Washington Nationals linked to two-time All-Star in MLB free agency

Washington Nationals team heading into the offseason desperate for excitement? five consecutive missed postseasons after their World Series triumph in 2019.

As the team prepares to approach free agency, adding depth to the roster is likely Washington’s biggest need. National ratings No. 29 in the league hit just 135 in home runs, ahead only of a historically terrible record Chicago White Sox which had 133 of them.

Owners and decision makers must find a way to add a hitting bat to the clubhouse if the team wants to improve on back-to-back 71-win seasons.

Although, of course, everyone wants reunion with Juan Soto or pursuing some of the other high-priced sluggers on the open market, it just doesn’t seem all that realistic that a dream signing will come to fruition this winter. There are a lot of quality players out there, and some can probably be bought at a bargain price. Now that there is a fresh new batch of waived players ready to become free agents, Bennett Lehmann of District on Deck named Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson as a player Washington could potentially throw into a platoon.

“The next one will be platoon-only, but Joc Pederson can make a much-needed contribution to the Nationals in 2025 and beyond,” Lehmann wrote. “With 209 career homers and 23 last season, the power is easy to see and will certainly help provide some pop for a lineup that has been sorely lacking in that department.”

Lehmann noted that while Pederson no longer has the defensive ability to be an everyday outfielder, he could play in a platoon with Andres Chaparro at DH. Playing 132 games for Arizona in 2024, Pederson was strictly a designated hitter but finished the season with perhaps his best overall record of the year. his entire career and set career highs in both batting average and OPS.

Pederson isn’t exactly a player that will blow anyone’s minds, but he is a quality hitter who likely won’t cost a fortune and could help the Nationals with the power-hitting problem that has been plaguing the team for years.