Ryan Zimmerman Signs Extension: Should Nationals Move Anthony Rendon Yet?

With the Washington Nationals and All-Star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman agreeing on a new six-year, $100 million extension that keeps him with the team through the 2019 season, according to CBS's Jon Heyman, GM Mike Rizzo now has a big decision to make. What should he do with third-base prospect Anthony Rendon?

Rendon is currently ranked the second-best prospect in Washington's minor-league system, behind Bryce Harper, and the 17th-best prospect in baseball, according to ESPN's Keith Law. The 21-year-old prospect was taken sixth by the Nationals in the 2011 MLB Draft, coming out of Rice University. 

In 63 games with Rice last season, Rendon hit .327/.520/.523 with six home runs, 38 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

The problem is, now that Zimmerman is locked up for at least the next eight seasons, where does Rendon fit in? It's clear that he won't overtake Zimmerman as long as he continues to play third, but there are a couple of options.

The most logical plan is to keep playing Rendon at third base through the minors and wait to see how Zimmerman holds up over the next few years. Unless Rendon rises through the system quickly, he probably won't be in Washington until 2014. By then, Zimmerman could be moved to first base, and Rendon could then take over third. 

Another option is to move Rendon to either second base or shortstop. Rendon's ankle injuries while in college could prevent a move like this, but it's still a possibility. The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore reported about a week ago that the Nationals will have Rendon try out at all three positions during this spring training.

There is a lot of speculation over Rendon—who has yet to even play in a spring-training game, never mind a major-league game—but he is expected to be one of the key pieces in the future of the Washington Nationals. What position he'll be playing when he makes the major-league roster is yet to be determined.