If I were Zim's agent, I'd be telling him he's looking at $25MM over the next 2 years, with the last year liekely being someplace other than DC. That's $18MM, a $2MM buyout, and a $5MM free agent contract somewhere in 2020. Facing that, I'd try to get the Nats to agree to $30MM for 2019-2021, maybe with an option for 2022 and a buyout. Lower his AAV to help the team, and get to stay in DC. It bites him if he has a year like 2017 next year, but otherwise, he gets decent money and stays in town.
Zimmerman is 34. Does he honestly care about another year in 2021?
Two starting pitchers
Two relievers
Second baseman
Catcher
Backup first baseman
I don't see how you fill out all that with the money the Nats have. Trades are going to have to happen.
