Detroit Tigers: Signing Jordan Zimmermann was a Terrible Mistake

The Detroit Tigers made one of the biggest mistakes by signing Jordan Zimmermann to such a large contract. It has only come back to bite them as time goes on.

At five years, $110 million, Jordan Zimmermann agreed to join the Detroit Tigers pitching staff for the 2016 season, which sounds great and dandy, a substantial number two pitcher, what could go wrong? Everything, everything could go wrong in the case of Zimmermann and his time with the Tigers.

First, let’s take a look at who Zimmermann WAS when he was with the Washington Nationals organization. A seven-year tenure with the Nationals brought him two all-star nominations and a 3.32 ERA with them during those years.

Most memorable would be his three-year stretch between the 2012 season and the 2014 season where he managed to boast some great numbers, something the Tigers have yet to see. Believe it or not, Zimmermann lead the National League in wins during the 2013 season where he finished 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA and 1.09 WHIP for the Nationals.

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By the time the Tigers signed him, the best of his pitching days had passed, and it just got worse and worse. In 2016, Zimmermann was 9-7 with a 4.87 ERA and 1.38 WHIP which is not ideal, but it’s something that could be the result of adjusting to the American League and a new clubhouse and team, so fans thought.

After 2016, Zimmermann would not post another winning record season(0-8 this season). His ERA would never finish below 4.50 while reaching 7.57 (current ERA in 2019). Consistently giving up more hits than innings pitched, a WHIP never below 1.25, and a FIP that was not pretty at all.

For those who are still reading, and made it through those stats without having to go look them up to see if it’s true… it is, sadly. Zimmermann will make $25 million this season and next before become an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2021 season where the Tigers NEED to let him walk. The Detroit Tigers locked away $110 million on Zimmermann when that money could have been allocated on better options. Seemingly true that no one could predict this absolute fall-off in numbers… or could they?

One year of a player’s career does not always provide a tell-tale sign for how the following years will go. It is important to look at all the prior knowledge, which is most likely what the organization did. However, looking back dwelling on the past, not letting it go because the Tigers suck and it’s great to look at where the organization has wasted money lies a little factor that may have indicated the fall off. In 2015, his “contract year” he had the worst statistical year coming off his three-year tear of substantial numbers.

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For instance, his wins decreased (not a big believer in wins depicting a pitcher’s value), his ERA was the highest it had been since his age 24 season, he gave up more hits than the number of innings he pitched for the first time since his age 24 season, and his FIP was the highest it had been since his age 24 season. All signs point that his value decreased, his numbers were still good, but not five-years, $110 million good in hindsight.

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