Washington Nationals Plan To ‘Aggressively Pursue’ Top Free Agent

On By Littum

The Washington Nationals have money to spend if they choose to do so.

Owner Mark Lerner appears ready to open his checkbook again after this past campaign delivered one of the most promising seasons they’ve had in a while with plenty of young stars who look like they could be the cornerstones of this list for years to come.

Adding established players at clear positions of need would go a long way in getting them out of this rebuild.

The question is whether the Nationals will be willing to spend when that time comes.

General manager Mike Rizzo is considering this option in the context of allowing this young roster to continue to develop, and if he doesn’t feel like this is the right time to hit the free agency market, he may choose to wait another cycle before uses Lerner’s money.

However, Washington appears to be targeting at least one available high-profile player.

According to Bob Nightengale from USA TODAY“there are at least six teams that plan to aggressively pursue” slugging first baseman Christian Walker, and the Nationals are one of them.

That would be huge.

First base has been a position discussed as an area they will look to upgrade this winter, and without a top prospect waiting in the wings to take over the role they have had elsewhere in the field, it would be huge to land Walker.

Not only is he playing the best baseball of his career right now with three straight seasons ending with an OPS+ over 120 and 25 plus home runs, but he also won his third straight Gold Glove, which would add to the elite defense that this team is. looking for.

Does he fit their timeline though?

That’s what Washington will have to figure out as he’s 33 years old and appears to be regressing a bit at the plate.

Perhaps they see Walker as a gap solution, bringing in his legitimate Major League experience to help this roster in the short term while they wait for one of their young prospects to take over at first base going forward.

Whatever the case may be regarding the plans the Nationals might have for the slugger, it sounds like they’re going to go after him aggressively this winter.