the mound," Zimmermann is one of four major league pitchers who has thrown at least 190 innings and start at least 32 games in each of the past four seasons.
"The fact that he is a workhorse and he can throw 200 innings for a year is one part of it," Avila said. "There's a lot of different factors – his competitive nature on the mound, his leadership in the clubhouse, his character, his work ethic – all those things are a factor. … We are very comfortable with his durability moving forward."
Critics have pointed to the declining velocity of Zimmermann's fastball as a point of concern, especially for someone worth more than $100 million. But Zimmermann is still comfortable with what he's throwing.
"I'm not concerned at all," he said. "I'm still the same guy. I'm gonna attack hitters; I'm gonna throw strikes. I'm gonna go out there and compete and give the team a chance to win every five days. I didn't really know it (fastball) was down that much, but I'm not concerned at all."
Zimmermann joins Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Daniel Norris in the Tigers' likely starting rotation for next year. But the Tigers are not done chasing after more pitchers. According to Avila, the club still wants to sign another starting pitcher (albeit one less expensive than Zimmermann) and one or two more closers.
Owner Mike Ilitch joked at Monday's press conference he didn't mind going over the luxury tax threshold, if that's what it took.
"We've been in a World Series, what, three times?" Ilitch said. "That gets old. You want to win."
