Report: Tigers tried to package Zimmermann in Verlander deal

The Detroit Tigers might have tried to offload two bloated pitching contracts with one move.

With teams said to be asking the Tigers about starter Justin Verlander, Detroit reportedly suggested one club interested in the right-hander could also take on fellow starter Jordan Zimmermann's contract, a source told Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.

Tigers general manager Al Avila, however, later denied the claim, telling Passan the team never discussed Zimmermann in deals for Verlander.

Zimmerman is under contract for another three years, during which he'll earn $74 million, Passan notes. Verlander, meanwhile, is owed a guaranteed $56 million in 2018 and 2019, with a $22-million vesting option for 2020 that will kick in if he finishes in the top five of Cy Young voting in 2019, according to Spotrac.

After a 2016 campaign that was derailed by injuries, Zimmerman has struggled again to pitch to expectations this season. In 23 starts, the 31-year-old two-time All-Star is posting a 5.62 ERA while allowing a career-high 1.8 home runs per nine.

Verlander is in the midst of his own uncharacteristically off season, though the 2016 Cy Young runner up is faring slightly better, crafting a 4.11 ERA in 25 starts this season.