Detroit Tigers Trade of the Day: Jordan Zimmermann to the Brewers

The Detroit Tigers still have trades to be made this season. We will post one potential trade per day until the August 31 deadline.

The Detroit Tigers have until August 31 to trade their players on expiring contracts. Thus far three players; Jose Iglesias, Francisco Liriano and Jordan Zimmermann, have passed through waivers. That means they are eligible to be dealt to any team.

With four days remaining until the deadline, we will be writing up a potential trade daily. We have experimented with a Jordan Zimmermann trade, two Francisco Liriano trades and a trio of Jose Iglesias trades. While Iglesias and Liriano are the most likely to be dealt, there are a few teams who could use starting pitching depth. If the Tigers are able to work out a solution with the rest of Zim’s contract, and he is willing to waive his no-trade clause, a trade could materialize.

Detroit Tigers trade Jordan Zimmermann and $30M to the Brewers for Ernesto Martinez

Why the Brewers will do it

Milwaukee is still in the thick of things in the NL playoff race, despite a struggling, oft-injured rotation. Jimmy Nelson has spent the entire year on the DL. Brent Suter had Tommy John surgery, and will miss most, if not all, of 2019. Zach Davies, expected to be one of their best starters, is in Triple-A.

This team could really use reinforcements in the rotation, and Zimmermann’s 4.38 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 4.04 SIERA would give them a solid arm at the back of their rotation. Arguably as important, the team would be bringing back a hometown hero of sorts.

Zimmermann grew up in Wisconsin and attended Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Bringing him in would be a homecoming for Zimm, and of course makes him much more likely to waive his no-trade clause – since he’d be joining a contending team in his home state.

Money will be an issue, but if the Tigers are willing to eat half the money and don’t ask for more than a lower level dart-throw prospect, a trade could be had.

Why the Tigers will do it

Zimmermann is owed roughly $54 million for the next two years. Sending $30 million seems like a lot, but at the end of the day it would still save the Tigers $24 million dollars over the next three years. That’s a really hefty sum that could be used to shore up a few other positions of need while the team trudges through their rebuild. Plus, it frees up rotation spots for the Matt Manning, Beau Burrows and, eventually, Casey Mize’s of the world.

They could also target a younger, high-risk, high-reward prospect to take from the Brewers in exchange for Zimmermann.

Ernesto Martinez, Jr is probably the Brewers prospect with the most raw power. However, even at the rookie level, he has yet to translate that into a game setting. In 35 games this year, he has zero home runs and five steals, with a 32.9% strikeout rate.

However, his raw power is evident in batting practice, and his six-foot-six, 225 pound frame could afford to add some extra muscle. At 19, there’s still a lot of time and room to grow. If this kid can tap into his power potential, he could be a 15/15 type outfielder in the show. It’s a big risk, but getting an interesting, toolsy teenager in exchange for Zimmermann and only half his contract would be a win for the Tigers.

Zimmermann is without a doubt the least likely of the three Tigers players to be traded. However, if GM Al Avila is willing to get creative (and eat some money) the Tigers could find a way.