The deal keeps the fourth overall pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in Washington through 2013. Zimmerman was scheduled to become a free agent after the 2011 season.

Neither party wanted things to get that far, however. The Nats couldn’t afford to have a homegrown talent fly the coop. Meanwhile, another rough season could have cost Zimmerman millions. A shoulder injury forced him to miss two months of 2008 and his numbers at the plate dropped for the second straight year.

There are always risks. Zimmerman, 24, is a solid player. But he is not yet a star, falling off the pace of his first full season in 2006 when he produced 110 RBIs and 20 homers.

And while considered an elite fielder at third base, Zimmerman does have a flaw there. He has struggled with his footwork and the vast majority of his errors are on throws to first base. Zimmerman finished with 23 errors in 2007 and has three in the first 11 games of 2009.

“Both sides were left to look at not only who Ryan is now, but also who he can be over the course of the years forward,” said Zimmerman’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen. “None of us have a crystal ball, but this contract reflects the Nationals’ belief in Ryan.”

Zimmerman has now firmly attached himself to a rebuilding organization. The Nats have a promising crop of young pitchers and the No. 1 pick in June’s draft. But there are still question marks, from the organization’s minor-league batters to its younger major leaguers, Elijah Dukes, Jesus Flores and even Lastings Milledge — sent down to Triple-A Syracuse last week.

 

But in the end, Washington was where Zimmerman, a Virginia Beach native, wanted to be. He has put his faith in the Lerner Family and team president Stan Kasten as has any fan over the next five years.

“I really don’t think we’re that far away,” Zimmerman said. “I don’t think if I didn’t have the trust in them that I would’ve done this deal.”