Washington Nationals: Seven free agent second baseman to consider
By Blake Finney
Jed Lowrie
After helping to guide the Oakland Athletics back to the postseason in 2018, Jed Lowrie would be an excellent option for the Washington Nationals. Yet another versatile option, the switch-hitter is coming off of arguably the best year of his career so far.
Lowrie always seems to play at his best in Oakland and that proved true again in 2018 with a .267/.353/.448 slash line and a career-high 23 home runs. If he can hit 23 bombs while calling the cavernous Oakland Coliseum home, he could potentially hit even more elsewhere.
Last year, he was an All-Star and even finished 20th in the American League MVP voting, so make no mistake, he’s among the high-end options on the market this winter.
The fact that’s a switch-hitter too should help balance the Nationals’ lineup, which is short of a batter who hits left-handed against right-handed pitching after the departure of Bryce Harper.
Lowrie also has the versatility of other players on this list, as he’s played all across the infield during his career. At this point in his career, he definitely profiles better at the keystone compared to other positions, but if injury struck Trea Turner or Anthony Rendon, he could still step in.
This time in the Jon Heyman contract projections, it looks like two-year deals may be the way to go. One prediction was for $22 million, with an $11 million AAV and the other was for $15 million for $7.5 million AAV, which could end up being in the Nationals price range.