Fansided

Nationals’ Jordan Zimmermann issues goodbye to fans a bit early

By Kyle Franzoni

Sep 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) watches in the dugout before he pitches in the sixth inning of their game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) watches in the dugout before he pitches in the sixth inning of their game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Did Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann jump the gun by issuing a farewell thank you to fans before hitting free agency?

Taking out a full page ad or writing a heartfelt soliloquy to fans is nothing new. Superstars have been doing it for years after changing teams in the search for the bigger paycheck.

It just doesn’t typically happen before a player signs elsewhere…or officially hit free agency for that matter.

Such was the case for Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. Despite not being able to file for free agency until the day after the final pitch of the World Series, Zimmermann left no one wondering about his intentions to return to the nation’s capital in 2016.

Through his agent Mark Pieper, Zimmermann issued the following statement thanking his fans in Washington:

The 29-year-old just finished his final season of a two-year, $24 million deal he signed with the Nationals in 2014 and is expected to be one of the more sought-after arms on the free agent market after going 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA, a 3.75 FIP, and a 7.3 K/9 ratio over 201.2 innings.

While those numbers may seem pedestrian compared to the combined 33-14 with a 2.96 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and a 7.5 K/9 mark he put up from 2013-2014, it was still enough to rank Zimmermann as the 4th best arm on the free agent market this winter. In a market that included David Price, Johnny Cueto, and potentially Zack Greinke, that’s a fairly impressive spot to occupy. Considering how Cueto faltered down the stretch and the concern over his elbow, and the fact that Greinke may not opt out of his deal with the Dodgers, Zimmermann is positioned well for a big pay day.

With that in mind, his time in Washington was likely sealed when the team opted to sign Max Scherzer last winter. That limited the available funds for a long-term extension for Zimmermann and resigned him to the fact that 2015 was his last season with the Nationals.

(h/t For The Win)

Next: The MLB All-Time 25-Man Roster

More from MLB Free Agency

Home/MLB Free Agency