Ryan Zimmerman told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he is open to a “creative” long-term contract extension with the Nationals.
Zimmerman told Kilgore that he would be open to structuring a potential deal in a way that would free up money in the Nationals? budget to build a competitive team around him. “Both sides are willing to try and be creative and work some stuff out,” said Zimmerman. “I have two years left here for sure. I would like to make that however many years I have left playing. We?ll see where it goes.” The 27-year-old is due to make $12 million in 2012 and $14 million in 2013 before hitting free agency. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported earlier this week that Zimmerman has told the team exactly what it would take to sign him to a long-term deal. Now that Prince Fielder is with the Tigers, the Nationals should have enough room in their budget to bridge the gap.
Source: washingtonpost.com