Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Talk Ryan Zimmerman, Tsuyoshi Wada, C.J. Wilson, GM Meetings.

• D.C. GM Mike Rizzo talked to reporters Tuesday about the possibility of getting Ryan Zimmerman's extension done in light of the recent reports that LA Dodgers' center fielder Matt Kemp reportedly just agreed to an 8-year/$160M dollar deal. Will Zimmerman be a Nat for life? Somehow the Florida Marlins are the talk of the GM Meetings, though many are still wondering if all of their offers (to Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols, Mark Buerhle, etc.) are for real? The Nats have talked to several agents about free agent pitchers and expressed interest in some international free agents not named Yu Darvish or Yoennis Cespedes. The Nationals' prospects in the AFL are just about done. Wilson Ramos (a week after his kidnapping ordeal) is preparing to start his Winter League season. Here's what folks covering the Nats are writing about...

• THE BIG STORY: 

• "Rizzo and Zimmerman’s camp share a strong relationship, and the sides have had informal dialogue about Zimmerman’s next deal." - "Dodgers’ deal with Matt Kemp is latest reminder that Nationals have yet to extend Ryan Zimmerman’s contract" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• NATS BEAT: 

• "Sure, the Nationals have some interest themselves in Wilson, but he's not as perfect a fit for this team's needs right now as Oswalt or Buehrle." - "C.J. to N.Y. would be OK for D.C." - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Just to call him ‘Rafael Martin, right-handed pitching prospect for the Washington Nationals,’ is to open a door that Martin himself closed years ago." - "Nationals' Martin dares to dream again" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Less than a week after he was abducted in front of his home in Valencia, Venezuela, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos returned to the field Tuesday..." - "Wilson Ramos returns to action in Venezuela" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "[Wilson] Ramos remains in Venezuela, where he still intends to participate in the Venezuelan winter league as originally planned." -  "General managers discuss player safety in Venezuela at meetings" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "When a pitcher is taught his whole career to throw strikes, how difficult is it to throw a pitch out of  the zone sometimes when you have been programmed to always throw strikes?" - "Pitcher's perspective: The art of throwing a ball" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "'It’s important to us,' Rizzo said. 'We’ve already begun preliminary discussions with [Zimmerman's] people. He’s an important piece for us, a guy that we would like to have here long-term.'" - "Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayon Kershaw may not get long-term deal anytime soon" - Ken Rosenthal & Jon Morosi -FOX Sports on MSN

• "The Nationals have been keeping free agent-to-be Yoennis Cespedes on their radar, but Cespedes is not the only Cuban defector they have their sights on." - "Nationals interested in Cuban defector Jorge Soler" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Going green at Nationals Park" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "The Nationals will have to decide which of their Rule 5 eligible players they will protect before Thursday night's deadline." - "Ramos practices, Nationals prepare to protect Rule 5 eligibles" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Rizzo also said the Nationals "have interest" in Tsuyoshi Wada, a Japanese left-hander expected to become available via the posting system..." - "Nationals kicking tires on Mark Buehrle, Tsuyoshi Wada — but not closers" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• Hey, That's Derek Norris!!: "Nationals prospect Derek Norris talks about the honor of being chosen for the Rising Stars game and his hitting approach" - Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | Nationals prospect Norris on AFL Rising Stars game - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "We tend to forget that despite the superficial differences between us, people are equal in their basic wish for peace and happiness." 

• NATS MINOR LEAGUE/AFL/WINTER LEAGUE UPDATES: 

• South Atlantic League Jobs: Intern with the Hagerstown Suns?

• AFL Updates: Derek Norris - 0 for 4, 2 K's; Bryce Harper - 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB; Zach Walters - 1 for 4, 1 K; Matt Purke - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K's - AFL Gameday

• "AFL Update: November 16, 2011" - NationalsProspects.com

• Liga Mexicana del Pacifico: Aguilas de Mexicali - 6, Venados de Mazatlan 5 - Patrick McCoy - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR - Box Score

• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Lara 3, Magallanes 2 - Jesus Flores - 1 for 4 - VWL Box.

• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Gigantes 4, Escogido 1 - Eury Perez 0 for 4, 2 K's - DWL Box

• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Licey 10, Toros 9 - Chris Marrero - 1 for 1, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 RBI; Atahualpa Severino - 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K - Box Score.

• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico: - Caguas 2, Ponce 0 - Joe Testa - 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB - Box Score

• NATSTOWN: 

• "And so Wilson Ramos is back working out with the Aragua Tigres." - "Video: Wilson Ramos de regreso a los Tigres" - Nats Enquirer

• "Drew Storen - Age 24 - MLB Service 1+ year. How he became a Nat: Drafted in the 1st round of the 2009 Draft (10th Overall) - Compensation for not signing Aaron Crow." - "A Few Good Men: 27 - Storen" - Capitol Baseball

• "Like, OMG It is Albert Pujols And Bryce Harper Together…" - DangerNat, Nationals Inquisition

• "In today's installment of the Worst Moments in the 2011 Washington Nationals season, we recall July 15th when the Nationals lost 11-1 to the Braves for their 10,000th win as a franchise." - "Worst Moments of 2011- #3: Nats Lose 11-1, Braves Win 10,000th" - Ted Youngling, The Nats Blog

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Mets: @MLB on Twitter: Mets unveil 50th anniversary logo for 2012 ... pic.twitter.com/NDhFFUzX

• Braves: "The Braves are already blessed with having the best catcher in baseball, Brian McCann, who will only be 28 years old next season, so catcher isn't a real spot of need for the team." - "Atlanta Braves 2012 Top Three Catching Prospects" - cbwilk, Talking Chop

• Phillies: "Ruben Amaro constructed what can best be described as superteams, but the Phillies have exited the post-season with a whimper at the hands of the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals..." - "Is the Phillies’ Offense A Concern?" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley

• Marlins: "[Larry] Beinfest spoke enthusiastically about the Marlins’ new spending power, saying he usually entered the general managers’ meetings looking to shed financial obligations." - "Marlins Are In Unusual Spotlight at General Managers’ Meetings" - Andrew Keh, NYTimes.com