Washington Nationals: Predicting what their 12 free agents will do
By Drew Douglas
Ryan Raburn
The Nats traded for Ryan Raburn in late-May after their outfield depth was depleted by a myriad of injuries. He began in AAA Syracuse, but joined the Nats after a week.
With the Nats, he had a slash line of .262/.304/.431 with two homers in 25 games. Unfortunately, the outfield injury bug caught up to Raburn as well, as his season ended after suffering a left trapezius strain in late-July.
If Raburn returns, it will be in the same role that he filled for the Nats in 2017. With Adam Eaton, Michael Taylor, Bryce Harper, Brian Goodwin, and Victor Robles all returning, there is no room on the major league roster.
However, Raburn could be a good fit as organizational depth in the minors. Looking at history, the Nats will need many more outfielders than just the starting three. Players like Raburn can be unspoken heroes by beginning in the minors and taking advantage of an opportunity when a regular suffers an injury.
While Raburn is not a significant player, bringing him back on a minor league deal would be beneficial for the Nats. If he returns, he will likely see at least a little time in the major leagues.