Neither Ryan Zimmerman nor Joe Ross will suit up to play for the Nationals in 2020, according to respective reports from Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic. The D.C. pair joins Diamondbacks right-hander Mike Leake among the first of what figure to be many players choosing not to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross have decided not to participate in the 2020 season for the personal health and safety of themselves and their loved ones,” general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed in a statement. “We are one hundred percent supportive of their decision not to play this year. We will miss their presence in the clubhouse and their contributions on the field.”
Zimmerman outlined his reasoning last week in a guest piece for the Associated Press, candidly discussing his concern with having a newborn daughter and a mother who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Those understandable family concerns have prompted Zimmerman to forgo the year of service time and the prorated $2MM salary he’d have collected in 2020 had he indeed played. Zimmerman released the following statement today, via his agents at CAA Baseball:
After a great deal of thought and given my family circumstances — three young children, including a newborn, and a mother at high risk — I have decided not to participate in the 2020 season. Everyone knows how much it means to me to be a part of a team, and I will miss that camaraderie dearly this year. Of course I would love to pursue back-to-back titles. I cannot speak for anyone else, but given the unusual nature of the season, this is the best decision for me and my family, and I truly appreciate the organization’s understanding and support. To be clear, I am not retiring at this time. I have not decided on my future in baseball past 2020. But this year, I’ll be staying safe at home and pulling as hard as anyone for the guys to defend our championship.
Zimmerman likely wouldn’t have been the everyday lineup cornerstone that he’s been for much of his career in D.C., but the 35-year-old was in line to serve as a part-time first baseman and (under this year’s altered rules) designated hitter. His decision to sit out should lead to more at-bats for both Howie Kendrick and Eric Thames, among others.
As for Ross, his decision was surely difficult. Not yet established as a surefire big league starter, he was in line to serve as the Nationals’ fifth starter. Playing out the 2020 season would’ve given the 27-year-old Ross a share of a prorated $1.5MM salary and pushed him north of five years of MLB service, bringing him within a year of free agency. Now, unless Ross himself has been deemed a high-risk player by team medical personnel, he’ll waive both that salary and service time. That can’t be an easy decision to make, and it serves as a reminder of the concerns that many players harbor — particularly if they live with or are in close proximity to at-risk loved ones.
With Ross now on the sidelines for the season, it’s likely that right-handers Austin Voth (profiled here as an intriguing rotation candidate himself earlier this spring) and Erick Fedde will get a look at the back of the rotation behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez.
Do players that choose to sit the season out collect salary and accrue service time?
Go read the first article on it, and all is explained…. but basically no, unless he is high risk himself.
Nope. Not unless they have underlying medical issues.
that will probably damage his chances of a rotation spot for the Nats going forward
That would be petty of the team to take that view, and probably not likely.
let me explain myself. i dont mean they would look down upon him for not playing. rather i mean this gives Voth and Feede easier routes to securing spots in the rotation going forward, thus harming Ross’s chanses.
Yeah that certainly could happen, although Voth and or Fedde could also do bad….
Guys that have a 5.25 era over last three years likely are already on thin ice sitting out a year even for good reasons won’t help
Yeah, because MLB teams are NEVER petty.
Like that time Dan Haren said he’d retire if the dodgers traded him to the marlins, then they did anyways bcuz him retiring would have got them out of his salaru
Will not damage his chances at all
And… The Nats WS repeat odds just got better…
To be fair, he was already at the bottom of their list… I always wanted the Pirates to pick him up though…
after shattering his window on a terrible changeup his girl probably told him it wasn’t a good idea to play lol
Brilliant comment. Wrong player though… LOL
That was Joe Kelly.
Wrong Joe…
When do we start picking the opt out all star team?
I’m sure mlb.com and mlbtr will be all over that.
Nah, it will be Fangraphs that does it first.
When a good player chooses not to play?
Right. Because the players that have opted out so far is a great start to that opt-out all-star team.
Their body, their choice. I suspect more will come but the reward certainly outweighs the risk in most cases.
Guys who’ve already been paid seem like prime candidates to opt-out.
Can’t blame them, especially with Zim who has to be extra cautious already with his recently born kid and his mom who’s at risk already.
Good for them.
Their obligation is to themselves and their families, and to absolutely no one else. Not the team, not the game, certainly not the fans.
I hope many more do the same, preferably enough good and great players that it makes the season look like a hollowed out, impotent joke. That’s what the league and all that’s connected with it deserves.
And why exactly are you a baseball fan? It sounds like you would be much happier spending your time with a different hobby.
I’m a baseball fan because it’s a great game.
But my fandom does not come at the expense of basic right and wrong, nor at the expense of a single human life or even the unnecessarily damaged health of a single human being.
The bottom line is that the handling of the past 3 months, in every way, by every one, was fundamentally wrong. And the sport should pay for that.
There should not be a season, and I hope this stunted, illegitimate thing they’ve concocted as humiliating for the league as is humanly possible.
Then I hope the league comes back when it’s safe and reasonable to do so, hopefully without Rob Manfred, and I hope the humiliation of this episode forces the owners and players both to take a long hard look at this game and it’s long term health, which is bleak right now, and getting bleaker by the moment.
Go away then
I imagine kreckert is going to get some back lash but I really don’t think he is being all that extreme. Baseball fans that are angry over MLB’s conduct these last few months isn’t all that uncommon. I imagine he has plenty of company. Also, it’s certainly not extreme to say it would be safer for individuals to not play during a pandemic.
Tend to agree. Far from an extreme stance from him. Established players can afford to sit out, and they’ve earned the right. Not a Nats fan, but I don’t think Zimmerman owes anyone anything at this point. He carried the team during the abysmal years. Good for him he was able to hang around to be part of a WS.
I don’t see baseball paying long term unless they F up a new CBA too, which judging from how this went is very possible.
Kreckert, I agree with you. TBH, for selfish reasons, I am looking forward to watching some games. But this is purely about entertainment purposes for me. I think you’re right about the BS of the last three months b/w the league and the PA. Further, it seems CRAZY to have baseball starting up while this pandemic is heating up so strongly around the country and so many players/ staff have tested positive over the last few weeks without even getting teams together for ST 2.0. It is a public health risk and not in the best interest of the players and their loved ones. The chances this season doesn’t get shutdown at some point seem extremely low to me.
Is it tough balancing on a pedestal while remaining astride such a very high horse?
Sure seems like it would be.
😉
Ducky: quite surprisingly, the soapbox provides incredible balance in that scenario. (soapbox on pedestal… other way around is worse than stilts!)
Merci!
As a simple builder I had to make a drawing.
– pedestal
– soap box
– high horse
Huh. Is it art or is it engineering?
Becomes very clear now. “Whoaaaa, boy…, easy now… easy now…”. Let’s not forget the effort that went into training the aforementioned high horse.
Agree, go watch high school or college ball— t ball is cool to if you can handle the nose picking.
Kreckert GTH The same reason you gave is the same reason they can play. Most players need the money to support them and the families for which they provide. Therefor is a player says no thanks we say see you next year. It’s a choice. Baseball is a game and a business in which thousands rely on to take care of themselves fiscally or mentally.
I completely support any player who opts out. As much as I love (and want to see) MLB this year, I think it’s too dangerous for everyone involved.
If the Nats need a productive Zimm and Ross to return to the playoffs, then they are already in trouble.
Wondering about Dave Martinez, the Nats’ manager. Seems like he’d be at higher risk after his recent heart condition last season.
i wonder if this opens the door for a Puig signing with Howie likely bound for starting 1B duties
So (I really don’t know) does this effectively take them off the 40-man? Puts them on the 45 DL? How does it work, roster-wise?
He’ll probably go on the restricted list. Basically treated the same as a suspended player.
Cynics may thinks these players have opted out because their 60 game payday isn’t high enough.
Are they being cynical just for the sake of cynicism?
They should find a retiring player and trade him around this year for charity and make a lump sum donation at the end and auction the jerseys from each team he is traded to.
Did they opt out on their own? Or did the Nats finally realize they’re both garbage and tell them that they could “Opt out” or be released to save face?
what a bad comment, both of these guys contributed positively in the world series win last year
Are you one of those fans that thinks if your OPS isn’t at least .850 or your ERA is higher than 3.50 the player is worthless?
Hate to say it, but the Nats are probably a better team without those two. Unfortunate end to the 2020 season for both guys, yet the Nationals are most likely an improved team with the decisions made by Ross and Zimm.
Lmao the Nationals are better without Ross and Zim? They could’ve nontendered both of them if they thought that was the case.
Then why would they have resigned zim?
Hopefully there will be a gofundme for these guys. Losing out on millions can’t be easy.
What exactly does Zimmerman lose by giving up a year of service time? I get that he is forgoing salary, but I don’t think service time affects anyone at all after they pass 10 years because that is when full pension takes effect. Zimmerman passed that threshold several years ago.
I don’t know that loosing Ross and Zimmerman even alters the Nationals chances of a playoff spot. Zimmerman is useful as a pinch hitter and breaking 1B and 3B but that won’t be as important as it would have been during a full season. Between Thames, Kendrick, Cabrera and Kieboom, I doubt Zim’s production will be missed. Of course the big caveat to this is injuries. The more infield injuries the Nationals absorb the more Zimmerman will be missed.
Leake I am more conflicted about. His best quality is his ability to stay healthy and absorb innings but he’s pretty much the the image of league average pitching. I imagine his loss will be a lot like Zimmerman in that his loss will be more and more painful the more pitchers the DBacks lose to injuries.
Just cancel the season already. As much I want baseball, just forget it at this point. It’s a joke.
“I want baseball but this is a joke”. Beggers can’t be choosers. This is the reality for how to play baseball in 2020 and in the end its the same game.
So..for you..the straw that broke the camel’s back is these three players opting out?
I respect their decisions. As a father I cherished the time I had with my newborn son and wouldn’t want to risk anyone in my family. Zimmerman has made more than enough money, he has the ring, and he has his priorities in order.
I do believe players have every right to play or not to play, whatever the reason. However this only proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, if there was one that players and owners and everyone in between are rolling in the excess dough to not take paychecks. That’s my spin, nothing new here.
This is just my opinion but I think players with in remission should not participate this reason I only know off the top 3 players. Anthony Rizzo ,Jon Lester and Carlos Carrasco all cancer survivors. I’m not 100% sure if it’s completely gone but I’m not even sure it goes away for good. My mom is a 2x cancer survivor. And has not returned yet.
My point is those 3 are at much higher risk than anyone else
wreck305, maybe just leave the medical opinions to patients and their doctors? If Rizzo et al are at an elevated risk, they will know it. I don’t think anyone commenting on this board knows the medical details of any player well enough to offer an opinion that is worthy of anyone else reading it.
But this is just my opinion.
No problem if guys don’t want to play & give up their salary.
I have a hard time understanding it? I’m all about freedom of choice, however.
But.
Locker rooms, man. I think these guys are all going to have a hard time catching on with teams in the future.
A lot of us have been on teams. You guys know what I mean.
I think their teammates (not to mention players around the league) will have a pretty hard time accepting this.
Not talking about the sound bites here. Rather, the things said amongst themselves.
And those are the actual guys you don’t want on your team.
@jdgoat
So there’s definitely that.
&… what’s this? Could it be two consecutive days where I find myself in agreement with a red sox fan?
Strange, strange days.
Salut
if the teammates arent a fan of players sitting out then the players that are angry can get cut. they’re the problem.
Excellent solution, bro!
We all got to see just how damn competitive Max Scherzer is last fall.
Uh?
Nickels to Navy beans that he’ll definitely be one of the dudes who is – ya know – NOT understanding.
Yeah.
Cut him.
Uh hunh.
May want to rethink your stance, bro. Tell ya what though: a dude like that can play on my squad any day.
Straight up and down.
You don’t want guys who are selfish on your team. If anyone actually holds it against these players, they are terrible people. The lack of compassion is terrible. Family is infinitely times more important than this asterisk season.
I don’t care about any part of your comment, except for “nickels to navy beans”. Where in the world does that come from, bro? What does that mean? Do you actually use that term in real life? I need to know, bro.
Only point I was making is that I firmly believe the vast majority of players will now look at Ross, Desmond, Leake et al differently.
I’ll be surprised to see any of them in a MLB uniform ever again.
& I understand why that would be.
Lol
Was one of my grandfather’s sayings. No idea where it comes from. Not a saying in my regular rotation. Every once in a while it gets slipped in.
The entire saying was “I’d bet nickels to Navy beans that…”.
I hope this is helpful.
Ducky, do you speak with experience of major league “locker rooms?” I’ve never been in one, but my guess is that it bares no resemblance to my experiences of Legion ball “locker rooms” of the 70s and 80s.
Zimmerman will be a FA next year. Why risk injury in an abbreviated year for a pittance.
Ross situation a bit different. As a pitcher however playing an abbreviated season carries injury risk, and he can plan to collect the full 1.5 million next year
IMO these are all business decisions, using health as an excuse
Pete, are you nuts? These are not “business decisions”
Joe Ross just lost a year of service time in arbitration. Who is his business advisor? Mickey Mouse? Cause That’s a horrible business decision.
Anyone who wants to sit out should, but purely as a business decision, this is a bad move for Zimmerman and Ross.
Here’s why. Zimmerman is already “old” and his production is way down. Teams are going to look at a 36 year old Zimmerman coming off 2 unproductive years and a 3rd year sitting out as a major risk. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him out of baseball after this year. Makes sense if he’s retiring anyway but as a business decision he’s leaving dollars on the table.
Ross is a bad pitcher barely hanging on as it is. Large periods of time without having a chance to prove yourself is historically not kind to those guys. I give him 50/50 he’s totally out of baseball next year.
Leake is still a halfway decent end of rotation guy and not terribly old. He’ll be fine, sitting or not.
Things are going to get really interesting when some high dollar stars on a playoff bound team decide to sit out.
I disagree with the premise that a guy like Leake is fine and Ross won’t be. Ross is 27 years old. He just made himself arbitration eligible for 2 more seasons instead of 1. That’s where the stupid decision came. Leake will get a job as well but it’s definitely going to come at a significantly reduced guarantee
Zim probably didn’t feel like taking any risks for 800K. Can’t say I blame him. He’s doing alright and got his WS championship.
Cowards. Wish I could make that choice. Oh wait I have a family to support.
Having more money than you need to support your family for years if not the rest of your life is cowardly? Your bravery sir makes nobody cowardly. Ross is being a man and making his own decisions. His consequences are his and his families alone. This isnt war. These guys arent laying down bunts for eachother anymore let alone there loved ones lives. If Ross can pitch he will pitch somewhere and make great money doing it. Who isnt signing him or trading low for him? The 25th guy on the worst team has an awesome job. Ross apparently understands this.
Of course, we all wish we had that choice, but that’s not the position we find ourselves in. How does making a personal choice make them cowards? Wouldn’t the coward be the person anonymously posting about them online? If you feel so strongly about it, attach your real name, address and phone number.
The entire of MLB should opt out of the 2020 season. Just a silly cash grab anyway.
There is nothing silly about a cash grab. If there was, the recent looting and rioting would be called silly. Instead, we’ve been told by the elites that the middle class deserves to have their businesses looted and burned to the ground.
Players like Mr.Z have so much cash, further pay becomes irrelevant. What good is the lifestyle if family and friends are not around to see it. He has also, just won a ring. This is the first of many who SHOULD opt out. It is merely a game for people’s amusement.
Complete agree about Z, wish him the best. But to call MLB “merely a game for people’s amusement” belittles MLB players greatly and fans some as well.
Do people not understand the sacrifice players make to get to the point in their careers to be MLB worthy?
Oh, heavens no. Nothing even close to that, man.
Furthest I got was JUCO (football & baseball).
However, my son is in High School & plays three sports. From what I can see locker room mores remain pretty much the same.
I played legion ball in the 80’s, as well.
Yeah. Same stuff.
New guy. Still figuring out ins & outs of this format.
This is supposed to be a reply to @smokin Joe C.
Suzuki, Cabrera, and Doolittle could be the next to take the season off. Like Zimm, all 3 are UFA’s after the season, all are 30-something vets who have surely amassed small fortunes by this point in their career. These guys probably make more in ANNUAL INVESTMENT INTEREST than they would by playing for a 2 month salary. Could not blame any of them for taking the season off, especially in lieu of health concerns.