Nationals, 3B Zimmerman agree to new contract

[April 21, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ryan Zimmerman finally has a multiyear deal, and the Washington Nationals finally have their "face of the franchise" signed for the long haul.

The Nationals will hold a news conference Monday to announce the third baseman's new contract.

The deal reportedly is worth $45 million over five years. It replaces the one-year, $3.3 million contract Zimmerman agreed to in February, avoiding arbitration.

Zimmerman was a first-round draft pick out of the University of Virginia in 2005. He was the runner-up for 2006 NL Rookie of the Year.

His contract is a bit of good news for a struggling team. The Nationals are a majors-worst 1-10 heading into Monday's game against Atlanta after leading baseball with 102 losses last season.

[Associated Press]

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