Tigers sign Jordan Zimmermann to 5-year, $110 million contract

The Tigers have agreed to a five-year, $110 million contract with free-agent right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, according to reports from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com. The deal is pending a physical and does not include any options.

Zimmermann, 29, is the first major domino to fall in this year's free agent market after being considered one of the top four available starting pitchers this winter, along with David Price, Zack Greinke and Johnny Cueto. He was thought to be a candidate to receive a six- or seven-year deal due to his relatively young age, but will instead head to Detroit on a five-year deal after receiving significant interest from the Cubs and Dodgers as a free agent.

Detroit was thought to be in play for a front-line starter, and had been linked to Price and Cueto at various points this fall. Zimmermann will join Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd, Shane Greene and Kyle Lobstein in the Tigers' rotation mix. He is one of the first major additions in the tenure of new general manager Al Avila, who also recently acquired Francisco Rodriguez and Cameron Maybin in trades.

Zimmermann has spent his entire career with the Nationals, posting a lifetime 70-50 record and 3.32 ERA in seven major-league seasons. He has been named to the NL All-Star team on two occasions (2013, 2014) and finished within the top seven in Cy Young voting in both of those seasons.

The addition of Zimmermann means that the Tigers are going to be aggressive this winter, and that team owner Mike Ilitch is still not afraid to spend money as the team chases its first championship since 1984. Detroit may be active in trying to add another starter this winter, according to reports.

For the latest look at where every free agent is signing this winter, check out our updated free agent tracker.