The Washington Nationals have undergone a whiplash-y few years. Coming off years as a playoff-impotent, Bryce Harper-led contender, the Nationals turned in one of the most improbable World Series runs ever in 2019, led by none other than Harper’s replacement in then-20-year-old wunderkind Juan Soto.
Soto was actually the Robin on that title team to Anthony Rendon’s Batman. Rendon went 6-for-8 with a walk, three doubles, and three home runs in the 7th inning or later of elimination games during that postseason – a run that featured a record five come-from-behind wins in elimination games. Rendon’s heroics did not save him from Harper’s fate, however, as the homegrown star third basemen departed the capital to join the Angels as a free agent that very winter.
So it was just as the Nats shook off their persona as a playoff also-ran that they tumbled from contention and turned in back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2010-11. Rather than build off the success of their title run, manager Dave Martinez and company instead oversaw a thin roster struggling to stay healthy and keep pace, even in a disappointing NL East.
Their futility led to the departure of more franchise icons via the deadline trade of face-of-the-franchise Max Scherzer and MVP-candidate Trea Turner to the Dodgers. For the District viewership, count the loss of World Series closer Daniel Hudson, longtime stopper Sean Doolittle, and fan favorite Michael A. Taylor – not to mention the retirement of Game Seven hero Howie Kendrick – among the losses since 2019.
What’s left in Washington is a team so anonymous to the fanbase that more than 20 percent of the active roster was acquired at this year’s deadline. Soto’s supposed running mate, Victor Robles, played so poorly that he was demoted to Rochester and has yet to return. GM Mike Rizzo hopes that the acquisitions of righty Josiah Gray and catcher Keibert Ruiz (acquired from L.A. in the Scherzer/Turner deal) will jump start the next Nationals’ contender, but there are few sure things besides Soto, who now stands as the lone superstar on a once star-studded franchise.
And yet with all those good-byes ushering in a new era of Nats’ baseball, franchise icon Ryan Zimmerman remains. Their first-ever draft pick, Zimmerman was the third baseman before Rendon arrived, and he remains a part-time first baseman long after his departure. Playing time has been carefully curated for the 37-year-old, so much so that one has to wonder if Zimmerman will play his final game at Nats Park on Sunday.
Zimmerman is not a Hall of Famer, but he’s nonetheless put up one heck of a career in Washington. The North Carolina native went to school in Virginia, and he has appeared in every season in Nats history except for 2020 when he opted out. Zimmerman is the all-time team leader in most offensive categories, and even counting Expos history, Zimmerman is the franchise leader in games played, at bats, plate appearances, hits, runs scored, total bases, doubles, RBIs, and home runs (plus strikeouts and double plays grounded into). Yadier Molina of the Cardinals is the only player in the game who has been with his club longer than Zimmerman has been with the Nationals.
In terms of the numbers, Mr. National put up 40.0 rWAR over his 16 seasons while being 16 percentage points better than average by measure of wRC+. He played 1,797 games, slashed .277/.341/.475 with 1,845 career hits and 284 career home runs. Though he’s almost certainly held in higher regard locally than his accomplishments warrant, a history of injuries has also made him somewhat underrated on the national level.
The two-time All-Star has been productive as a part-time player this year, posting 1.1 rWAR in 267 plate appearances with a .243/.281/.470 triple slash, 14 home runs and 45 RBIs. He’s been particularly productive in his role starting games against southpaws, slashing .297/.324/.565 in those games. Though 2017 was the last time he had more than 500 plate appearances in a season, he’s preserved a role as a part-time player.
Zimmerman has enough bat to stay in this game for another year or two, but it would be somewhat surprising to see him return for yet another go-round in Washington. He’s long been adamant about playing nowhere but DC. If the Nats were heading towards a season of surefire contention in 2022, Zimmerman might be more inclined to keep his cleats on, but Rizzo has a lot of work to do to get the roster ready for another run. As of now, however, Zimmerman has yet to announce his intentions for next season.
If Zimmerman does indeed retire, it will be another blow to a DMV fanbase that has suffered its fair share of heartbreak. One of the most consistent franchises in the game during the 2010s, they’ll enter 2022 with more uncertainty than usual. Rizzo, Martinez, and Soto remain as the through-line tracing back to the organization’s heyday, with Stephen Strasburg looming as the other potential face-of-the-franchise, were he able to conquer his health demons and stay on the bump – but that’s more pipe-dream than expectation at this point.
As the ties to the 2019 World Series title come undone, Nats’ fans can enjoy Zimmerman for at least two more games this weekend. That said, a franchise that long provided stability has to build something new moving forward. Zimmerman’s presence is important not only to the fanbase, but as a symbol of the organization’s loyalty and continuity – which is becoming harder and harder to find. Without Zimmerman, the team will truly belong to Soto, and with three years of team control remaining, the franchise has exactly that long to convince him to take on the legacy left behind by Zimmerman as Mr. National.
joshb600
Halfway through a lengthy article before we find out who it’s even about
802Ghost
To be fair, there’s really only one person it could be. But, the picture helps as well.
padam
Stopped reading after the first paragraph. Saw Zimmerman and figured there was nothing there.
allweatherfan
If you know baseball, you figured out who it was about when you read the title of the article.
mj-2
I don’t know. Zimmerman hasn’t been relevant in awhile
Pretty easy to forget he’s even on the team. Wasn’t he a platoon player this year?
baseballpun
I figured it was about Parra.
baseballpun
This was a joke, btw.
Ted
Was it not obvious?
FredMcGriff for the HOF
I figured it was about Soto. He probably wants to go elsewhere after losing most his protection. All opponents do is intentionally walk him now. He will probably be the first player to sign a 400-500 million contract if he keeps his performance up. I don’t think the Nationals pay him that much. Also Boras is his agent….
DarkSide830
yeah, honestly didnt think the article was Zim from the headline given he’s well into the twilight of his carrer at this point.
believeitornot
That is what I was thinking. I guessed it was TC who wrote it and I’m right. Another problem with the article is that it fails to mention Victor Robles was actually more highly regarded than Juan Soto before they made their debuts. I remember looking at the low number of bases on balls Robles was getting and I thought this guy is going to be a limited player. He makes too many outs on the bases and now he can’t hit much more than .200. I don’t get how people who are supposed to be good talent evaluators got this wrong. So the team’s top prospec for probably two years is in Rochester and the guy behind him is starting to put up some huge numbers for what looks like a Hall of Fame career. Who screwed up here?
finchsta
To be fair he was regarded as the MLB top position player prospect in baseball in 2017, so more than one team or scout saw something in him. People forget he’s only 24, he has more than lived up to his defensive expectations and he’s got time left to figure out the offensive side of things.
yetipro
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
619bird
Wish he would DH a couple more seasons and attempt ay 2000 hits. No matter where it’s at.
aragon
i enjoyed reading the article very much.
timyanks
i’m sure tc is held in higher regard by his school yearbook than at mlbtr
advplee
Dumb comment. The article is full of compliments and stats showing Zimmerman has had a very nice career. Not a HOF but a fine career.
VDizzle
Finally, another diehard Tyler Clippard fan!
Cap & Crunch
ALL good things come to an end but I thought the Nats made a wise move picking up Ruiz and Gray this year.
They can make a run back at Tre 23 as well
Next year will be a rebuild year but I expect by 23 they get right back in the hunt. Strong organization that probably doesn’t get enough credit for the last decades work put forth
believeitornot
Don’t forget all the crappy managers that they have had the last ten years. There was Davey Johnson who brought Drew Storen in a game they were losing by eight runs. The only trouble is he would be needed the next two games and two days. What an incompetent Davey was . Matt Williams didn’t even know that Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon were going at it. Hiring Bud Black but offering him a one year deal only to offer a two year deal to your second choice Johnnie Baker. He is the one with the sub .500 record in October. Great move there, Mike. Then there is the seven year deal worth 245 million for a pitcher who has a very bad track record for being healthy enough to pitch. I don’t think it is a strong organization. Maybe for incompetence.
finchsta
I’m with you 100% on the straus contract, that should have been Rendon. Unfortunately rizzo will never value position players like he does his starting pitching.
Mr_KLC
If he is doing well as a bench player, I would keep Zimmerman around. His wisdom in the locker room can be valuable compared to a younger guy not getting needed at bats at the major league level.
Tom Emansk1
I can’t see Zimm playing anywhere else other than DC. He’s always maintained he wants to be a Nat for life and the ownership and front office there knows what he means to the franchise and the fans. I predict a 1 to 2 year deal to come back, and if not, maybe he’ll retire. But I think being Mr. National means more to him than another shot at a ring (a decision made easier because the Nats won in 2019). It will be an interesting minor storyline this offseason.
Rsox
Zimmerman had a good career. But he is past the point of being anything more than a complimentary piece. He could stick around and serve as a mentor to some of the younger players and if the NL adopts the DH he could get some regular AB’s but when he signed last winter he made it sound like this was going to be his last season
advplee
I hate that Stephen Strasburg has been injured and hope that he can come back strong as I love him as a player and never root for players to get hurt. However if that contract was to be an albatross, couldn’t happen to a more deserving team and their stupid fans!
baines03
What is rWAR?
dclivejazz
Probably fWar since f is below r on the keyboard.
kingbum
Nats in rebuild mode, they aren’t close at all I’d do Soto a favor and trade him. The prospect haul you can get for a guy like Soto would be amazing. I know Baltimore sucks at the major league level but they have one of the best farms in baseball. In 2 or 3 seasons Baltimore will be competing too in that stacked division. They could put together the prospect haul that a Soto trade would demand.
astros_fan_84
I completely agree. The haul would be absurd. I would look at the Mariners though. They have the top prospects and an open window.
The Mariners have the 2nd, 11th, 33rd, 34th, and 98th ranked Top 100 prospects. Soto is probably worth four of those guys.
Darryl Rose
Honestly I assume it would take more than that. Prospects are just that and many never materialized. Soto is a proven absolute stud.
Go back 5-10 years and look at the top 100. Look at 33rd, 98th etc and who make any impact?
Bright Side
The Orioles are also in rebuild mode.
Olddfrt.
Zimmerman is very similar to Tim Salmon and Kent Hrbek.. All were very good players, not major all stars, but won a World Series.
Bright Side
The Yankees should gut their farm system for Soto. Jasson, Wells, Volpe, Gil, and Florial, might get it done. The Nats have to deal him and I don’t see any other team except the Cardinals with better ammo.
adc6r
Boy, Zimm has been buried more times than a Zombie Woofs Bone [Zappa reference]