Ryan Zimmerman

MONDAY, 5:56pm: Harlan has details on Zimmerman's new contract.  He says one of the final hold-ups was Zimmerman's insistence that there be no club options.  It seems that this deal has been done for a few weeks now.

SUNDAY, 9:26pm: Chico Harlan weighs in with an update. It is indeed a five-year, $45MM extension for Zimmerman, as previously speculated. This contract overrides the one-year, $3.325MM deal that Zimmerman and the Nats agreed on prior to the season. Zimmerman had a refreshing take on the negotiation process:

"It just gets to the point where you think, 'How much [money] do you really need? How much do you need, and do you really want to be here?' I think that's the most important thing…The whole point of being a free agent and having a negotiating power is to play where you want to want to play. And I don't really need to go into that. I'm happy here."

8:43pm: MLB.com's Bill Ladson writes that the Nationals have agreed on an extension with Ryan Zimmerman. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but an official announcement could come tomorrow.

Previously we'd heard that Zimmerman didn't want to negotiate mid-season, but clearly things have changed. Last week, there was speculation that his extension would be five years, $45MM, and would take effect during the 2009 season.

3:10pm: Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says the Nationals are closing in on a five-year, $45MM extension with Zimmerman.  The deal would begin with 2009, erasing his current contract.  By comparison, Markakis will earn $47MM over the same service time slice of his career.

2:35pm: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Nationals are closing in on an extension with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.  The talks are getting serious, with Zimmerman aiming for a deal similar to Nick Markakis' six-year, $66.1MM deal.  Rosenthal says a Zimmerman extension "likely would cover his remaining arbitration years and at least two years of free agency."  Markakis' deal bought out all three arbitration years and three free agent years with a mutual option for a fourth.

Looking at Zimmerman's accomplishments, is he worth a big-money extension?  Or are the Nationals locking him up because he's their best young player?

MONDAY: Extension talks for Zimmerman are indeed on hold until after the season, according to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post.  Zimmerman does not seem concerned, noting that "it's come a long way" and expressing relief to have entered the arbitration system.

SATURDAY: According to the Associated Press, via the Miami Herald, Ryan Zimmerman wants long-term contract negotiations to cease once the regular season starts.  The Nationals have been working toward a multi-year extension with their 23-year-old third baseman since spring training began.

Zimmerman tells The Associated Press on Saturday that if there isn't something in place by Monday's first game, he wants a break in negotiations. He says the last thing he needs is to be worrying about something other than trying to help the Nationals win.

According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Nationals president (and acting GM) Stan Kasten met with Ryan Zimmerman’s agent Brodie Van Wagenen today to discuss a contract extension.  They’ll continue to talk with the goal of a deal before Opening Day.

Zimmerman will be paid $3.325MM for 2009, his first arbitration year.  The 24 year-old third baseman is under team control through 2011.