By Anthony Fenech/Detroit Free Press
As of early Sunday morning, the Tigers were swimming in the starting pitching waters.
Now, they reportedly have caught the first big fish of the baseball offseason.
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team has agreed to terms with right-handed starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, pending a physical.
And according to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, the deal is expected to be for five years and $110 million.
Zimmermann, 29, posted a 3.66 ERA this past season with the Nationals, striking out 164 batters in 2012/3 innings. He has thrown over 190 innings in each of the last four seasons, with two All-Star appearances to his name.
For his career, Zimmermann has a 3.32 ERA in seven seasons.
By adding Zimmermann, the team checks off its most crucial need this offseason: A front-line starting pitcher.
Zimmermann was regarded as one of the five best starting pitchers on the free-agent market, thought of as a first-tier arm by some and second-tier by others, and would be the latest player to receive a lucrative, multi-year deal from longtime Tigers owner Mike Ilitch.
He will slot second into their 2016 rotation, behind ace righty Justin Verlander and ahead of righty Anibal Sanchez and lefty Daniel Norris.
This past season, Zimmermann’s solid numbers slipped, posting career-highs in ERA (3.66), WHIP (1.20), hits (204) and home runs (24). But for the fourth consecutive season, he made 30-plus starts.
Zimmermann has never pitched in the American League.
With the reported signing, the Tigers have addressed their three biggest needs this winter. Recently, they traded for veteran closer Francisco Rodriguez and outfielder Cameron Maybin.
Depending on the average annual value of Zimmermann’s contract, they have added roughly $33 million in salary this offseason, with about $17 million more to come in arbitration-eligible raises.
As it stands, their payroll currently sits between $157-162 million.
The Tigers spent $173 million in 2015. The luxury tax limit is $189 million in 2016.
With the reported signing, the Tigers will lose their second-round draft pick. Zimmermann rejected a $15.8 million qualifying offer from the Nationals earlier this month.
Detroit’s first-round pick (No. 9) is protected.
So, too, is their starting pitching depth with Zimmermann coming aboard. Adding two starting pitchers was the team’s foremost goal this offseason, and they have reportedly landed their first in a flurry.
Jordan Zimmermann
