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Tigers land Zimmermann with 5-year, $110M deal

Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Detroit Tigers added another All-Star to their rotation Sunday, agreeing to a five-year, $110-million deal with coveted free-agent pitcher Jordan Zimmermann.

The deal, which has yet to be confirmed by the club, is similar to the five-year, $105-million extension the pitcher rejected last winter with the Washington Nationals. Zimmermann, who spent his entire seven-year career in the nation's capital, declined Washington's $15.8-million qualifying offer earlier this month and will cost Detroit its second-round pick.

Washington will receive a compensatory draft pick in exchange for Zimmermann signing with another club.

The two-time All-Star and former Tommy John patient is the first major signing of the offseason, and addresses the Tigers' priority of adding a top-tier starter to their underachieving rotation. The reported agreement would also make Zimmermann the first pitcher ever to command a deal in excess of $100 million after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery.

Year IP ERA ERA+ WHIP SO9
2015 201.2 3.66 110 1.205 7.3
2014 ★ 199.2 2.66 141 1.072 8.2
2013 ★ 213.1 3.25 116 1.088 6.8
2012 195.2 2.94 136 1.17 7.0
2011 161.1 3.18 120 1.147 6.9

(Courtesy: Baseball-Reference)

During his end-of-season news conference, Tigers general manager Al Avila hinted the club would be active in the pitching market this winter.

"I would hope to add at least one guy that would be in the mix of the top-three spots in the rotation," he said, "and one guy that would probably be a little less."

Related: Tigers are early offseason winners after trio of upgrades

Zimmermann pitched to a declining strikeout rate and elevated walk total in 2015, but still maintains top-of-the-rotation status after throwing more than 200 innings for the second time in his career. The 29-year-old's 15.3 wins above replacement since the beginning of 2012 is the seventh-highest WAR for a right-handed pitcher.

The acquisition helps offset the loss of ace David Price, who was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays last summer for a package of prospects that included left-hander Daniel Norris. Detroit, still reeling from the loss of Max Scherzer and injuries to several key players, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010 after finishing last in the AL Central this past season.

2016 PROJECTED ROTATION

2015 Stats IP ERA K-BB% WAR
Justin Verlander 133.1 3.38 15.1 2.8
Jordan Zimmermann 201.2 3.66 15.1 3.0
Anibal Sanchez 157.0 4.99 13.5 0.9
Daniel Norris 36.2 3.68 13.5 0.4
Buck Farmer 40.1 7.36 3.8 -0.7

The Zimmermann signing marks Avila's second major move this offseason following the acquisition of Francisco Rodriguez in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month. The Tigers also reunited with outfielder Cameron Maybin in a deal with the Atlanta Braves last week, costing the club reliever Ian Krol and minor-league left-hander Gabe Speier.

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