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Washington Nationals And Jordan Zimmermann Agree To Terms For 2013, Avoid Arbitration

The Washington Nationals and right-hander Jordan Zimmermann were four days away from going to arbitration when the Nats announced tonight that they had agreed on a deal for 2013. The terms were not announced, but Zimmermann is the final arbitration-eligible Nat who hadn't signed a contract for the upcoming season.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Zimmermann was the only arbitration-eligible Washington National who hadn't agreed on a deal for the 2013 season before this afternoon. According to an announcement by the Nats tonight, (via @NationalsPR on Twitter), with just four days to go before heading to arbitration, the Nats and their '07 2nd Round pick have agreed on a deal for the 2013 season:

No details were immediately available. There has been talk this winter about potentially signing Zimmermann to a long-term extension, but the starter said earlier this week that a deal for the upcoming season was the first step to be completed. The 26-year-old, four-year veteran was coming off a +3.5 fWAR season for the Nationals in which he was (12-8) with a 2.94 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 43 walks (1.98 BB/9) and 153 Ks (7.04 K/9) in 32 games and 195.2 innings pitched.

Zimmermann and the Nationals submitted figures for the pitcher's 2013 salary several weeks back when the deadline to agree on a deal before having to submit their figures passed without an agreement.

Zimmermann, who avoided arbitration and signed a 1-year/$2.3M dollar deal last January after making $415,000 in 2011, submitted a figure of $5.8M and the Nationals submitted a figure of $4.6M. Had they failed to agree on a deal, the two sides were headed toward what is usually an uncomfortable arbitration hearing. The Auburndale, Wisconsin-born, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-educated pitcher told reporters, including the Washington Times' Amanda Comak, at NatsFest a few weeks back that though he and the Nationals continued to discuss an agreement, they were, "... kind of hung up right now."

"'We'll see what happens,'" Zimmermann said, "'but we definitely want to get this deal done and move on.'"

With his contract for 2013 now signed, the right-hander can move on and concentrate on helping the Nationals defend their NL East title in his fifth major league season.

• UPDATE - 6:55 pm EST:

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