Matt Wieters had a rough season with the Washington Nationals last season. He is likely assured of one more excellent payday, as he is reportedly set to exercise his option.
Last year, as the Washington Nationals headed into the offseason, one of their biggest holes came at the catcher position. Wilson Ramos had finally tapped into his immense potential, only to tear his ACL late in the 2016 season and depart via free agency. Given the Nationals postseason aspirations, finding a catcher was of the utmost importance.
Seeking to shore up the position, the Nationals inked Matt Wieters to a two year, $21 Million contract, with that second year coming in the form of a player option. As Wieters was coming off of a down season in 2016, producing a mediocre .243/.302/.409 batting line; his 89 OPS+ the lowest of his career to that point. Then this year, Wieters slumped even further, with a .225/.288/.344 batting line. His ten homers were the lowest of any full season, and his 63 OPS+ was not exactly the production the Nationals were hoping for. As it seems unlikely that Wieters would find a similar payday this offseason, it may not be a surprise that it was reported that he will pick up that option for 2018.
Source: Matt Wieters intends to exercise his $10.5 million player option for 2018, remain with Nationals.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 3, 2017
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Of course, there are conflicting reports. Wieter’s agent, Scott Boras, has also chimed in, saying that nothing is definite just yet. He cited Wieters’ skill with a pitching staff as “off the charts” and “in high demand.” This is what Boras does – attempt to find ways to make his clients seem even more valuable than they already are.
While Wieters had once been one of the better defensive catchers in the game, that is not the case any more. He is a long way from being the Gold Glove winner he once was, throwing out only 25% of would be basestealers this year, a significant drop from last year. Wieters was also amongst the worst catchers in regards to pitch framing, making a mockery of Boras’ claims.
Given those factors, it would not be a surprise for Wieters to take that guaranteed payday for 2018. If he were to return to free agency, it is difficult to imagine that he would find a team willing to pay him more for next season. In fact, it is difficult to imagine that Wieters would get more than a one year “make good” contract, despite his track record.
Meanwhile, it is difficult for the Nationals to feel they could count on Wieters next season. As he has struggled offensively in each of the past two seasons, they would need to find a solid backup catcher that could take over if need be. Wieters just does not seem to be the player he once was.
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Matt Wieters is reportedly set to exercise his options. It may not be the best move for the Washington Nationals, but it is the right move for Wieters to make.