On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman signed a 6-year, $100 million extension that ran through 2019 and included a $24 million club option for 2020. His extension also included a full no-trade clause, effective 2014. Zimmerman had previously set a deadline of the day before to sign an extension. With this contract, Zimmerman was set to earn $12 million in 2012; $84 million from 2013 to 2018 at $14 million annually; $18 million in 2019; and in 2020, either $18 million if the Nationals picked up his option or $2 million if they bought him out. After retirement, he would earn $10 million more over the course of five years while working for the club. If the Nationals were to trade him before his no-trade clause took effect, he would earn an additional $8 million. Zimmerman could make as little as $126 million or as much as $150 million over the full life of the contract.
