The Nationals is bringing back the longstanding cornerstone Ryan Zimmerman on a $ 1 million one-year contract, reports USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (Twitter link) Zimmerman chose to leave the 2020 season, but said last month that he hoped to play again in 2021. Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post add that Zimmerman’s business is still pending physical examination and provides incentives to increase his 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 he was placed fourth in the 2005 draft. He was the franchise’s first choice after moving from Montreal, and Zimmerman certainly lived up to the selection. Zimmerman debuted in his draft year and has since built a .279 / .343 / .475 line with 270 home runs in 7129 plate appearances. The former third baseman (who is now first baseman) also has a couple of All-Star nods on his resume and was part of the only winning team in the National Series of the 2019 Nationals.
There is currently no way for daily attacks on “Mr. Nacional ”, given the acquisition of the team in December Josh Bell and the current lack of a designated universal hitter. Zimmerman, however, could certainly form a squad with the Bell switch, which has historically been much better on the left side of the plate. Bell is a .271 / .360 / .485 hitter as a southpaw, but only a .232 / .315 / .410 hitter on the right side of the plate. Zimmerman, for his part, defeated lefties throughout his 15-year career in the MLB: 0.311 / 0.390 / 0.527.
That said, many still hope that the MLB and MLBPA will agree to keep the designated hitter in the National League until Opening Day, which would obviously open up more strikes for Zimmerman, either as a DH himself or first baseman while defensive challenger Bell slides to DH’s place.