Detroit Tigers: Jordan Zimmerman will turn heads in walk year

Jordan Zimmerman has scuffled since joining the Detroit Tigers five years ago. As he enters the last year of his contract expect him to bounce back, in a big way.

Two things are for sure: (1) Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmerman got paid five years ago and (2) Jordan Zimmerman will not be getting paid this offseason when he begins a free agent. This does not mean he won’t land a guaranteed major league contract, because he will, and it may even be multi-year.

Zimmerman put together great numbers in his time with the Washington Nationals. He was a two-time All-Star, with a 3.32 earned run average, in the seven years he pitched in the nation’s capital. He was a 19-game winner in 2013 and pitched a no hitter in 2014. In 2015, his last year with the Nationals, he led the league in starts and pitched over 200 innings.

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Then he hit free agency, signed a 5 year-$110 million deal with the Tigers, and forgot how to pitch. Maybe it was a move to the American League. Maybe it was playing for a team coming off a last place finish the year before. Maybe it was having the cavernous Comerica Ballpark he’d have to make half his starts in.

Whatever the reason, Jordan Zimmerman began getting pummeled. In his four years with the Tigers, Zimmerman has a 5.61 ERA and a 25-41 record. Last year he was 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA.

Zimmerman has never been a strikeout pitcher, but with Washington, he was able to get hitters to hit the ball where it could be fielded. Those balls are finding holes now.

With results like this, why is there belief Zimmerman will recover and have a solid season? Well for starters, he is entering his walk year and will test free agency again this offseason. Players find a way to put their best foot forward when they know they’ll be looking for a new job.

Zimmerman also doesn’t walk hitters or give up home runs. Batters simply single and double him to death. If Zimmerman can cut down on the foot traffic on the bases and miss a few more bats, he’ll be in prime position to be traded come deadline time.

The Detroit Tigers will eat some of his remaining salary this year to get better talent in return. With a better team behind him, Zimmerman will add to his productive season and head into free agency on a high note.

My bold prediction is Jordan Zimmerman rights his ship this season, just in time to find a paying suitor next offseason.