Washington Nationals Reportedly Sign Adam Lind to One-Year Deal

The Washington Nationals have reportedly added depth to their bench by signing first baseman/outfielder Adam Lind.

The Washington Nationals might already have a first baseman in Ryan Zimmerman, but they have reportedly decided to add Adam Lind for good measure. According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the deal will be complete once Lind passes a physical.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports added that it is a one-year deal with a team option for 2018.

Though it has been a while since he was the player who won a Silver Slugger and posted MVP-caliber numbers for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009, the left-handed-hitting Lind still has the ability to provide 20-plus home runs. In 2016, Lind appeared in 126 games with the Seattle Mariners and hit .239/.286/.431 (94 OPS+) with 20 home runs and 58 RBI. His numbers were better the season before, when he hit .277/.360/.460 with 20 home runs and 87 RBI for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Throughout his 11-year career, Lind has produced an impressive .287/.347/.502 slash line against right-handed pitching. He will likely serve as nice complement or insurance plan for Zimmerman. The oft-injured Zimmerman isn’t necessarily coming off his best year either, hitting .218/.272/.370 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI through just 115 games. Clint Robinson also saw time at first base last season, but hit only .235/.305/.332 with five home runs, which was a rather sharp decline from a productive 2015 season with the Nationals.

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Lind has logged a total of 224 games in left field during his career, but most of his outfield experience came early on in his career. It remains to be seen whether or not he can still play the outfield in a pinch.

Jayson Werth, who is heading into the final season of the seven-year, $126 million deal he signed before the 2011 season, figures to be the everyday left fielder again. Werth, who will turn 38 years old in May, had a productive season in 2016, hitting .244/.335/.417 (99 OPS+) with 21 homers and 69 RBI through 143 games.

At 33 years old, Lind could still most likely be an everyday player. However, he should function quite well as a backup first baseman, pinch hitter and potential DH during interleague play.

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As a part-time player in Washington, Lind, who has played in 126 or fewer games three times in the past five years, might have an easier time staying healthy as well.