"There currently are no active discussions regarding a contract extension for Ryan [Zimmerman]," agent Brodie Van Wagenen told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Kilgore explains that while the sides have had informal dialogue, no specifics or proposals have been exchanged. Meanwhile Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, "It’s important to us. We’ve already begun preliminary discussions with his people. He’s an important piece for us, a guy that we would like to have here long-term." Though the statements appear conflicting, it's probably just a difference of opinion over the technical definition of "discussions."
Certainly, both sides have the same goal of a long-term extension. Zimmerman is eligible for free agency after the 2013 season, so he's not as close as Matt Kemp was but closer than Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Braun. As Kilgore explains, Zimmerman wants a deal by spring training 2013 so as to avoid distractions during that season.
Zimmerman said in August he wants a contract longer than five years, and seven or eight seems likely. The big question is if the two sides can agree on how Zimmerman's injury history should be factored in.
There is no way we can let him go. He’s OUR Cal Ripken and needs to be a Nat for life
He’s the Nats Cal Ripken? That’s funny, I don’t remember Cal Jr. being a friend of the Disable list like Zimmerman.Zimming boy has miss more games in his first seven years then Cal did in his first fourteen.If Zimmerman wants eight years, I would let him walk without a second thought.
He means as much to the Nats as ripken did to the orioles. Were you against Tulowitski’s deal?
Actually, I was.But I wouldn’t compare Tulowitzki to Zimmerman.Troy is the superior player playing a more valuable position.With that said, giving a eight year contract to a player with an injury history isn’t a smart decision.Zimmerman maybe consider the face of the team, but if that face is eating up $15-20 million on the back end of a contract while spending substantial time on the DL, that face becomes an albatross .The Nats are already stuck with one bad contract that’s sucking up payroll, why add another.
You just dont like Ryan Zimmerman do you?
No one compares to Ripken’s injury history, but I think NatsTown was trying to make a point about how much Ryan means to Nats’ fan-base. He does mean as much as Ripken meant to O’s fans.
Eight year, $140 million should get it done.
“He does mean as much as Ripken meant to O’s fans”
If that’s the case, that is very sad.
Why is that sad? Zim is basically the first real National. Thus the fans are drawn to him. Not saying he is Ripken, obviously, but he does mean that much.
I still can’t see why.Zimmerman as a player hasn’t done nearly as much as other players who are consider the faces of their teams.I just don’t get why would anyone be so casual in giving out an eight year deal to a player with an injury history like Zimmermans just because he was the first player drafted by the former expos.
Dude, I am sure I am not a special adviser to Nats FO that they will lock up Ryan for eight years and that much money because I said so. I am sure they will figure everything in but I still would not hesitate to give the guy a long term deal, given his talent. He has missed more than 100 games in last six seasons, which is a lot but when he is on the field, he is easily one of the best 3B in the league, defensively and offensively. And from that same class of Troy and Braun, he is third in cumulative WAR behind those two, despite playing in a tougher park and surrounded by an average lineup.
He is as important to us, and defines us, as much as ripken did to the orioles
nats>baltimore oreos
You forgot to mention that they dont play the same position, arent the same height and weight, and dont have the same amount of syllables in their name. dumbass
Don’t be an idiot.My point on Ryan Zimmerman’s injury history and comparing him to Cal is relevant to the topic.The crap you listed is not.And if you’re going to called someone a dumbass, please learn to used apostrophe.
I’ll “learn to used apostrophe” when you learn to used grammar
Apparently, in your world punctuation doesn’t have anything to do with grammar.I might have added and subtracted two letters from two words, a small mistake, but you did the exact same thing on top of not using apostrophes for contracted words.
LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!………with a contract.
No extension yet?! Looks like the only other option is to ship him to the Braves
I say 7 years, $119M is a good deal for both sides.
Considering what the market for franchise players has been set at, there is no way that Zim settles for that number.
You never know. Weaver and Lee both signed within the last 12 months for a good deal less than they could have gotten elsewhere. BB-Ref has Zimmerman signed for $45 million through 2013. Add another $120 million and he’d make a total of $165 million+ over his MLB career. Also consider the fact that the Nationals are only a season or two away from being a regular contender in the NL East.
I’m not saying it will happen, but if I’m Zimmerman, I’d seriously consider it.
Give him Tulo money
Your the first person (other than me) that ive actually seen that thinks that! He is definitely worth it.
I am split on this one. Zim is an amazing player, but there are a lot of things for the Nats to consider before locking him up at $20mil/year for his age 29-36 years.
1) The contract alone will require a whole lot of scrutiny as to how the Nats think his body will hold up as he ages–will be follow predictable decline trends or fall off the cliff. I think that he is is good enough shape to hold out for a while, but that might just be me being optimistic.
2) There are guys on the team now and soon to be coming up that may become extremely elite players that will also need megadeals. If Stasburg’s arm is 100% healthy he is going to be an expensive guy to keep around. And if Bryce Harper is legit he is going to require an ARod esque deal. Other guys could command north of $10mil/year to stick around such as Storen, Espinosa and maybe Michael Morse.
3) Jayson Werth is going to be paid $83 mil between 2014-16.
4) If Anthony Rendon shoulder recovers, he could provide similar value to Zim at the hot corner both in terms of defense and with the bat.
5) Trading Zim would bring back a lot and could help to further bolster the Nats rapidly improving farm system with top end talent.
I am a nats fan through and through and own lots of Zimmerman memorabilia, but if I were Mike Rizzo I would not rush into an extension.
its almost like i hate to have to agree because he is my favorite player, but its so true.. man why does he have to be so cool & likeable? it’d be a lot easier of a decision if he wasn’t..
I have this huge feeling that if Harper is good. There is no way he sticks around. He grew up liking the Yanks, he’s going there when he becomes a free agent.
I think they Nats should offer something around 7/126 with 2 or 3 mutual options. Zimmerman has been the face of that franchise since he came up. He’s been through enough losing seasons where the Nats should reward him with a contract that will keep him around when they start winning. But I think the Nats should wait til NEXT offseason to offer him the contract. Let him play this year and see how his body holds up. If he breaks down again then obviously you don’t offer him an extension of that caliber. Either way, Zimmerman should stay a Nat for a while.
If they do end up putting him on the block though, I hope the Giants look into it just because he’s one of my favorite players. =)
If he’s open to signing with a bunch of health related vesting options, do it.
I doubt it
I think that’s fair for both sides; better than a guaranteed contract for less money because if he does hold up, he gets what he’s worth. If he doesn’t, he can do the one-year-contract-in-a-bandbox trick to get another good multiyear deal.
I think that’s fair for both sides; better than a guaranteed contract for less money because if he does hold up, he gets what he’s worth. If he doesn’t, he can do the one-year-contract-in-a-bandbox trick to get another good multiyear deal.
Ryan’s my favorite Nat, and the Nats are among the four teams I root for. When he comes to bat, sleepy Nats’ stadium wakes up.
That said, while it is certainly true that he is “the face the franchise,” never have I seen such a faceless face of a franchise. Simply put, I wish he was more of a leader.
I hope he’s around a long time. But at the right contract which reflects his injury history….while still allowing him to EARN the truly big, big bucks he’d like to have….and which will surely be merited if he remains healthy.