Washington Nationals found their centerfielder this season
By Jason Burke
The Washington Nationals entered 2017 without a definite plan in left field for next season. Due to some bad luck during the year, they’ve found their man.
In all likelihood, Jayson Werth has seen his days as a Washington Nationals outfielder come to an end. His seven year, $126 million contract has come to an end, and the 38-year-old just turned in a -0.7 bWAR season. While he’s beloved in D.C., he’s not necessarily useful anymore.
Last winter, the Nats went out and moved a haul of prospects for centerfielder Adam Eaton, who then missed all but 23 games this season due to a torn ACL. In his stead, Michael Taylor performed admirably, accruing a 2.6 bWAR and a 3.1 fWAR. Taylor finished with a .271 average, a .320 OBP and a 105 wRC+ to go along with 19 homers, 17 steals and 55 runs scored.
Defensively Taylor put up a DRS of nine, which was tied for third among all centerfielders with Billy Hamilton and Jackie Bradley Jr. and behind only Byron Buxton (24) and Kevin Pillar (15). He also ranked first in UZR/150 (The number of runs above or below average a fielder is, per 150 defensive games) at 16.9.
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With a slightly above average bat and a pretty solid glove, Taylor should have center field locked down come next season, with Eaton sliding over to left where the numbers paint him in a better light.
The offseason just began for the Washington Nationals, but there will be plenty of questions about what the club should do this winter with just one year of control left over Bryce Harper. The assumption is that they’ll push all of their chips into the center of the table in 2018 and attempt to make a significant run. They have the division and the foundation to make it happen.
Having an outfield of Eaton, Taylor and Harper from left to right is also a huge boost with all three players being at least average defenders at their positions. In Game 5 of the National League Division Series, Werth misplayed a ball that cost them a run, and in a one run game, that’s huge.
We can expect Mike Rizzo to make some moves this winter, but his outfield group is pretty much set. Adding another player with wheels to the lineup should give the lineup the flexibility to try some different things, be it the good old hit-and-run or the exciting double steal. Inserting Eaton to a lineup that already ranked fifth in stolen bases could make them lethal instead of a mishmash of sluggers and speed guys.
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Trea Turner accounted for roughly 43% of the Nationals stolen bases in 2017. With Eaton, who is good for roughly 15 steals a season, and Taylor, who totaled 17 in 2017, in the mix with Turner and spaced out throughout the lineup, Washington’s offense should have an added dimension which will make them a more viable playoff contender.
The offseason plan for Rizzo and company should be building up the bullpen and the depth on this squad, because they don’t have a ton of holes heading into 2018.