Detroit Tigers: Jordan Zimmermann bounce-back is vital for franchise’s long-term outlook

The contract

Speaking of Washington, Zimmermann was excellent in his time with the National League East franchise.

From 2011 to 2015, his fWAR routinely topped the 3.0 mark, including the 2014 season when he notched a 5.3 stat in the category.

During each year the same span, the starter posted a sub-4.00 (and in some cases sub-3.00) mark in all four prevention categories—ERA, FIP, xFIP and SIERA.

Based on this production, Zimmermann’s five year, $110 million dollar contract (per Spotrac) looked more than reasonable from a value standpoint.

However, it hasn’t exactly worked out in Detroit.

Now, Zimmermann has gone from the front-line starter who seemed to be the long-term replacement for Max Scherzer and David Price on a contending club, to a struggling starter on a rebuilding team.

The retooling Detroit Tigers are now left with a pitcher who has—according to Spotrac—three years and $74 million left on his deal.

What’s more, the same publication states that the 31-year-old has a full no-trade clause through 2018. During the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, it shifts to a “10 team trade approval list.”

From a long-term standpoint, moving Zimmermann’s contract would certainly help the Tigers.

Deals involving players with full no-trade protection certainly aren’t unheard of, but if Detroit wants to flip Zimmermann, they’ll need to rehab his trade value first.