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Could Washington Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman reunite in 2022?

By Kevin Henry |
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 3: Ryan Zimmerman #11 of the Washington Nationals gives a curtain call before batting during the second inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on October 3, 2021 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 3: Ryan Zimmerman #11 of the Washington Nationals gives a curtain call before batting during the second inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on October 3, 2021 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Ryan Zimmerman confirmed in a radio interview on Wednesday morning that playing Major League Baseball in 2022 was “definitely” something he was planning to do. Does that mean a reunion with the Washington Nationals could happen?

What Ryan Zimmerman said about his future with playing baseball in 2022, possibly with the Washington Nationals

In an interview on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., the 37-year-old Zimmerman said there was no doubt in his mind he would be back in an MLB uniform in 2022. That may or may not be with the Washington Nationals, but, if he returns, it’s a very likely scenario as Washington is the only franchise where Zimmerman has ever played since he was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft.

“We’ll learn a lot more here over the next few weeks about the CBA and I haven’t even been keeping up but it seems like those negotiations are starting to get going pretty good,” Zimmerman said. “So we’ll see some more, but, yeah, I’m enjoying some time off. I’m enjoying that, but I still definitely am planning on playing. But we’ll see what happens so no decisions either way yet.”

Zimmerman played with the Nationals last season on a one-year, $1 million contract, posting a .243/.286/.471 slash line with an OPS+ of 104 in 273 plate appearances. Those numbers came after Zimmerman opted out of the 2020 season.

Part of Zimmerman’s goals for returning to baseball in 2022 might be to reach some of the milestones that could be within his grasp in the upcoming season. As pointed out here, Zimmerman needs 16 home runs to reach 300 for his career and needs just one game to reach 1,800 games played in what would be his 17th MLB season.

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Zimmerman has only played first base or designated hitter since the 2016 campaign, so his role on the team would be focused there when on the field, as well as serving as a veteran presence in the clubhouse. He saw action in 54 games last season at first base while Josh Bell played the position in 119 contests, so a similar split could be very possible should Zimmerman return.

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