Looming free agency hasn't bothered Wilson Ramos one bit

It is a contract year for catcher Wilson Ramos, but that has not seemed to bother the six-year veteran.

The 28-year-old has been with the Nationals since a mid-season trade with the Twins in 2010.

For the last month, he has scorched the ball for the Nationals, hitting .340 with 33 hits, six of those home runs, and 22 RBIs. On the season, he is slashing .345/.395/.962.

Ramos is set to be a free agent in 2017, currently earning $5.35 million.

Shortstop Ian Desmond appeared to squeeze his bat a little tighter at times during his contract year last season. Some players think about it too much. Manager Dusty Baker said that has not been an issue for Ramos.

"Just the fact that he's not worried about free agency," Baker said. "We had a conversation in spring training, I told him just go out and play, don't worry about free agency, don't worry about the money because the money will come if you go and play.

"That's what has really impressed me the most. I haven't seen him put any pressure on himself about being a free agent. I've heard other guys in the past here put a bunch of pressure on themselves and then it ends up backfiring on them."

Baker said Ramos' place in the lineup is important. Recently, Baker has moved Ramos up to fifth in the lineup on Ryan Zimmerman's off-days to provide protection for Daniel Murphy, who has been red hot for most of the season. Murphy was moved to cleanup to protect Bryce Harper.

"Wilson on this team is one of the most stable people that I have and he's batted seventh because he's a foundation of our lineup," Baker said. "The fact that if I have to run for him in the course of the game, I won't tear up the center of my lineup.

"I batted seventh one year and I know how important it is to have somebody at the bottom of the lineup so that the opposition just doesn't have a free reign seven, eight and nine. And they start figuring OK I can relax on these innings, but you can't relax at all with Wilson down in the lineup."

Why hasn't the pressure gotten to Ramos? Because he is used to it. Try calling three no-hitters, plus Max Scherzer's 20-strikeout performance, in a span of 2 1/2 seasons. Baker explains why Ramos is good at so many high leverage situations happening at the same time.

"No. 1 it's production. No. 2 his demeanor appears to be the same," Baker said. "I've been through what most of these guys have already been through. I told him I hit 30 home runs in my option year with the Dodgers. Like they say, build it and they will come. If you play, the money will come. Don't put the money ahead of playing. You just play."

His teammates notice Ramos' consistent play day after day as well. Left fielder Jayson Werth arrived a half season after Ramos in 2011. He has seen the 6-foot-1, 257 lbs. "Buffalo" remain steady behind the plate, the most grueling of responsibilities each inning of every game.

"He's been given a lot of opportunity and the organization has backed him and he's been the guy," said Werth. "With opportunity, you get a lot of looks and a lot of chances and he's really coming into his own. But the power and the swing is the same. It's always been there and now he's just being consistent."

Baker knows when a player on his team like Ramos is bothering their opponent. When a player on his team is helping to win games and the opponent didn't account for it, they come around and inquire.

"There's people out there asking me about, oh man what you think about Wilson?" Baker asked rhetorically. "They are other teams. Don't be messing with my guy. I know what they're doing. This guy is coming to play and he's getting better."

The Nationals appreciate Ramos. The opponent respects him. Even in his free agent year, it appears the Buffalo won't be roaming away from Nats Park in 2017.