Zimmerman has seen changes, is ready for another

Ryan Zimmerman has heard the whispers about the Nationals dealing one of their key players who will reach free agency after the 2015 season. He's watched this season as first baseman Adam LaRoche, cast aside to accommodate the planned move of Zimmerman to first base, signed as a free agent with the White Sox. He understands baseball's economics and realizes the window for the Nationals to win might be closing. But there's no hint of panic, certainly no palpable sense of urgency, in Zimmerman's voice when he talks about his hopes for the 2015 campaign. "I don't know. Sense of urgency might be the wrong (words)," he said while meeting with the media at NatsFest on Saturday morning. "I think we were really urgent and really tried to win last year, too. We know it could be the last year we're all together realistically. And that's tough, but that's part of what you sign up for when you're playing baseball at this level. Very rarely do teams stay together as long as we have." Zimmerman has seen a lot since breaking in as a rookie in 2005, the year he was drafted out of Virginia with the fourth overall pick. He's seen the Nats morph from a laughingstock into a contender. And next season, he'll see a transition to a new position and hope to escape the injury bug that bit him hard last season. He says the severe hamstring strain that shelved him from late July to late September, and reduced him to a pinch-hitter for the playoffs, is healing well and that he expects to be ready for spring training in February. "Been working out for a few weeks now and just getting back in normal offseason stuff and excited to get going," he said. "Just rest and let it heal because we tried to rush back so fast. Gave it a month to really heal and just sort of relaxed and enjoyed some time off. It's a normal injury. I think it happens and as long as you give it time, it heals on its own." Dealing with injuries over the past couple of seasons has forced the 30-year-old Zimmerman to adapt - and realize he's not as young as he used to be. "The last two years, being injured a little bit and being older, you have to change, you have to adapt," he said. "I've done little things. I think you always have to continue to evolve, especially in this game. Young guys come in and new things come along and you have to learn to do that or you're going to get passed by. I'm always evolving. The last two, two and a half years have been rough, but it happens to everyone." The Nats' decision to sever ties with free agent LaRoche hastened one of the biggest changes: Zimmerman's move across the diamond to a new position, first base. "I'm just going to get ready to play baseball, and if that's where I play, I'm ready," Zimmerman said. "I think I know how nice it is to have a good first baseman. I've been lucky enough to play with a couple of really good first basemen and been on the other side of the field. It's comforting to know you have a guy over there that if you get it close, he can help you out a lot. That's what I'm going to work to be. ... But that's going to take a lot of work. Everyone thinks you put people over at first base and kind of hide them there. It's a tough position. A lot of things I need to learn, but I'm looking forward to the challenge." Tops on his list are learning the proper positioning for cutoffs and relays. "Other than that, it's catch the ball and throw the ball," Zimmerman said. "Being on the other side of the field, it'll take some getting used to the spin, the ball coming off the bat. But I'm pretty confident I'll be OK."