Tigers land Nationals’ Zimmermann for five years, $110 million

The first big splash of the Major League Baseball offseason reportedly occurred in the Motor City. If he bounces back from a so-so year to re-establish himself as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, his new contract will be a bargain for the Tigers. “Other teams that were out there, I was the second or third option. It’s not just about his ability to pitch and his ability to win games, but it’s also about the type of person and character that he brings to the Detroit Tigers, and this is what we’re trying to do”.

But when they resume their off-season shopping, general manager Al Avila said: “Obviously, it’s not going to be in the same aisle”. “Because he was our top target and it’s very rare when you say to the owner, ‘This is the guy we’re going to get, we may not end up getting him, ‘ but it’s a pretty good feeling so thanks to Mr. Ilitch, we were able to do that”.

Until he had an average walk year (13-10, 3.66 ERA, 1.205 WHIP, diminished velocity) with the Washington Nationals last summer, Zimmermann may have been included with the two considered the cream of this offseason’s free agent crop, Zack Greinke and David Price.

As of right now, the Tigers rotation is Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Daniel Norris and a lot of uncertainties. The Tigers’ new righthander won’t turn 30 until May 23 of next year and will be just 34 when his new contract expires in the fall of 2020.

The Nationals offered Zimmermann a five-year, $105 million extension last winter that coupled with his final year of arbitration would have made it a six-year, $121.5 million commitment. He is a two-time National League All-Star. That ending angered some fans, but Zimmermann, stubbornly stoic, said “I would have pulled me there, too”. “He was No. 1 on everyone’s list”. The type of makeup [he has] – I mean, you wouldn’t believe how many messags I’ve gotten from players who have played with him over the years about what kind of guy he is. “I want the best players”.

Following a pair of trades to acquire closer Francisco Rodriguez and outfielder Cameron Maybin, the Tigers inked the 29-year-old Zimmermann, a top free agent, to a five-year deal worth 0 million, a source told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.

The right-hander Zimmerman averaged 14 ½ wins and more than 200 innings in the last four seasons with the Washington Nationals. His best season was 2013 when he went 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA. He has never pitched in the American League and underwent elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in 2010, something Avila said wasn’t a major concern for the team.