The Tigers announced a series of roster moves this evening. Starter Jordan Zimmermann and reliever Alex Wilson are both heading to the DL. Meanwhile, the club purchased the contract of infielder Pete Kozma — with Daniel Norris moving to the 60-day DL to open a 40-man spot — and have also recalled righty Zac Reininger.
Zimmermann is said to be dealing with a shoulder impingement, which is certainly not what anyone hoped to hear. That said, there’s no indication that it’s a terribly serious new injury for a player who has had some significant health problems of late.
Soon to turn 32, Zimmermann has been off to another ugly start in the results department, with a 4.88 ERA over 31 1/3 innings. But there had finally been some signs of life for a pitcher who has struggled mightily since signing with Detroit. He’s carrying 9.2 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9 on the year, representing a drastic improvement over his strikeout rate in the past two campaigns. Zimmermann is earning $24MM this year and has another $50MM coming over the ensuing two seasons.
As for Wilson, a left plantar fascia strain will sideline him for an unknown stretch. He’s carrying a 4.58 ERA in 19 2/3 frames to start the season. Though Wilson is carrying 7.3 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9, numbers that compare favorably to his career rates, he has allowed four home runs already.
The 30-year-old Kozma is a light-hitting utility player who’ll appear in his seventh MLB campaign. Reininger, 25, is back for a second attempt at the majors after a rough debut last year. He has generally been effective thus far at Triple-A in 2018, allowing four earned runs on 18 hits and four walks, while recording 15 strikeouts, in 13 2/3 innings.
This season just went from bad to worse. When you call up Pete Kozma….you got troubles…
If you’re expecting your utility infielder to win games for you, then you’re DH and corner IF and OF’ers aren’t doing their jobs on offense.
Not when Niko Goodrum is the resident utilityman!
Aren’t the TIgers’ goal this year to lose as many games as possible?
Kozma playing anywhere on the infield is helping the Toledo team have the best record in the IL since the beginning of April. Best record Toledo has ever started with. Defense helps pitchers win games.
The Tigers are one of the scrappiest teams in MLB this season so, the answer is NO!. Although, I’m sure the ownership has directed the Management to continue to reduce payroll. The hope was that Jordan Zimmermann would bounce back enough to become tradable.
“The hope was that Jordan Zimmermann would bounce back enough to become tradable.”
You were hoping that Zimmermann would bounceback so much that another team would be willing to take on the two years and $50M (plus the balance of this year) remaining on his contract? That’d be quite some bounceback.
It is not required that the other team pick up the entire contract. His last two starts were improvement. Even if he doesnt get traded, having him soak up innings this year would have been nice.
As for Kozma, some one will have to be moved when they need a starter. Why waste an option of a young player for 4 days? Besides, it not like another team will claim him when they outright him off the forty.
“It is not required that the other team pick up the entire contract.”
Well, at least you’re being somewhat realistic. So, out of the roughly $65M due Zimm through 2020, how much would you expect an acquiring team to pick up?
Pete Kozma, that’s a name I’ve not heard since………
INFIELD FLY !
Too bad for Zimmermann. People forget that prior to his arm issues he jumped out to a hot start in Detroit. The month of April he was 5-0 with a 0.55 ERA in 2016. By June the wheels were falling off, unfortunately.
Time for the Tigers to move Fulmer and break the team down. and draft Casey Mize.
The Tigers already broke the team down. They are rebuilding with Michael Fulmer. However, I assume that they would trade Fulmer for an exceptional return.
Would have been better last year at all star break.
Where have you been? The tradeables have been traded. They can draft Mize and have him pitch with Fulmer.
Uh, Brady Singer?