Shortened season puts potential free agents in tough spot

DETROIT (AP) — This is the final year of Jordan Zimmermann's contract with Detroit — and after battling injuries and ineffectiveness through most of his tenure with the Tigers, this is also his last chance to make a good impression before free agency arrives again.

And now that opportunity may be gone.

The Tigers put Zimmermann on the 45-day injured list last weekend because of a right forearm strain, and in this shortened season, that means he won't pitch much — if at all.

Zimmermann went 1-13 with a 6.91 ERA last year. He has a 5.61 ERA in four seasons with Detroit. If he was going to be any kind of significant target on the free agent market for 2021, he needed to show he could stay healthy…