Nats, Zimmerman agree to deal, avoid arbitration

The three hearings matched the record low, set when owners had a 2-1 advantage in 2005. Owners hold a 280-207 margin in cases that have gone to hearings since arbitration began in 1974.

Zimmerman was taken by the Nationals with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft out of the University of Virginia and made his big league debut that September.

In 2006, his first full season, Zimmerman hit .287 with 20 homers and 110 RBI and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting to Florida's Hanley Ramirez. He has a career batting average of .282 with 58 homers and 258 RBI.

Asked what he expects from Zimmerman this season, Acta said: "Twenty-five-plus (homers) and 100 RBI, and hopefully more people other than me are watching him play at third base this year and he can get a Gold Glove."

Acta noted that Zimmerman has put in time working in the offseason with new Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein.

"He's making some adjustments that are going to make him better," Acta said. "He's eliminating a few of the extra body movements that he had before and this can only help him, because it's going to help him see the ball better, recognize pitches better and everything else will be better."

Notes

LHP Odalis Perez, Washington's opening day starter in 2008, hasn't arrived at camp even though he agreed to a contract that would pay him $850,000 if he makes the major league club. The mandatory reporting date is Sunday, after which players are subject to discipline. Kasten said he doesn't know what would happen if Perez does not report by then. "It's odd. It's a first for me. I don't know what's behind it," Kasten said. "I haven't talked to the player, and I haven't talked to the agent, so I don't know what the thinking is." ... RHP Jorge Sosa also hasn't reported; Acta said Sosa is still going through the process of getting a visa. ... Kasten considers it likely that the Nationals could bring in new players via trade before the season begins. "We have, frankly, surpluses in some areas, and that's something I haven't been able to say since I've been here," he said. "I would expect heavy trade talk between now and opening day."