Mike Ilitch saw the names on the board — a lot of them, free agents big and small.
And when he stopped by the Tigers’ war room earlier this off-season, first-year general manager Al Avila told his boss which one was their top target: right-handed starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann.
This afternoon at Comerica Park, their top target sat directly to Ilitch’s right inside the Tiger Club, under contract for five seasons and $110 million.
“One of the biggest things is they had me as their No. 1 target,” Zimmermann said. “I was a second and third option for others.