July 2012 - Washington Nationals Wiretap

Anthony Rendon has turned heads this spring in camp with the Nationals, but there is one small problem. Rendon is a third baseman and Washington just signed Ryan Zimmerman to a contract that could reach $150 million in value. The Nationals drafted Rendon with the sixth overall pick out of Rice last year. "They had to lock him down," Rendon said of Zimmerman. "He's done great for this organization. He's a great player. Why wouldn't you want to lock him down?" For now, Rendon will alternate between third base, shortstop and second base during spring training. Rendon feels comfortable at both second base, where he played last year at Rice upon returning from a shoulder injury, and shortstop, where he played through high school.

The Nationals have lost top pitching prospect Sammy Solis for the season because an elbow injury. Solis, 23, split last season between Class A teams in Hagerstown and Potomac. He felt pain during the Arizona Fall League, but there were conflicting opinions on whether he needed Tommy John surgery. The pain returned during a throwing session last Friday and he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week.

The Nationals signed Ryan Zimmerman to a six-year, $100 million contract extension on Sunday with a $24 million option for the 2020 season, but he still isn't the highest-paid member of the team. That distinction belongs to Jayson Werth, who signed a contract last offseason that pays him an average of $18 million over the next six seasons. Zimmerman will average $16.7 million over the life of his deal.

The Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman have agreed to a six-year, $100 million contract extension, according to sources. The third baseman also received a full no-trade clause in the deal. Zimmerman will earn an average of $16.7 million over the course of his contract, second only to the $27.5 million Alex Rodriguez earns in New York among third baseman. His current contract was set to expire after the 2013 season and he had set a deadline of this weekend to complete a deal. Zimmerman, who is due to earn $26 million over the next two seasons of his current contract, could potentially earn $150 million if a seventh-year option for 2020 is picked up, the sources said.

Ryan Zimmerman still doesn't have a contract extension with the Nationals despite his self-imposed Saturday deadline. The third baseman isn't preoccupied by the talks because he is signed through the 2013 season. "If it happens, I'm thrilled," Zimmerman said. "If not, I've got two years left here still. I'm excited for this year. We've got a great team. We've got a chance to do something special, something we've done with this organization. I think all of us are kind of ready to get to work and get going. "It's not like this is the last year. It's not make-or-break. Getting this done would obviously make them not have to worry about it this year or next year or next offseason. It gives us a core group of guys in place for a long time. They could forget about me and start taking care of the younger guys that are going to need to be taken care of."

Ryan Zimmerman wants to finish his career with the Nationals, but his self-imposed deadline for a contract extension is looming. The third baseman has two years left on his contract. The Washington Post is reporting that one of the biggest hurdles in talks is whether or not to give Zimmerman a full no-trade clause, something the team doesn't have a history of doing under their current management.

The agent for Ryan Zimmerman visited the Nationals at Spring Training this week as the third baseman's deadline for a contract extension looms. Zimmerman has said that he wants to sign a contract that will keep him in Washington for the remainder of his career. However, he has also been adamant about his desire to table talks by the start of Spring Training to avoid any distractions. The sides have had no recent talks or developments. Zimmerman has said that he will test free agency if he doesn't have a contract extension in place by the beginning of the 2013 season.

Stephen Strasburg will be limited to 150-160 innings this season, but the Nationals won't skip his turn in the rotation. Nationals teammate Jordan Zimmermann threw 161 1/3 innings last year following elbow-ligament replacement surgery and hopes to reach 200 this season. "There's not going to be a whole lot of tinkering going on," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "We're going to run him out there until his innings are done. ... He's a young pitcher that's still learning how to pitch in the big leagues. I think it's unfair to get him ramped up in spring training and start the season on a regular rotation and then shut him down or skip him. We're just going to make him comfortable."

Stephen Strasburg has reported to Spring Training this year without the restrictions he had in 2011 when he was still recovering from Tommy John surgery. He didn't appear in a Major League game until September of last season. "That's how I want to be [with the Nationals]. I don't want the special treatment," Strasburg said. "When they tell me to go out there and pitch, I'm going to pitch and give it everything I have. When they say I'm done, I'm going to be done. That's the bottom line. I don't expect anything. Everybody knows here that they have to go out and earn it." After returning from his elbow injury last September, Strasburg allowed four earned runs in 25 innings. In his final start of the season, the right-hander was dominating against the Marlins, throwing six shutout innings. "My mind is a lot clearer. I just go out there and throw the baseball," Strasburg said. "I don't think -- as much -- about mechanics or anything. I don't feel myself holding back a little bit. ... I think it was more on the mental side. Not necessarily bracing for it -- but just that little thing in the back of your head when you are throwing a pitch. It's like, is everything right? Now, there are no second thoughts at all in my head. It feels more natural now than it did coming right off surgery."

Mike Cameron has decided to retire after 17 seasons, an All-Star appearance and three Gold Gloves. The outfielder, 39, signed a minor league contract with the Nationals in December and was expected to have a good shot to make the roster.