After another disappointing end to their season, the Washington Nationals are left searching for answers. Despite their bevy of talent, they haven’t been able to get out of the first round, and now have a very big offseason ahead of them. With catcher Wilson Ramos hitting free agency, the Nationals have to decide whether to keep him or let him walk after he tore his ACL in late September. This decision will be crucial to their future.
If they keep him, they’re going to be without him for some time; if they opt to sign a replacement, they’ll have that player on the books for years to come. However, if they choose to stand pat and ride out veteran Jose Lobaton and young catcher Pedro Severino, the Nationals could spend big bucks elsewhere. By not replacing Ramos, the Nationals could pursue the lethal Edwin Encarnacion.
The Nationals Must Pursue Edwin Encarnacion
Ryan Zimmerman Would Have to be Traded
The Nationals would first have to deal away first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman has three, and potentially four, years left on his multi-year extension, which he signed with Washington back in 2012. Zimmerman’s production has tailed off since. His inability to remain healthy and produce at the plate have made him a liability for this club. However, the New York Yankees may be willing to take on his deal.
Trading Zimmerman for Ellsbury
Although Zimmerman’s contract makes him hard to move, the Nationals could trade him for Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Like Zimmerman, Ellsbury is on a hefty deal. He has four years remaining on his seven-year, $153 million deal that he signed back in 2014; however, Ellsbury hasn’t played up to that contract. In his three years with the Yankees, Ellsbury’s highest batting average was .271.
The Yankees also have several young players in their farm system, and in the majors, who are outfielders. With Ellsbury on the roster, youngsters Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier, to name a couple, haven’t been given much of an opportunity to show what they’re capable of. In a potential Zimmerman for Ellsbury swap, the Yankees would be ridding themselves of a player who has underachieved, and has been holding back prospects from getting playing team. The Yankees would also be acquiring a temporary replacement for first baseman Mark Teixeira in Zimmerman.
On the flip side, the Nationals would benefit from this deal as well. They would be getting Ellsbury, who, while not a threat at the plate, is a great fielder, and could potentially provide the spark that former outfielder Denard Span provided. They would also be getting rid of Zimmerman, which would open the door for them to pursue Encarnacion in free agency.
Encarnacion Would Make Washington the Team to Beat
Edwin Encarnacion is one of the more prolific hitters in baseball. In each of the last five years, Encarnacion has hit at least 33 home runs and has driven in at least 98 runs, but his 2016 campaign may have been the best of his career. Encarnacion hit the third-most home runs in baseball (42) and tied for the most RBI in the AL (127). His presence at the plate puts fear in opposing pitchers. He is one of the most dangerous and frightening power hitters in the game.
It won’t be easy for Washington to ink the slugger, but if they were able to get him, Encarnacion would make them the team to beat. The Nationals haven’t spent big bucks on an everyday player since Jayson Werth in 2011; instead, they’ve spent their money on starting pitching. If the Nationals are serious about challenging the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League, they should pursue Encarnacion; he would make them a formidable opponent.
Washington has some tough decisions to make this offseason, but if they’re serious about challenging the Cubs and Dodgers, they should go all out for Edwin Encarnacion. He’s one of the best power hitters in the league, and he’d make the Nationals the team to beat in the NL.
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