Ryan Zimmerman is returning to the Washington Nationals on a one-year deal worth $1 million, according to Bob Nightendale of USA TODAY Sports. Zimmerman has spent his entire 15-year career with the Nationals.
The deal includes an additional $1 million in incentives, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports adds.
Zimmerman was the Nationals’ first draft pick after the team relocated from Montreal to Washington and became the Nationals in 2005. In his time with the club he became the face of the franchise.
He opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns of COVID-19 pandemic. However, Zimmerman did not want his career to end on such a note. Thus, he will return to the Nationals for year 16.
He last played in 2019, winning a World Series. That season he appeared in 52 games hitting six home runs while driving in 27 runs.
Zimmerman is expected to be a backup at first base behind Josh Bell, who the Nationals acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh last Christmas Eve.
During his first 10 seasons, Ryan Zimmerman primarily played at third base. But a series of shoulder injuries led him to transition to first base in 2015. Throughout his storied career, Zimmerman has hit .279/.343/.475 with 270 home runs and 1,015 runs batted in.
