| AP |
With players such as Stephen Strasburg, Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Zimmerman the Nationals are looking to build a solid core of players.
Zimmerman was drafted by the Nationals with the 4th overall pick back in 2005 out of the University of Virginia. He is one a recent list of players to reach the majors out of the Virginia Beach area from brothers BJ Upton (Tampa Bay Rays), Justin Upton (Arizona Diamondbacks) and David Wright (New York Mets).
This is the second player on the team with a $100 million contract as they signed outfielder Werth last off-season to a 7-year $126 million deal.
Since taking over as the starting third baseman in 2006 the 27-year-old Zimmerman has averaged 137 games a season. Last season he played in only 101 games after having had abdominal surgery during the season.
“He’s been the face of the franchise since day one,” shortstop Ian Desmond tells the Washington Post. “If anybody deserves it, he deserves it.”
Only eight players in baseball are guaranteed to make more than the All-Star this season going forward. His contract also makes him the second-highest paid third baseman in major league history, behind Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees.
Zimmerman hit .285 last season with 12 home runs, 49 rbi's, 52 runs scored, 114 hits and 21 doubles. He also has a Gold Glove and two Silver Slugger awards to his credit.
From The Sports Mind Of RB:
Zimmerman is a very good player and he is the face of the franchise at the moment. But they have two players on a team in Werth and Zimmerman who probably would not make as much money on the open market if they were free agents. The Nationals are setting this team up for the future with all the pitching talent they have and now they hope the bats can come alive and create havoc for opposing pitching staffs.
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