Ryan Zimmerman feels he has “two, three, four years left” in his career and he wants to spend them with the Nationals, the veteran first baseman tells MLB.com’s Bill Ladson as part of a lengthy Q&A piece, admitting that “It would be really weird to play anywhere else.” It seemed as if Zimmerman’s time as an effective everyday player was winding down after injury-shortened seasons in 2014-16, though he rebounded with a healthy and productive 2017 season. This year has been more of a mixed bag, as Zimmerman missed over two months with an oblique injury but has hit well (.267/.343/.506 in 286 PA) when he has been able to play.
Zimmerman, who turns 34 later this month, is owed $18MM next season, plus the Nats hold a $18MM club option on his services for 2020. He acknowledged that he won’t be making such superstar money in the future, saying “At some point, if you want to be here, you have to make some sacrifices. I’m not going sit here and say I’m willing to play for the league minimum, but for me to play here would be the ultimate goal, to finish my career here.”
Here’s more from around the NL East…
- Could the Phillies look to trade Carlos Santana this offseason? “There has been some recent rumble” about the possibility, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury, though the idea seems rather speculative in nature. Santana signed a three-year, $60MM deal to join the Phils just last winter, a signing that seemed surprising at the time since the club seemingly already had breakout rookie Rhys Hoskins established at first base. Hoskins was shifted to left field instead, leading to a disastrous result from a defensive standpoint (-25 Defensive Runs Saved, -15.4 UZR/150). Santana, meanwhile, has hit .233/.354/.429 with 23 homers over 616 PA — solid numbers, if less than the Phillies were expecting from the signing. A Santana trade would allow Hoskins to return to first base, while allowing the Phillies to upgrade defensively at the very least in left field, and possibly make an even bigger all-around addition given how the team is thought to be preparing for a splashy offseason. It’s worth noting that $25MM of Santana’s contract has already been paid out in salary and signing bonus, though even $35MM over the two remaining years could be a bit of a tough sell in trade talks, as Santana is limited to just first base (or DH) and he turns 34 in April.
- Long before Jacob deGrom became a Cy Young contender, he was an unheralded ninth-round draft choice for the Mets in 2010 who wasn’t even used as a starting pitcher until near the end of his final year at Stetson University. The Athletic’s Tim Britton (subscription required) has the story about how Mets scout Les Parker initially discovered deGrom, almost by accident as Parker happened to attend a scout day game at Stetson long enough to see deGrom enter as a reliever in the ninth inning. Other Mets evaluators agreed with deGrom’s potential, and while his profile rose after becoming a starter later in Stetson’s season, the Giants were the only other team known to have significant interest in drafting deGrom. The story is well worth a full read for a look at the scouting process and how you never know which prospect could emerge as a future star.
- There has been quite a bit of speculation about the future of the Braves’ third base spot, be it top prospect Austin Riley winning the job or the possibility that Atlanta could look to acquire a big-ticket name for the hot corner. Johan Camargo, however, has played well as the regular third baseman this season, and The Athletic’s David O’Brien (subscription required) wrote earlier this week that Camargo seems to be forcing himself into the Braves’ future plans. “He’s done a lot to (impress team officials),” manager Brian Snitker said. “As they go into the offseason and they’re looking, they might be able to take money they were going to spend (at third base) and spend it somewhere else.” Camargo has hit .274/.354/.468 with 18 homers over 474 PA this season, while also posting a +6.5 UZR/150 and +5 Defensive Runs Saved at the hot corner. This adds up to an under-the-radar 3.0 fWAR season for the 24-year-old, who is under team control through the 2023 season. The Braves could use Camargo in a super-utility role should Riley emerge as a viable big leaguer in Spring Training, or O’Brien even raises the possibility that Riley could become a trade chip if Camargo has done enough to win the everyday third base job going forward. It would be a bold move to deal a top-100 prospect like Riley, though Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos is no stranger to moving prospects for established Major League talent.
Zimmerman’s 2017 was not sketchy at all
So NOW people are noticing the negative ripple effect of the Carlos Santana signing? Philly got cute thinking Hoskins could perform in LF and then overpaid for Santana for no reason. Now you want a team to take that salary?
Santana for Ellsbury. There. Done.
I know, I know. Santana has a nice WAR and a nice OPS. That’s wonderful. All those walks translates to nothing when a triple isn’t a 100% guarantee he’ll score from first base. That was a joke.
Santana is one of many examples of how Geek Squad squanders cash and standings results on an analytical hunch.
His WAR isn’t even that good at 1.3… He is Kendrys Morales
Justin Smoak is twice the player making half… Ellsbury is not a bad comp.
Time for the Phils to get a new GM and manager.
Really? They sniffed the playoffs after years of mediocrity and you want to fire everybody?
As a Yankees fan, I approve your Santana Ellsbury trade proposal
His WAR isn’t good and his ops is only a little above average…
cracking up at the idea that santana’s signing has had a “negative ripple effect.” the guy is an OBP machine whose overall numbers are skewed after having an incredibly unlucky april. he’s been a clutch hitter, decent defensive at 1B, and really took maikel franco under his wing, leading to franco finally living up to his potential this year when healthy.
have you watched santana play? he’s not speedy but he’s a smart baserunner. good presence on a young team. even if he’s traded, he was what the phillies needed this year as they grew.
the thing i’ll agree with you on is that Hoskins needs to be back at 1B. the article is wrong, santana came up as a catcher, and has also played 3B multiple times this year. he’d be an improvement for a number of contenders at 1B including yankees, red sox, astros (until tyler white emerged), rockies. is a fit for any number of teams, especially if the phillies swallow some more of that money, which i’m sure they would.
I would say trade Rhys Hoskins for anything you can get and keep Santana. Rhys is the one that underperformed, he is obviously a bust. But then again, I’m a Braves fan so I might be a tiny bit biased…
Trading defense for offense needs works.
No team is taking on Santana and 35mil over 2 years.
…well…maybe the rangers or angels since they love overpaying aging players long past their primes.
Yessss, I questioned this signing by the Phillies in the first place, especially with Hoskins being better, and homegrown at that.
Wonder if Phils offered 3/60 to Cain.. Cain got 5/80 but would have been a much better fit and those last 2 years on Cains deal will not be pretty for Mil.
Leg injuries have a way of finding mid-30s CF. Milwaukee loves Cain now but will want him out of town within two years.
Anyone see that thing about DeGrom having one HR in college, send it was off Chris Sale? good times
Send Santana back to the Indians once Donaldson leaves.
Since when do Santana’s numbers qualify as “solid numbers”??
108+ OPS seems “solid.”
Not great but “solid.”
Buy a dictionary…..
“Santana, meanwhile, has hit .233/.354/.429 with 23 homers over 616 PA — solid numbers, if less than the Phillies were expecting from the signing. ” :
100 is league average, 108 is not solid.
Quit being an internet wannabe tough guy.
I’d argue that solid is the perfect word for a slightly above average slash line. Better take your own advice man
“100 is league average, 108 is not solid.”
Going by your standards, the only “solid” major league hitters would be Trout, Betts, Altuve, Lindor, and Jose Ramirez then. ROFL
I always find it hilarious when you make someone else’s point, but you’re the only one that doesn’t realize it.
Yeah no one is taking Santana’s contract from the Phillies lol 1B/DH players are the easiest need to fill and his numbers are not good at all.
True story. They made a movie a few years ago about you could actually just teach Chris Pratt to play first base if you needed to.
Braves should dump swanson and slide Camargo to SS and see what Riley can give them in 2019
Swanson is now probably one of the 5 best defensive shortstops in the game. He has saved multiple games this season. He is not a good hitter but is not horrible either. He is an asset and he is still relatively young. If Riley pans out Camargo could get plenty of playing time occasionally subbing for Riley, Swanson, Albies and perhaps left field (Acuna playing RF.) At other times he would give the Braves an awesome bat off of the bench, something they desperately need.
Yea, Camargo could probably match Swansons defence. Swanson for Steckenrider
I agree that Johan Camargo is extremely valuable and at this point deserves to be in the lineup on a consistent basis. I do not see the Braves dealing Dansby Swanson at all and certainly not for a marginal relief pitcher like Steckenrider. Lineup flexibility is so important in today’s game. I can see Camargo and Charlie Culberson offering some pretty good options for the Braves moving forward in that area. With Camargo playing third and shortstop already and Culberson playing third, short and the outfield, maybe Camargo could learn the outfield as well. Austin Riley will get a shot at third in Atlanta. With Camargo being more of a proven commodity, he will get his at bats. Swanson has hit much better this year, is a plus defender and is a glue guy for the Braves. He is going nowhere. With rumors that Nolan Arenado may be available this winter, you may see someone like Riley packaged in a deal for him. As we learned this year, you don’t want to deal depth.
just stop. Swanson is the SS of the future. He has more value there than Camargo.
Just stop.
Swanson is going to be better next year, he won’t win a batting or HR title, but should be better than average offensively and premier defensively. One of the things that makes Camargo so valuable is his ability to play multiple positions. If you stick him permanently in one, he loses that. Whatever little value you get by trading Swanson, pales in comparison to having Camargo in your infield mix in case of injuries or any other uncertainty.
Nope
The Phillies have been using Santana at 3rd base here and there, and he’s been serviceable. So he can more than just play 1st base or DH. Here’s hoping the Phils can find a taker for him so that they can move Hoskins and his -25 Defensive Runs Saved back to 1st base where he’s much more comfortable..
I was going to point that out. Santana has been the starting 3rd baseman for the last week.
The Phils could easily eat half of his remaining contract to move him. I could see a potential trade to the Yankees for a RP.
Riley, Allard, Jackson & Ynoa for Realmuto & lotto prospect
Resign Markakis & Brach
Non-tender Vizzy
Sign Kimbrell
Off season over
That isn’t enough for JTR, and we aren’t resigning Kakes as good as he was early he has been just average since the break, 95 WRC+. I you are trading go after the ace starting pitcher or go get a LF. I say sign Grandal to pair with Flowers, and either make a deal for a guy like Jose Berrios, or ask what it takes to get Madbum and go for it. The Giants kind of need a reboot, and he is in the last year of his deal. That is my two moves, I also go sign Trevor Rosenthall to a 2 year deal now and see if he will take it
You sign Markakis because he will be good enough and you can sign him short term until Waters or Pache is ready
Kimbrell will want to come home
If that is not enough for JTR than tell me what is because we have the prospects to get it done prospects who are close to being blocked
A Markakis & Duvall combo I think would be fine with Albies/Acuna/Carmargo/Swanson taking steps forward & A Inciarte rebound would be enough offensively
You can’t put a price on Markakis leadership ask Adam Jones with how upset he was when the O’s let him walk He shows the youngsters how to be professional
how many years are you giving Markakis? I’m sure he will be asking for 5, not sure if anyone will give him that, specially a NL team. Add Soroka or Wright (maybe both) to that package before the fish even contemplate trading Realmuto. Kimbrel is not coming back to ATL at a discount. All these moves you are proposing will make the Braves a better team, for 2 years, then we’ll be stuck with bad contracts and a depleted minors system again.
Asking for 5 years?!! That’s absurd. 3 is already on the high side of plausibility, 4 would have GMs laughing, 5 would have them hanging up the phone.
I love JT Realmuto but that deal might be too sweet. I think you could get Realmuto for Riley, Allard, and Ynoa. I also think there are some star-caliber third basemen available this winter. Wouldn’t it be great IF Atlanta could land Realmuto, sign a relief pitcher like Craig Kimbrell, and end up with a heavy bat at third like Nolan Arenado?
How about Santana + 9 M for Jay Bruce? The Mets get a true first baseman while trading away an excess corner outfielder. The Phillies get more than 9 M worth of value just by moving Hoskins back to 1B.
I would do that as a mets fan. Not bad.
I still remember when DeGrom was called up at the same time as Rafael Montero and Montero was supposedly the big prospect. DeGrom was just supposed to go to the bullpen. My, how times have changed!