Jordan

Zimmermann

It looked like his career was over after spring training, but the Brewers needed some help with some early injuries and the Wisconsin native ended up pitching in two games with the club. While he didn’t pitch well, it was an appropriate way for him to go out. Zimmermann was largely ineffective during his five-year, $110 million deal with the Tigers as injuries piled up, but he had a very good run with the Nationals, including a pair of All-Star appearances. He’ll walk away with 4.07 ERA and 95 wins over his 13-year career between Washington, Detroit, and Milwaukee.

It’s one of three new pitchers being added by the Brewers, as he joins Eric Lauer and Alec Bettinger. Once among the best starters in baseball, Zimmermann has been awful over the last few years, and while he could provide some innings for Milwaukee, they won’t be of any fantasy significance.

Zimmerman was released by the Brewers earlier this week, but will remain with the organization on a minor-league deal. The 34-year-old veteran righty will open the 2021 campaign as organizational depth at Triple-A Nashville.

Zimmermann was always a long shot to win a roster spot with the Brew Crew, and he’s allowed four runs while striking out just three over six inning this spring. The Brewers would like to re-sign him to a minor league deal.

The 33-year-old southpaw was re-acquired by Milwaukee in the offseason, to a one-year, $2.5M deal. In 2020, Anderson had a 4.21 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 10 walks in 47 innings over 10 starts. Do not expect much fantasy upside out of Anderson; he’s competing with Eric Lauer and non-roster invitee Jordan Zimmermann for a spot in the back end of Milwaukee’s rotation.

Zimmermann, who is from Auburndale, Wisconsin, returns home after completing his five-year, $110 million contract with the Tigers. The 34-year-old threw just 5 2/3 innings last season while dealing with a forearm injury and holds a 5.83 ERA dating back to 2017, so expectations should be low. He’ll just give the Brewers some depth in camp.

Zimmermann, 34, had seemed to indicate previously that retirement was a possibility following another disappointing season during which he dealt with a forearm strain. However, he’s been working out and has decided to keep his career going. The veteran right-hander undoubtedly is going to have to settle for a minor league contract.

Jordan Zimmermann will function as the opener for the Tigers and will work a couple of innings most likely before turning the ball over to the rookie left-hander. Skubal owns a 6.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 31/10 K/BB ratio over 27 innings in his seven starts this season.

This is likely something of a cap-tip for Zimmermann, who’s a free agent after the season. Tarik Skubal, who had been scheduled to make the start, will pitch in relief of the right-hander. It’s been a forgettable five years for the 34-year-old since he signed that megadeal with the Tigers -- heading into Sunday’s start, Zimmermann owns a 5.65 ERA in 98 games as a member of the Tigers.

Nothing was expected of Zimmermann during the shortened season after he suffered a forearm strain during summer camp, but he’s back to do whatever the Tigers ask for him. He was able to help today in what turned out to be a 5-3 win. The Tigers lost each of his final nine starts last year and were 4-19 overall in his starts.