Ryan Zimmerman wants to keep calling Washington home, but the Nationals will have to make it happen – The Post
3B Ryan Zimmerman wants to play his entire career with the Washington Nationals. I want Ryan Zimmerman to play his entire career with the Washington Nationals. Having been through full consecutive losing seasons, he wants the team to start winning. Having been through full consecutive losing seasons, I want the team to start winning. Zimmerman is going get a huge contract after 2013. I want it to be here, he wants it to be here.

So, on all the particulars, Zimmerman and me are in agreement. The challenge ahead is whether the Nats are going to continue improving. Last year, they won ten more games the previous year. A ten-game jump this year is probably too much to ask for, even with a rotation that looks to be healthier, particularly Jordan Zimmermann in his first post-Tommy John surgery year . Even innings-eater Jason Marquis in a contract year and coming off a disappointing, injury-filled 2010. The middle-infield has promise with Ian Desmond and slick fielding Danny Espinoza. Had Stephen Strasburg not needed Tommy John surgery late last summer, the 2011 prospects would be higher, but better for that to have happened when it did rather than later, if it had to happen. Bryce Harper may be an everyday player by summer 2012, so help should be on the way.

Last year, Fangraphs said Zimmerman is the best player to build a franchise around. Unfortunately, to date, the front office has not done so. The franchise has shown a willingness to spend what it takes to bring in the pieces to make the team a winner. Thus far, only one free agent, Jayson Werth, has been willing to accept the money.

This is a big season for the Nats and Zimmerman, but not as big as 2012 is going to be. If somehow, the Nats can get up in the vicinity of 80 wins, they would go a long way to securing Zimmerman for the prime of his career. Any regression in 2011 and all of the sudden, 2012 becomes a very tense year. Better to get winning by 2012 and get Zimmerman signed before his 2013 contract year. In the meantime, let’s just ignore the doomsday clock this year if we can — I don’t plan on bringing it up again.