Washington Nationals plan to ‘aggressively pursue’ top free agent

Washington Nationals they have money to spend if they choose to do so.

Owner Mark Lerner appears ready to open his checkbook again. after this past campaign brought them one of the most promising seasons in recent memory, with a host of young stars looking like they could be a cornerstone of this squad for years to come.

Adding experienced players in positions of obvious need will go a long way in helping them get out of this rebuild.

The question is whether citizens will be willing to spend money when that time comes.

General manager Mike Rizzo is considering this option in conjunction with allowing this young roster to continue to develop, and if he doesn’t feel now is the right time to attack the free agency market, he may decide to wait another cycle before spending Lerner’s money . .

However, Washington appears to be targeting at least one available high-profile player.

According to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale“There are at least six teams that plan to aggressively pursue” first baseman Christian Walker, and the Nationals are one of them.

It would be huge.

The first base position has been discussed as an area they will be looking to upgrade this winter, and without a top prospect waiting in the wings to take over that role as he has elsewhere on the field, Walker’s landing would be huge.

Not only is he now playing the best baseball of his career, having had three straight seasons finishing with an OPS+ over 120 and over 25 home runs, but he also won his third straight Gold Glove, which will provide elite defense for this team. looking for.

But does it fit their time frame?

This is something Washington needs to understand as he is 33 years old and appears to be regressing a bit.

Perhaps they view Walker as a stopgap solution, using his legitimate Major League experience to help this roster in the short term while they wait for one of their young prospects to take over first base in the future.

Whatever the Nationals’ plans for the slugger, it looks like they’ll be aggressively pursuing him this winter.