Why retire now?
Will Sammon, Brewers beat writer: Zimmermann was actually ready to call it a career nearly two weeks ago. On April 30, he jokingly said he was retired for roughly two hours. Zimmermann originally signed a minor league deal with Milwaukee in February to compete for a roster spot, but the Brewers didn’t have an opening for him, so they released him in late March. He re-signed two days later and made a 90-minute commute from his home in Auburndale to Appleton, which was the team’s alternate site.
He had no interest in pitching in Class AAA. So when his April 30 opt-out date was approaching, he assumed that was it. But the Brewers had some injuries, which led to an opening and a call to Zimmermann. With the Brewers getting healthier, they soon figured to have less of a need for Zimmermann.
Zimmermann’s legacy with the Nationals
Maria Torres, Nationals beat writer: Zimmermann reached the major leagues in 2009 and overcame Tommy John surgery to become the Nationals’ leader in wins (70), starts (178), innings pitched (1,094) and strikeouts (903) by the end of his tenure in 2015.
Zimmermann, who threw the club’s first no-hitter on the final day of the 2014 season and a few days later pitched 8 2/3 three-hit, one-run innings in the National League Division Series against the eventual World Series champion Giants, became the first pitcher who underwent elbow ligament surgery to sign a contract worth at least $100 million. As he approached the end of his time in Washington, his fastball velocity dipped and he became more susceptible to home runs. His strikeout rate also dropped. But he remained durable. He pitched at least 195 innings in each of his final four seasons. The Nationals made offers to re-sign Zimmermann but negotiations flamed out.
What did Zimmermann accomplish in the postseason?
Torres: Zimmermann appeared in three playoff games. His most notable and final outing was in the 2014 NLDS. Zimmermann was one out away from throwing a three-hit shutout in the 2014 NLDS but he was removed from the game after he issued a two-out walk in the ninth inning to Joe Panik, the first batter to reach since the Giants led off the top of the third with a single. Closer Drew Storen blew the save in a game that ended in a Nationals loss in 18 innings.
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
