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Zim’s Mandate: Bring in Veteran Leadership

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

There was a time when Ryan Zimmerman didn’t say much as a player in public. Sure, he would do the interviews when asked, and often he towed the company line with niceties, baseball clichés and jargon. That is how you stay out of trouble by saying the right words. He is still an employee of the Washington Nationals so he has never spoken outside of the lines in public. But in this new Paul Toboni era where you can speak your mind more than years past — Zimmerman opened up yesterday on his 11th Inning Podcast.

For a few years, Nats fans have wanted that big 6-or-7 year deal for a big free agent to be this team’s Jayson Werth. On his podcast, Zimmerman tempered his thoughts to getting a veteran team leader on a 2-to-4 year deal, and Zim said, “I’m not saying to go crazy to get the top of the list [free agent] — that would be cool too.”

When you scour the top-10 free agent predictions, you see everyone is at least five years or greater for predicted contract terms. In the Kyle Tucker for 11 years, Alex Bregman for six years, and Kyle Schwarber for five years. Then you have two names that stand-out, Pete Alonso for four years and J.T. Realmuto for two years — and they both fit into Zim’s 2-to-4 year window — and both would fill a position of need as identified by Toboni.

While getting any of these top players would be a long-shot, Zim is right that now is the time to take your shot. Even the lowly Pirates are rumored to be shopping in the Schwarber aisle. Saying and doing as we know are two different things. Former Orioles owner Peter Angelos was always dropping names. Giving your fans some hope feels great this time of year. Being disappointed when the Hot Stove goes cold is a terrible feeling.

Let’s hope Zim’s thinking becomes a reality for the Washington Nationals.

Time for an update to How to Spend $50-$60M and Improve the Team | TalkNats.com. The goal is to follow-through on Ryan Zimmerman‘s comment (the above snippet) about veteran leadership. The budget should be at least $30 million. Let’s be a little more conservative in numbers than we were last time. If you are T-Bone and have been given $30 million to creatively spend in 2026 salary with the provision that once that it committed you can make a case and come back to ownership for more money to go over the budget.

Steve M.: As I said in the tweet, I go for J.T. Realmuto.

Don: Well you beat me to it. He would have been my first target as well. MLBTR has him at 2 years and $30M. I sweeten that by adding a third year at $10M with a player option.

Andrew: Smart Don. Two years won’t get it done. That sweetener is exactly how you get a deal like that done.

Steve: What Don did by adding that 3rd year for J.T. Realmuto is that he brought the AAV down from $15 million to $13.33 million. That gives me $17 million to spend after adding Realmuto, and I go for pitcher Zack Littell as my No. 2 starting pitcher who they have at 2 years and $10M per year. That gives me $7 million remaining. I non-tender Jake Irvin to save $3.3 million, and I non-tender Riley Adams to save his $1.5 million. With that money, I sign Pete Fairbanks as a top reliever. MLBTR has him at 2 years and $9M per year. I just spent $13.33M + $10M + $9M = $32.33 – $4.8 = $27.5 million. I still have $2.5 million to spend. But I also won’t pay Luis Garcia Jr. his projected $7M as an arb player. I offer him $5.2 million to save another $1.8 million. That gets me to $4.3 million. I get another reliever in Emilio Pagan for 2 years at $8M per year. So I spent $33.7 million in total and ask Lerner for that additional $3.7 million.

Andrew: I like what you did there. Who plays second base and first base in your scenario, and I assume that MacKenzie Gore remains in the rotation until he is traded?

Steve: Garcia at 1st base, Nasim Nunez at shortstop, and CJ Abrams at 2nd base. Yes, Gore remains in my rotation until he is traded.

Andrew: Thanks, if I piggyback on yours and Don’s thinking with Realmuto at $13.3M. Here’s my plan:

That puts me at $36 million and I ask ownership for that extra $6 million. I’ve met Toboni’s goal of beefing up 1st base, catcher, and pitching.

Don: Some great ideas. I would be fine with either Zack Littell or Lucas Giolito. But I need to throw this wildcard in: Cody Ponce. MLBTR has him @ 2/$22M. He is #39 in their top 50 after spending the last four years in Asia.

“Ponce, 32 next April, logged 180 2/3 innings with a 1.89 ERA out of the Hanwha rotation in 2025. He fanned an incredible 36.2% of his opponents against just a 5.9% walk rate. The huge 6’6″, 255-pound righty piled up 252 strikeouts overall — shattering the previous record of 225. (The KBO plays a 144-game season, as compared to MLB’s 162-game slate, it should be noted.) He also set the KBO’s single-game strikeout record when he set down 18 batters on strikes versus the SSG Landers back in May.

Ponce sat 93.2 mph with his four-seamer during his MLB days, but he’s added velocity and now sits around 95-96, occasionally climbing as high as 98 mph. He pairs the improved heater with a cutter, changeup and curveball, the latter two of which both miss bats at an above-average level.”

— 2025-26 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions – MLB Trade Rumors

I have to admit I am torn about what to do at 1B. Was thinking maybe Ryan O’Hearn, but not sure we need another lefty bat. Not at all interested in either Rhys Hoskins or Pete Alonso. Need someone at 1B who is, at a minimum, a decent defender. So I either go with Garcia at 1B; or trade him for anything I can get and sign Josh Bell for 2/$14M. So Garcia/Bell becomes a wash at $7M. That also means I put Nasim Nunez at SS and CJ Abrams at 2B.

Because of my Bell/Garcia linkage, I still have $5.7M left in additional spending. I DFA Riley Adams that gives me another $1.5M. I use that to get Gregory Soto for 2/$16. Per MLBTR, Soto “… is a pitcher who feels like he’s a tweak or two from being dominant but has never quite gotten there” and I challenge Simon Mathews and Sean Doolittle to figure out those tweaks.

And I keep Jake Irvin and challenge Mathews/Doolittle to fix him while also offering him 2.5M instead of 3.3M which is still more than three times his 2025 salary

So my total is an even $30M: 13.3 (Realmuto) + 11 (Ponce) + 8 (Soto) -1.5 (Adams) – .8 (Irvin) for a total of $30 million.

Steve M.: Don, well done for coming in at exactly $30 million. Mathews and Doolittle working their magic might be the answer for Irvin, and like you said you can save some money by offering him less on his 2026 salary.

Bringing in players with Tampa, Reds, and Red Sox roots allows the Nats to have some inside on some of these players given the backgrounds of coaches and front office personnel.

I am curious to see what other people think.

Don: I am hoping that coming in right at $30M buys me some brownie points so I can go back to the Lerners and ask for $30M for Alex Bregman if he is still on the market in mid/late January.

And I am also curious about what others think.

Steve: I personally think Toboni will get more than $30 million, and I like how you think. Zim is right, get this team that dynamic leader.

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