Tigers GM on Jordan Zimmermann: 'We love this guy'

Detroit — Back in October, when general manager Al Avila first convened his lieutenants — the scouts, coaches and analytics staff to make plans for the offseason — the first name on their free-agent get list was Jordan Zimmermann.

"Mr. Ilitch happened to walk into that meeting and saw his name at the top of our board," Avila said. "For this to happen, it's really a dream come true. I don't know if it's rare or not, but he was No. 1 on our list, No. 1 with our scouts and No. 1 with our analytics people.

"And for us to get him, it's pretty reassuring."

The Tigers officially signed the right-handed-throwing Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million contract Monday.

"We love this guy," Avila said. "We feel like he is a top of the rotation guy, a horse on the mound who will give you 200 innings. He's going to battle out there. And his makeup — you wouldn't believe how many messages I got from other players who have played with him about what kind of guy he is.

"He's a leader, a quiet leader."

Zimmerman will be 30 in May. He hasn't missed a start in four seasons and was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014. He's posted the sixth-best ERA-plus in the majors over that span with a 1.16 WHIP.

NCAA president 'very pleased' with revisions to Indiana religious freedom law

"Other than his ability, what really attracted me is that he's just a no-frills pitcher," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He just wants to go out every five days and do his job and help the team win. He doesn't need to be a high-profile guy, doesn't need to be in the limelight. He just wants to do his job."

The Tigers threw him a grand introductory press conference Monday at Comerica Park, complete with his face illuminated on the giant scoreboard. Owner Mike Ilitch also made a rare public appearance.

But it was clear Zimmermann, while grateful and happy to be a Tiger, was uncomfortable with the hoopla.

"I am just ready to get to spring training, get this uniform on and get playing," he said.

That the Tigers made him their top priority was not lost on him.

"One of the biggest things was they had me as their top target," he said. "Other teams that were out there, I was their second or third option. All along I didn't want to wait until January or February. I wanted to sign early. We knew what my value was and if we got semi-close to what I was worth, we were going to jump early.

"The Tigers got to it. It's nice to be close to home (Wisconsin). It's a big ballpark, which I really like. I think it's a perfect fit."

Zimmermann described himself as a strike-thrower, a guy who attacks hitters. The numbers bear that out. Among active pitchers with at least 1,000 innings, Zimmermann is second averaging 1.82 walks per nine innings. His 1.15 WHIP is sixth and his 3.32 ERA is eighth.

NCAA president 'very pleased' with revisions to Indiana religious freedom law

Still, there are concerns. He has been ultra-durable, one of only four pitchers to throw 190 innings and start at least 32 games in each of the last four seasons. But this will be his sixth season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009.

"From what I've read, (elbow ligament replacements) tend to last eight to 12 years; it averages out to 10," Avila said. "With any pitcher, whether they've had the surgery or not, there is a certain level of risk. But it's not a big concern. The medicals to date, going back to that point, have been really good."

He is also coming off the worst full season of his career. He posted the highest ERA (3.66) and WHIP (1.20) and allowed career-highs in hits, runs and home runs (24). Both the Tigers and Zimmermann believe it was a one-year blip, not the start of a downward trend.

"I know I gave up a few more home runs last year," Zimmermann said. "I might have left a few balls over the middle of the plate and they hit them out. I remembered a few that were really good pitches, up and in where I like to live, and they were hit out. I remember one to Lucas Duda in New York, a pitch five inches above the strike zone and three inches in. He pulls his hands in and hits it out.

"It was just one of those years."

His fastball velocity decreased last season, from 94 mph in 2014 to 93 mph. Opponents hit over .300 against his fastball.

"I am not concerned about it at all," he said. "I'm still the same guy. I am going to attack the hitters. I'm going to throw strikes and go out and compete. Give the team a chance to win every five days. I didn't really know (the velocity) was down that much. I am not concerned at all."

Neither, clearly, are the Tigers. They will pay him $18 million the next two seasons, then $24 million in 2018 and $25 million in 2019 and 2020.

"To Al and Mr. I's credit, we are a couple of months into the hot stove league and we've got a top of the rotation starter and a closer (Francisco Rodriguez)," Ausmus said. "That's two holes we needed to fill. I don't think Al or anybody on the staff will tell you we're done. But we are making great progress."

Avila said the plans are to acquire another starting pitcher, a No. 4 or No. 5 starter, as well as one and possibly two more bullpen arms.

"Everything is fitting right in line with our plan," Avila said. "We may still tweak some other areas, as well, but we're still looking for pitching. That is still a priority."

chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/cmccosky