From an Adam to an Adams, the Washington Nationals may be want to look into signing free agent Matt Adams as a replacement for Adam Lind.
One of the bigger concerns I have for the Washington Nationals this winter is how they build their bench. Last year, they got lucky. Wilmer Difo evolved into a viable MLB player. Outfielders Michael Taylor and Brian Goodwin spent a lot of time starting and exceeded expectations when they did.
The cream of the crop from the 2017 Nationals bench was veteran Adam Lind. He could return in 2018, but would first need to strike a new deal. The Nationals chose not to pick up his 2018 option, thus leaving them without their best reserve power bat.
The good news is that there are a ton of power bats on the free agent market. A recent inclusion is Matt Adams.
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Last season was an interesting one for Adams. After the St. Louis Cardinals traded him early in the season to the Atlanta Braves, Adams reminded the Red Birds why on career day he’ll talk about playing professional baseball. Adams had his best season in two years, removing the idea that he’s incapable of starting more regularly. Although, it’s still probably best for Adams to stick with facing right-handed pitchers.
Adams is the typical hard-swinging, left-handed slugger who shouldn’t go anywhere beyond first base. The Cardinals and Braves did experiment briefly last season with Adams in the corner outfield. As expected, didn’t earn many web gems.
Why Matt Adams is Perfect for the Washington Nationals
The market for first basemen is an incredibly deep one this offseason. Behind the top guys like Eric Hosmer and Carlos Santana is a slew of men who either had breakout seasons in 2017 or are looking to rebound. Adams is somewhere in the middle and probably unlikely to snag a starting job.
Like Lind last winter, Adams may need to settle for a reserve role. The Nationals locked him up to provide some depth behind Ryan Zimmerman and do what Adams has done well throughout his career, pinch hit.
Adams’ pinch-hitting abilities are notably strong. In his 155 plate appearances as a pinch hitter, Adams is a .315/.342/.555 hitter. He has also smacked nine home runs and driven in 41 runs. He kept this up last season and has been a terrific reserve option for several seasons already. Why not target a guy with such a tremendous specialty and success rate?
Recent Nationals rosters have had guys like this. Before Lind last year, there was Clint Robinson and Chris Heisey doing the power damage from the bench. It’s a necessary ingredient to the winning formula. In the bottom of the ninth inning with a right-handed pitcher on the mound, it’s good to have Adams as an option.
The biggest downside with Adams is the same one the Braves saw last year. When Freddie Freeman returned from the disabled list, playing time for Adams became limited. If free agency humbles Adams and a one-year deal is his only choice, no option is better than the Nationals.
Next: Expectations for Bryce Harper
Let’s just hope the Seattle Mariners have no idea that he’s now available.