TODAY: The Nats officially announced Zimmerman’s return. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that Zimmerman’s contract contains a full no-trade clause.
JANUARY 22: The Nationals are bringing back longtime cornerstone Ryan Zimmerman on a one-year deal worth $1MM, reports USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (Twitter link). Zimmerman opted out of the 2020 season but said last month that he hoped to play again in 2021. The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga adds that Zimmerman’s deal is still pending a physical and carries incentives to boost his that affordable base salary. Zimmerman is a client of CAA Sports.
Zimmerman, who turned 36 in September, has been a member of the Nats organization since they took him fourth overall in the 2005 draft. He was the first pick the franchise made after relocating from Montreal, and Zimmerman has certainly lived up to the selection. Zimmerman debuted in his draft year and has since put together a .279/.343/.475 line with 270 home runs in 7129 plate appearances. The former third baseman (who’s now a first baseman) also has a pair of All-Star nods on his resume and was part of the Nationals’ only World Series-winning team in 2019.
At present, there’s no path to everyday at-bats for “Mr. National,” given the team’s December acquisition of Josh Bell and the current lack of a universal designated hitter. Zimmerman, though, could certainly form a platoon with the switch-hitting Bell, who has historically been much better from the left side of the dish. Bell is a career .271/.360/.485 hitter as a lefty but just a .232/.315/.410 batter from the right side of the dish. Zimmerman, meanwhile, has clobbered lefties throughout his 15-year MLB career: .311/.390/.527.
That said, many still expect that MLB and the MLBPA will agree to keep the designated hitter in the National League between now and Opening Day, which would obviously open up more at-bats for Zimmerman, be it as a DH himself or at first base while the defensively challenged Bell slides into the DH spot.
DarkSide830
the more things change…
Cap & Crunch
*Time is a flat circle
riffraff
so is the earth
RobM
Don’t be silly. The earth is a flat triangle.
AHH-Rox
The Earth can’t be a flat surface. If it was, cats would have already pushed everything over the edge.
ftasports
Can’t find him to ask.
twinsfan368
Get after it… forever a nat
despicable_you
BANG ZOOM GOES ZIMMERMAN
mlbnyyfan
It was just a matter of time
Armaments216
Nothing against Zimmerman but I was hoping they’d add depth at 3B. Now they’re relying on Kieboom (or Josh Harrison out of position). Unless Zim’s been working on reestablishing his throwing arm, that is.
Wadz
They still can’t add another IF why?
It was obvious Zim would be back. He’s mashed LHP. Bell is weak against them.
Armaments216
They’re a lot more limited this year with a 26 man roster. Bench is now Harrison, Stephenson, Zim, catcher, and probably Garcia so they have a backup at SS.
Wadz
Kieboom and Garcia are starting in the minors… They have more than enough space to add another 2B/3B and there are plenty of solid options available.
Armaments216
True. If they want to commit so sending Kieboom down (or if they’re working on a trade) then they can still sign someone for 3B. But they’d still need to carry Garcia to back up SS. They won’t keep Kieboom up in the majors if he’s not starting.
balkmove69
Whose the backup SS?
Natsman1
Armaments21616, Castro is another option at 3B this season, and may end up being the best one if they dont sign a FA for that position.
Mrtwotone
It would be wrong to see him somewhere else! For 1m you can’t go wrong. He is Mr. National
YankeesBleacherCreature
No way he gets DFA’d if it comes to that. He’ll go down with some phantom injury and perpetual rehab. Expect to see him in the dugout for the year.
Mrtwotone
I didn’t say he would get DFA’d. I expect him to be on the team all season buddy!
YankeesBleacherCreature
Grrr… Was meant for the comment below.
Mrtwotone
Oh ok makes sense. Have a good night!
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Yeah he took that title from Bryce Harper
Marty McRae
DFA’d by June with a nice paycheck, the good ol boys club continues.
pinstripes17
Zero chance he gets DFA’d. None whatsoever.
Tom1968
Its January…they are still deciding if theres going to be a d.h. or not?? THESE officials are dumber than a.oc.
tedtheodorelogan
No, that is just flat out impossible.
retire21
Actually it is, and he just relocated to Florida.
Natsman1
Actually it’s not.
Ryan Z will not be DFA’d in 2021.
Nice comedy though.
davemlaw
It’s a Thank You contract and not a bank buster. But that’s all it is.
Rsox
I imagine this will be Zimmerman’s “farewell tour”. Between subbing for Bell against lefties, at the very least being able to DH in interleague games, and pinch hitting it will be very possible for Zimmerman to get around 250 PA’s this season
RobM
Maybe. Probably depends on how he adapts to this role. If he produces, there could be another year or two.
Natsman1
Wrong.
Not a thank you contract.
More like a “Get ready to play 1B against LH pitching and thank you for playing the level of defense Bell cant play” contract.
flyingblindsquirrel
Even as a Met fan, I admire how he and the Nats have found a way throughout his career to keep him in 1 uniform. I wish more players would do this, especially toward the end of their career. Once you’ve made your $ in your prime, don’t make the fans who’ve supported you your entire career watch you play for another team. I’m talking to you Yadi and Waino.
YankeesBleacherCreature
It’s an anomaly these days. You have to be drafted by a team who continuously values you as part of their brand and be good. I really thought Ichiro was going to stay a Mariners but the M’s had other plans.
jbigz12
Ichiro also decided to play until he was 44 years old. Zim is only 35. Seattle kept Ichiro through his age 38 season. I suspect if Zim tries to play for another 5 years that the Nats would eventually wave goodbye too.
Gumbo
.966 OPS vs LHP in 2019 (the last season he played). Justin Turner .914. Same age too.
Its a great signing. Bell and Zimm are going to form one of the best 1b in MLB.
adc6r
I wouldn’t have minded seeing Justin work the third bag for a year. But don’t sleep on Kieboom! A lot of rookies take two months ust to get going. Yeah he os still rough around the edges but he has Lots of upside too
8
George Zimmerman is the best at what he does.
Mrtwotone
Can’t flim flam the zim zam!
DodgerOK
Probably a farewell tour.
8
George has improved the last 2 years so who honestly knows.
bobtillman
It’s a good thing. He should finish it up in DC. For the price, another good move by the Nats. And, BTW, he can still hit.
adc6r
Welcome back Ryan!
Those of us in the C’ville crew are looking forward to you doing some mashing! Hope the family is doing well too…
Papabueno
Hey D!
Papabueno
As it should be. Zimmerman gets to finish his playing career in a Nats uniform. Farewell tour.
adc6r
Good to read you Papa, it’s been a while.
About a year ago I noted [as I had already assumed] that Zimm said in an interview he would not sign with any other franchise.
With the length of his career to date and all the ups and downs, this speaks to something rare in professional sports. A mutual respect mirrored by the player and the front office. This is no accident.
Zimmerman being a tidewater raised child [southeast corner of Virginia], he was as excited as most of us when the Nats came to DC. Then to be drafted by the brand spanking new hometown team made fortuitous match from the start.
Much of the rest comes down to the character pf the man in question. You never heard Ryan complain about money, playing time other player performance e (accept to say we have to do better a couple of points in his early career. It make the guy real easy to like.
Yankee Clipper
Nice to see ONE organization values long-tenured productive players. Like this move for him, for the fans, and for them. Good job Rizzo and crew!
Jeff Zanghi
Good for him and the Nationals. It’s nice to see a guy who’s so respected and given so much to the team and city get rewarded by being able to go out (or more accurately not go out) on their own terms by being able to continue to play for the only team he’s ever played for!
Natsman1
RZ probably starts at 1B against opposing LH pitching. His signing gives pause to the bedwetters in the Josh Bell thread who were screaming about Bell playing 1B full time with his defensive deficiencies.
Roll
Curious does the No Trade clause matter since he is a 10-5 veteran or does that not count with new contracts?
racosun
Is a full no-trade clause necessary with Zim having 10/5 rights, or do you lose those rights on one-year contracts, thus requiring a no-trade be added?
AngelsAdvocate
why? He’s such a bad player.
AngelsAdvocate
Eric Thames is the Nationals’ best player, but they sign Zimmerman?
Natsman1
Eric Thames is the best Nats player?! What ?!?! You must be joking. Andrew Stephenson is the Nats’ best player BY FAR. Shhh, don’t let the secret out.
adc6r
So let’s put this subthread to bed for good….
Proposition:
Zimmerman’s contract is a team thank you victory/Farewell tour contract.
Ryan’s direct response to that proposition:
““Me coming back this year was in no means for like a victory lap sort of thing,” Zimmerman said. “