Washington Nationals News: Ryan Zimmerman begins rehab assignment

Jul 5, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) singles against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) singles against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Today’s District Daily features an update on injured first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and a case for why the Washington Nationals should pursue Aroldis Chapman.

Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below

In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson gives us an update on injured Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. As Ladson writes, Zimmerman began a rehab assignment with Class-A Potomac tonight. According to Ladson, manager Dusty Baker wants Zimmerman to play three games and then rejoin the big league club on Tuesday.

Zimmerman, 31, has been on the disabled list since July 8 with a strained left rib cage.

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Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell discusses why he believes the Nationals should go “all-in” for Yankees left-hander Aroldis Chapman before the August 1 trade-deadline.

The Nationals are looking to bolster their ‘pen for a World Series run this fall, specifically the back-end of the bullpen. Two great options are Chapman and fellow Yankee Andrew Miller, but either would likely demand a hefty return.

It remains to be seen how much the Nationals are willing to give up to achieve their main trade-deadline goal, but we should find out in the next couple of weeks.

Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.

Zimmerman beginning rehab assignment

(Bill Ladson, MLB.com)

WASHINGTON — Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac on Thursday night. Manager Dusty Baker would like to see Zimmerman play three games and then rejoin the Major League team in time to play the Indians starting Tuesday.

Zimmerman has been on the disabled list since July 8 because of a strained left rib cage. He had problems with the rib cage during his third at-bat against the Brewers on July 6, a game in which he went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Read full article here.

Next: Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Suffers First Defeat In Loss To Dodgers

As trade deadline nears, Nationals should go all-in for Aroldis Chapman

(Thomas Boswell, Washington Post)

The subject in Dusty Baker’s office Thursday afternoon was left-handed Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman and his performance earlier in the week against the Orioles.

“Aroldis is built like a No. 2 guard in the NBA. He’s just a stud,” said Baker, now the Nationals manager, who managed the 6-foot-4 Chapman for four years in Cincinnati and had a close relationship with him.

In that Orioles outing, Chapman logged pitches clocked at 103 mph, 104, 104, 104, 105 and the fastest at 105.1, the fastest pitch ever recorded since Statcast began keeping such figures. Read full article here.