Nats, Zimmerman agree to 5-year, $45M extension

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ryan Zimmerman has a new $45 million, five-year contract, and the Washington Nationals finally have their "face of the franchise" signed for the long haul.

The deal runs through 2013 and replaces the one-year, $3,325,000 contract the third baseman agreed to in February, avoiding arbitration.

Zimmerman will still make that amount in 2009, plus a $500,000 signing bonus, and he can earn an additional $175,000 in bonuses based on plate appearances.

The contract calls for salaries of $6.25 million in 2010, $8.925 million in 2011, $12 million in 2012 and $14 million in 2013. There are no player or club options.

Zimmerman is a career .282 hitter with 60 homers and 268 RBIs, all with the Nationals.

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