Ryan Zimmerman rejoins Nationals on one-year deal

Ryan Zimmerman is rejoining the Washington Nationals on a one-year deal worth $1 million. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Two-time All-Star Ryan Zimmerman returning to Nationals on one-year deal

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 1/22/21

Ryan Zimmerman isn't ready to hang his bat and glove up just yet.

According to ESPN , the 36-year-old is re-signing with the Washington Nationals on a one-year deal worth $1 million. The first baseman has played only for the Nationals since entering the big leagues in 2005 but became one of the biggest names to opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns related to COVID-19.

Zimmerman is a two-time All-Star who won his first and only World Series ring as a member of the 2019 Nationals. On June 29, he offered his reasons for why he wanted to sit the pandemic-shortened season out:

pic.twitter.com/xlWn1V9sLP
— CAA Baseball (@CAA_Baseball) June 29, 2020

Zimmerman hit .257 with six home runs and 27 RBI in 171 regular-season at-bats during the 2019 campaign. He forfeited his prorated pay for 2020 by opting out but explained last June that he wasn't retiring.

As noted by ESPN, Zimmerman's exact role with the Nationals is up in the air because the club acquired fellow first baseman Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Christmas Eve. Zimmerman could come off the bench, and he could also serve as an additional bat if MLB adopts the universal designated hitter for the second consecutive year.

Last week, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that MLB and the MLB Players Association hadn't come to an agreement on the universal DH, but it's expected the National League will eventually embrace the DH sooner than later.

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