There was some thought during the offseason that Jordan Zimmermann would end up pitching for the Red Sox, not against them when the Washington Nationals arrived at Fenway Park this week.

The 28-year-old right-hander is one of just five pitchers to throw at least 700 innings with an ERA of 3.00 or better since he became a full-time starter in 2011. And because Zimmermann is a free agent at the end of the season and is reportedly unwilling to talk about a contract extension with the Nationals, who are already loaded with starting pitching depth in Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister and Tanner Roark, the idea of trading him made sense.

The Red Sox, a team built with an offense so deep that there are legitimate major league outfielders (Rusney Castillo, Jackie Bradley Jr.) playing in Triple A, looked like the perfect trade partner.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said yesterday that he had many discussions with Sox GM Ben Cherington, and while “sometimes it looks like a reasonable matchup on paper, it just doesn’t work out.”

The offers the Nationals received for Zimmermann were respectable, but never good enough for Rizzo to pull the trigger.

“I don’t think we laughed away any of them,” Rizzo said. “We took them all serious. We were fortunate to be in a position where we didn’t have to move the player and if we would’ve got the right deal we would’ve. The right deal is in the eye of the beholder and we felt like we needed to get legitimate value for who Zimmermann was, and not the fact that he has one year left of control.

“But there were no foolish trade discussions or anything like that. Our feel was, it had to fit what we were trying to do. Boston’s feel was, it had to fit what they were trying to do, and sometimes they match up and sometimes they don’t.”

Rizzo said he had interest in a lot of Red Sox position players.

“I have ultimate respect for Ben and the group he has here,” he said. “They’ve done a hell of a job here. They’re very capable.”

Feel-good day

Sandy Leon spent most of spring training with the Nationals, but was traded to the Red Sox following the news that catcher Christian Vazquez would be out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The Sox figured Leon would help defensively. Leon said he’d also give them a few tips on how to beat the Nationals.

Against his old club, Leon was 3-for-4 with an RBI during the Red Sox’ 9-4 win.

“It was amazing,” Leon said. “I feel amazing. Fenway Park — they gave me the opportunity to play today and have treated me really well. I’m going to do whatever I can to help them.”

Leon is expected to play just a couple times per week while Ryan Hanigan gets most of the starts, but the Sox have been impressed with Leon so far.

“He’s done a good job,” manager John Farrell said.

Painful AB

Hanley Ramirez fouled a ball off his right foot and received a visit from the training staff. The left fielder finished the at-bat but was lifted for pinch-runner Daniel Nava after a walk. A postgame scan revealed only a bruise, according to Farrell.

“I foul-tipped it,” Ramirez said. “Just fouled it on top of my toes. Everything’s good.”

Ramirez is expected to play tonight. . . .

Brandon Workman, originally optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, had his option reversed when the Red Sox placed him on the major league 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain. He’s getting a second opinion and the team is hopeful rest and rehab will be enough.