Nats, Zimmerman agree to deal, avoid arbitration

VIERA, Fla. -- Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and the Washington Nationals agreed to a $3,325,000, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

Zimmerman was the last player in the major leagues scheduled for an arbitration hearing. His was to take place Friday in Phoenix, which is why he missed Washington's first full-squad workout of spring training Thursday.

He was the last Nationals player without a contract in place for the coming season.

"He's the face of this franchise, so it's totally different when he's here with us," manager Manny Acta said. "We can't wait to get him here."

Zimmerman planned to be at the team's camp Saturday and speak to reporters then.

He and the Nationals met at the midpoint of their arbitration figures: Zimmerman had submitted $3.9 million, while the Nationals had countered with $2.75 million.

The agreement includes performance bonuses of $75,000 for 500 plate appearances, and $50,000 each for 550 and 600 plate appearances.

"We've continued to talk about a multiyear (contract). We were talking about it yesterday; we're going to keep talking about it tomorrow," Nationals president Stan Kasten said. "That would be an end result both sides would like to see. We're just not there yet. We're going to keep talking about it. If we can do it, we'll do it."

This was the first time Zimmerman was eligible for arbitration. He made $465,000 last season, when he batted .283 with 14 homers and 51 RBI while limited to 428 at-bats because of a left shoulder injury.

"He means an awful lot. He's had a terrific start to his career. A couple bumps here and there, but a terrific start," Kasten said. "We have high hopes for him having a big-time career."

Overall, players went 2-1 against clubs in cases that went before an arbitrator. Florida second baseman Dan Uggla ($5.35 million) and Washington right-hander Shawn Hill ($775,000) received their figures, while Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro ($2.1 million) was awarded the club's proposal.

Players finished with a winning record for the first time since 1996, when they were 7-3.

"It's a very small sample," Kasten said. "I don't think there are any conclusions to be drawn from that."