Fresh Meat/Dead Meat 2016: Jordan Zimmerman & Jeff Samardzija

Welcome to installment #1 of Fresh Meat/Dead Meat, my yearly overview of the new additions to the AL-only pool, as well as those players who are dead to me.










Fresh Meat: SP Jordan Zimmermann

Welcome Aboard!

The Detroit Tigers signed the 29-year-old free agent to a big deal over the winter, so he's fresh meat, and a decent cut at that. But he posted a disappointing 13-10 record i, with a mediocre 3.66 ERA for the Washington Nationals in his contract year. The previous year, he was a lot fresher: 14-5 with a 2.66 ERA. Now we're cookin, right? He's still got excellent control -- 164 Ks to only 39 walks last season -- so he'll be an asset in the WHIP category. Having earned $13 in NL-only last year, he figures to be something of a risk facing the heavier-hitting AL lineups. Don't overpay like the Tigers did and you'll be happier.











Dead Meat: SP Jeff Samardzija 

Good Riddance! 

Good riddance. I bought him at auction for $30* last year thinking he was "cheap ace." Whoops! He rewarded me by leading the league in earned runs allowed. And by "league" I mean the whole league. Like, the AL and that other one. Ouch. 

**Includes keeper league inflation.