Ryan Zimmerman and the World Series champion Washington Nationals finalized a $2 million, one-year contract on Wednesday. The 35-year-old first baseman has spent his entire 15-year big league career with the Nationals. Terms of the deal include Zimmerman being able to earn $3 million in performance bonuses, and can earn $1.5 million based on games: $250,000 each for 65, 80, 95, 110, 125 and 140. He also can get $1.5 million for plate appearances: $250,000 apiece for 250, 300, 350, 500, 450 and 500. Zimmerman also gets a full no-trade provision.
Zimmerman had become a free agent last fall after the Nationals declined an $18 million option, choosing to pay a $2 million buyout. Despite injuries which limited the first baseman to 52 games and a .257 average with six homers and 27 RBIs last year, Zimmerman was a key contributor in the postseason. He homered in Game 4 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Pedro Báez and in the World Series opener off Houston’s Gerrit Cole.
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