After seven seasons with the Washington Nationals, Jayson Werth is headed to free agency. This doesn’t mean that he won’t return to D.C. next year, but does it make sense for them to ink a one-year deal?
Outfielder Jayson Werth is credited with helping to turn the Washington Nationals franchise around. After blooming with the Philadelphia Phillies in his four years there, Werth hit the free agent market for a big deal.
He got just that when the Nationals signed him to a mega seven-year deal worth $126 million, which money is ridiculous for any player let alone a guy with only one All-Star selection.
Regardless, Werth produced and helped shape the Nationals into the powerhouse they have become. Washington was no longer a team free agents passed on. It became a destination.
Now that the contract has expired, the Nationals and Werth each face a decision: is this the end of the relationship?
Werth is already 38-years-old and producing less and less each season. Health is the obvious concern at this stage. Last season’s 70 games played was the fewest of his MLB career since 2006 when he didn’t play a single big league game.
It was a year without much power or much of anything else. Werth slashed a pitiful .226/.322/.393. When he returned from the disabled list in late August, Werth added only two more home runs. Without the power, it’s hard to imagine Werth having much value at all.