Tigers nab their top pitching target in Zimmermann

Mike Ilitch saw the names on the board — a lot of them, free agents big and small.

And when he stopped by the Tigers' war room earlier this off-season, first-year general manager Al Avila told his boss which one was their top target: right-handed starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann.

This afternoon at Comerica Park, their top target sat directly to Ilitch's right inside the Tiger Club, under contract for five seasons and $110 million.

"One of the biggest things is they had me as their No. 1 target," Zimmermann said. "I was a second and third option for others."

But not for the Tigers, who crossed off the biggest need on their off-season shopping list with another autograph from Ilitch, who offered his insight on his latest lucrative deal thusly: "Everybody knows that pitching is the main thing in baseball."

Everybody knew the Tigers were searching for two starting pitchers this winter, one a front-line option, and in his first off-season as a general manager, Avila was aggressive, securing his top target before the calendar flipped to December.

How does Tigers' rotation look with Zimmermann?

"For this to happen is really a dream come true," Avila said. "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."

Zimmermann, 29, posted a 3.66 ERA this past season with the Nationals, striking out 164 batters in 201 2/3 innings. He has made 30-plus starts and thrown more than 195 innings in each of the past four seasons, and fills the team's foremost need of a front-line starter.

He will slot behind ace righty Justin Verlander in the Tigers' starting rotation next season and ahead of veteran righty Anibal Sanchez, giving the team a formidable 1-2-3 punch at the top of the rotation.

The seeds of the deal were planted when Avila reached out on the first day of free agency, Zimmermann's agent Mark Pieper said, and by nightfall on Friday, the talks were of a serious nature. Zimmermann will make $18 million in 2016 and 2017, $24 million in 2018, and $25 million in 2019 and 2020.

"Part of the reason this got done quickly is because this is where he wanted to play," Avila said.

Zimmermann signing does carry some risk

For his career, Zimmermann has a 3.32 ERA in seven seasons. He is a two-time National League All-Star.

"This is one area where, when our scouts were here and we had the year-end meetings and the names were on the board, Jordan was our top target," Avila said. He was No. 1 on everyone's list."

He will wear No. 27 with the Tigers. He said that priority the team showed in pursuing him was a major factor in his signing.

"It means a lot," he said. "For these guys to want me that much, I'm excited. I'm happy to get this jersey on Opening Day and get to know the guys."

Zimmermann was regarded as one of the best starting pitchers on the free agent market, thought of as a first-tier arm by some, second-tier by others. He comes at the right price for the track record he brings to the table and upside he takes to the mound.

In 2014, Zimmermann threw a no-hitter in the Nationals' final regular season game. This past season, his numbers slipped, posting career-highs in ERA (3.66), WHIP (1.20), hits (204) and home runs (24). 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.

"We just love this guy," Avila said. "People say he isn't a No. 1 starter. We felt he is at the top of the rotation, a horse who will take the ball and battle."

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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The new guy

What the pundits are saying about the Tigers signing Jordan Zimmermann, the first pitcher to get a $100-million contract after Tommy John surgery:

Keith Law, ESPN.com:

"This contract prices Zimmermann as if he's not declining and has little risk of injury. ... He was worse across the board in 2015 and now has 1,000-plus innings on that new ligament."

Ken Rosenthal, foxsports.com

"In the view of some in the industry, the Tigers are more comfortable with medical risk than most clubs. ... The bottom line: The Tigers landed the third-best starting pitcher on the open market."

Rob Neyer, foxsports.com

"This is, and always has been, the nature of free agency. You pay for what the player has done, and (almost) best case is that he keeps doing those things in at least some of the coming years."

Jeff Passan, yahoo.com

"Surely the Tigers understand a player with past arm troubles is likelier to experience ones in the future. ... They're banking on him being different. Maybe he will be, maybe he won't."

Jason Beck, MLB.com

"He should enjoy pitcher-friendly Comerica Park, but will be challenged to reverse some of his negative trends from last year while adjusting to a schedule of deep AL lineups."