Nationals rumors: Kurt Suzuki hopes to remain in Washington

While he hasn't begun extension talks, Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki told reporters, including Bill Ladson of MLB.com, that he would love to remain with the club beyond this season.

Washington acquired Suzuki from the Oakland Athletics in August in exchange for minor leaguer David Freitas. He's entering the final guaranteed year of his current contract, as the agreement includes an $8.5 million team option for 2014, with a $650k buyout.

Suzuki hasn't approached the Nationals about a contract extension, as he's focused on preparing himself for the upcoming season. He loves the organization and his teammates, and he believes the team will be successful for many years to come.

However, it remains to be determined whether the Nationals will have interest in Suzuki beyond this season, specifically at that cost, with Wilson Ramos waiting in the wings. Washington could elect to part ways with Suzuki, or decline his option and re-sign him at a lower rate.

Suzuki was once considered one of the game's best catching prospects, and he proved a valuable backstop during his time with the A's. But he got off to the worst start of his career in 2012, hitting only .218/.250/.286 over 278 plate appearances.

After arriving in the nation's capital, Suzuki hit a much more respectable .267/.321/.404 with five doubles and five home runs over 164 plate appearances. The 29-year-old owns a career batting line of .255/.311/.379 over six seasons in the majors.