Nats’ Rizzo hoping to sign Zimmerman to extension

Although Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman doesn’t want to talk about a contract extension after Friday, it will not stop general manager Mike Rizzo from talking to Zimmerman’s agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, about a new deal.

“It won’t stop me from talking,” Rizzo said.

Van Wagenen was seen at the Nationals’ Spring Training complex on Wednesday talking to Rizzo. It’s not known how much progress has been made when it comes to Zimmerman’s contract. Zimmerman has two years left on his current deal.

Van Wagenen is expected to leave Viera, Fla., on Thursday night.

Asked Thursday morning if he was confident that he could get a deal done with Zimmerman, Rizzo said, “I don’t want to gauge my feelings on it. We are working extremely hard at it. … I’m hopeful. … [If we sign him to an extension], it would take something off our plate for the future. We have Ryan for two years. It would put a punctuation on Zim, at least, knowing that he would be with us for the long term.”