Washington Nationals: Potential starting second base candidates in 2019
By Brian Foley
Brian Dozier
.228/.318/.407 – 19 HRs, 11 SBs
Brian Dozier picked a poor time to post his worst offensive season since he was a rookie. Even factoring in his mini-surge following his trade to the Dodgers, Dozier’s 95 OPS+ lags well behind the 120 mark he averaged across the previous four seasons.
He still has good power for a second baseman, but his 19 homers are nowhere near the 76 dingers he swatted from 2016-17, good for sixth in baseball over that span.
Dozier can also steal a base from time to time and he still plays credible defense at second, but neither skill is his calling card. Like Murphy, his bat carries his game, so when he is slumping, he doesn’t do a lot to help his team win.
Dozier has always been something of a streaky hitter, so betting on him to rebound in 2019 isn’t inherently a bad idea. But in order to get him for 2019, one would probably have to sign him for 2022 as well. It doesn’t seem wise to ink Dozier to an eight-figure deal through his age-35 season when the Nats have so many other holes to fill on the roster.
Just like LeMahieu, it’s fair to wonder whether the Washington Nationals would be better off with Difo or Kendrick and putting the money that would go to Dozier towards another need.