Zimmerman speaks out against Astros, Nats sign Bonifacio

The Nationals beat the Astros in the 2019 World Series, and because that is true they will never have to look back at those nine days in late October with any sense of anger or feelings of "What if?" the way members of the 2017 and 2018 Dodgers will for the rest of their lives.

Dodgers players and executives have been careful with their public statements in the two weeks since Major League Baseball punished the Astros for electronically stealing signs during their 2017 championship run and since an investigation into the 2018 champion Red Sox has commenced.

Nationals players may feel more free to voice their opinion on the matter, which is exactly what Ryan Zimmerman did Tuesday when asked about the controversy.

"I think first and foremost, the integrity of our game and any professional game is the thing that matters the most," Zimmerman said during a conference call with reporters after his new contract with the Nats was announced. "Fans, people pay money to come watch us play. They watch us on TV. They enjoy the game that is created, whether it's baseball, football, basketball. Rules are put in place to guard the integrity of the game for people to enjoy it, and for just the fairness of play. I think any time that is compromised, people should pay the ultimate price."

Jeff Luhnow, A.J. Hinch, Alex Cora and Carlos Beltrán all have paid the ultimate price so far, with Luhnow and Hinch each suspended a year by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, then fired by Astros owner Jim Crane. Cora, who could still be suspended once Manfred completes his investigation of the 2018 Red Sox, already lost his job. And Beltrán, the only player named in the official report, was fired by the Mets before managing a single game.

The rest of the Astros' roster has emerged unscathed so far, with Manfred granting immunity to players in exchange for their truthful testimony. Others around baseball have begun to express frustration over the lack of punishment for the players. Zimmerman didn't quite go that far, but he certainly didn't give Houston's players a free pass for their role in the scandal.

"I think mostly that the players would respect the game enough to not partake in that stuff," he said. "And then moving up from there, the managers, the field staff, front office people would obviously stop it if they saw it. There's reports that it wasn't handled like that in Houston. I don't know enough about it to really comment on it, but all I can say is, obviously, I think it's completely wrong when you start messing with the integrity of the game in any aspect. It's the greatest sin that you can do."

* The Nationals might only have one or two roster spots up for grabs this spring, but they continue to bring in more veterans to compete for those precious jobs. The latest addition is Emilio Bonifacio, the well-traveled utility man who agreed to a minor league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to big league camp, according to a source familiar with the deal.

Bonifacio, 34, has played for eight organizations in the big leagues during his career, including 41 games with the Nationals in 2008. Acquired from the Diamondbacks for reliever Jon Rauch, he hit .241 for the Nats before being included in another trade that winter with the Marlins for left-hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham.

Primarily an infielder earlier in his career, Bonifacio has mostly played outfield in recent seasons, though he hasn't been in the major leagues since 2017, when he hit .132 in 38 games for the Braves. He spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons either at Triple-A for the Brewers and Rays or in independent ball.

Bonifacio will be one of several veterans trying to break camp with the Nationals as non-roster invitees, joining the likes of catcher Welington Castillo, outfielder Mac Williamson and relievers David Hernandez, Fernando Abad and Kevin Quackenbush. In all likelihood, there may be one available spot on the bench and one available spot in the bullpen.