If you were Mike Rizzo....(Zimmerman related)

[schlesinj]

given these facts:
Ryan Zimmerman's injuries
Zimmerman is the face of the Nats
Anthony Rendon
Contract expected cost
The need for a CF (Upton anyone)

Do you extend Zimmerman?

[joncarlos]

When is his contract up? Can I wait 3 months to make sure Strasburg's elbow is intact?

[willthethrill]

I don't unless he's giving me a good deal. He's signed through 2013, so they have all off-season to work something out if Zimm finally puts it all together.

[Gregg]

I would wait until mid season.

I do not like it when a player says they will not negotiate once the season starts. They do not negotiate their agents do. If he is playing well I offer him a mid season fat contract extension. If he says no I trade him. He is not the boss of me.

[Kevin Seitzer]

If I were Mike Rizzo, I'd do whatever Adam Cromie and Sam Cohen told me I should do.

[BigJonEmpire]

I don't see the rush. I wouldn't worry about it until 2013 at the soonest. I don't think Zimmerman is the 10 year/ 200 million type of player anyway.

[Bob Kohm]

I don't see the rush. I wouldn't worry about it until 2013 at the soonest. I don't think Zimmerman is the 10 year/ 200 million type of player anyway.

I agree with Jon... Zimmerman has been a tremendous crowd favorite here in DC-- a huge Fathead decal of him is on the wall in my kids' bedroom-- but his agent is tryign to leverage that now before he gets eclipsed by Strasburg & Harper to get an outsize deal done. Be amicable, tell Zimm that they agree that the middle of the season isn;t the right time to do this and agree to revisit after 2012 is over.

[Porcello]

Not for what he's likely asking for, I'd offer him a deal through 2014 or 2015 so he can still hit FA if he wishes at age 30 or 31. IIRC Rendon has the ability to move to 2B so there is room for both on the roster, but Zimm needs to earn the big deal he wants.

[onejayhawk]

Maybe Mike Rizzo needs Anthony Rizzo.

J

[joncarlos]

Not for what he's likely asking for, I'd offer him a deal through 2014 or 2015 so he can still hit FA if he wishes at age 30 or 31. IIRC Rendon has the ability to move to 2B so there is room for both on the roster, but Zimm needs to earn the big deal he wants.

I'm not at all convinced that Rendon can or should move to 2B. He's had injury issues (particularly ankle issues) and one hard slide could end his career. I'd rather see them stick Zim at 1B if they are insistent on keeping him around.

[joncarlos]

Or you could sign him to a 6 year extension. That's what buster olney is reporting the Nats did yesterday

[schlesinj]

I guess the Rendon SS experiment may be more real now.

[BigJonEmpire]

I think 6 years/100 mil is a fair deal for both sides, especially with 10 mi deferred as a personal services deal after his retirement. If he was a bit more reliable (health-wise) he could argue that he probably deserved more per year. But I think this is a good compromise. If I were Rizzo I would have capped the deal at five years but six years-plus is starting to be a typical contract length ( I have no idea why).

As for Rendon, I'd keep him at third until there is a reason to move him. Lots of folks seem to think that Morse is a lock to move to first base when Harper arrives for good, but Morse is also a very tradable ( I think I just made that word up) guy. I think the key is how Werth performs in center field.

[Porcello]

Good deal for both sides, Zimm would be gambling by not taking his big deal now because another injury plagued year or 2 and he'll never see the big pay day. This also assures all of his prime years are in Washington.

I'm sure the 1B-LF-3B issues will sort themselves out. If all of Morse, Harper, Zimm, and Rendon are healthy, productive, and ready but none are fits at other positions they have a trade piece. Chances are one of them will be hurt or ineffective though, they're just covered if that happens.

[Sour Masher]

I guess the Rendon SS experiment may be more real now.

Okay, but where does he realistically end up? Can anyone really see him playing SS? And Espinosa looks pretty good at 2b. Rendon's value is significant'y different, depending on what position he ends up at in the majors. Anyone want to rank the likely of him ending up at various positions? I know folks have mentioned trades, but who gets moved? Certainly not Zimmerman, so I imagine 3b is out. Espinosa, if he continues to perform, is a no as well, although I suppose they could move him to SS--he's at least played SS before and was supposed to be decent at it. That would free up 2b.