Washington Nationals: Joe Ross, Ryan Zimmerman opt out of 2020

Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross of the Washington Nationals join D-Backs pitcher Mike Leake in opting out of 2020.

If and when the 2020 MLB season kicks off, the defending champion Washington Nationals will be without three major contributors to the team’s 2019 championship campaign.

The first, Anthony Rendon walked away from the team in favor of the Los Angeles Angels in free agency to the tune of a 7-year, $245M deal. The other two players, Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross, on the other hand, have chosen to opt-out of the 2020 MLB season because of the ongoing global pandemic.

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In Ross, the Nats lose a 5-year veteran of the team who was set to make around $500K this season. More than that, however, they lose the game 5 starter of the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros.

In Zimmerman, the team loses the clear-cut captain of the team. A first-round pick and homegrown 15-year veteran of the team.

Prior to the 2020 MLB season, Zimm signed a 1-year deal worth $2M to return to the team. At 35 years of age, presumably, this might have been his final MLB season as a player.

At the same time, however, Zimmerman did release a statement saying, “I am not retiring at this time,” but at the age of 35 and on the decline, I can’t see a scenario in which he get a legitimate offer next season

Now, in choosing to walk away from the game, the last memory Washington Nationals fans will possibly have of Zim will be leading off at the top of the 9th of game 7 of the World Series. After taking strike one from Astros pitcher Joe Smith, Zim promptly followed up by lining the second pitch of the at-bat to center field for a single.

Earlier today, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake became the first known player to opt-out of the 2020 season. We will continue to keep you posted as more players are announced throughout the coming days, prior to the start of Summer Camp.