Major League Baseball shopping season is upon us, and the shelves are sagging with free-agent pitchers. So why even talk about Jordan Zimmermann?
The Washington Nationals ace is signed through next season, and while he's been the subject of trade whispers, it'd surely require a bushel of blue chips to land him.
And yet, even in a market saturated with arms, Zimmermann is worth the cost.
First, a quick recap: During the general managers meetings in November, word leaked that the Chicago Cubs were "in talks" to acquire Zimmermann, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The buzz was promptly killed by multiple sources, including Nats GM Mike Rizzo, who told James Wagner of The Washington Post it had "no basis."
Zimmermann told Wagner he was "a little shocked" by the rumor, but added, "It’s a business. I know that. If they feel they want to trade me and get something in return that will help them later down the road, I totally understand." At the very least, Zimmermann's name was injected into the offseason scuttlebutt. He is apparently available...for a hefty price.
Shortly after the GM meetings, ESPN.com's David Schoenfield cited a report that "had the Nationals expecting three major-league ready prospects in return for Zimmermann."
That's a lot to ask. Especially when pitching-hungry clubs can keep their prospects and simply sign one of the many marquee names on the market.
Want an ace? How about Max Scherzer or Jon Lester? Too rich for your blood? We've got James Shields and Brandon McCarthy right over here.
Plus, there's a gaggle of big arms set to hit free agency next year, including David Price, Johnny Cueto and Zimmermann himself.
Why, in this pitching-rich climate, would a team sacrifice trade pieces to land a starter?
To put it simply, Zimmermann isn't just any starter.
He's 28 years old and coming off of another stellar season: 2.66 ERA, 1.072 WHIP, 182 SO, 199.2 IP. He posted the highest WAR (5.2) among National League pitchers, non-Clayton Kershaw division, per FanGraphs. He tossed a no-hitter on the regular season's final day.
And he's owed "only" $16.5 million next season, a relative bargain.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2288335-france-should-grant-legend-thierry-henry-a-farewell-appearance
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