Washington Nationals could reap the rewards from a slow free agency

Once again, free agency has been moving at a snail’s pace around baseball. However, this scenario significantly benefits the Washington Nationals.

A lot has been made over how slow Major League Baseball’s free agency period has been moving this offseason. But while other teams remain idle, it’s the Washington Nationals who are ready to reap the rewards and potentially win the offseason.

This shows as there are still five teams that have yet to make a major league free agent signing this winter. Meanwhile, the Nats and New York Yankees have made the joint-most in the league with five free agent signings a piece.

This has allowed them to sign the best available starting pitcher in Patrick Corbin to fill their biggest need and make their rotation fearsome again. They were also able to address another weakness behind by adding Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes.

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Not only is this early activity a clear signal of intent that they won’t underwhelm like they did last season, but it also sets them up better than most teams heading into the latter half of free agency. With the major needs filled, it allowed the Nationals to find value in the market to plug the remaining holes, rather than just ending up with the whatever is left after the feeding frenzy that will undoubtedly come as we near the end of January.

For example, let’s say the Nats had waited to sign a frontline starter while they continued to be victims of the drawn-out Bryce Harper negotiations. Corbin would’ve likely headed to the Yankees or Philadelphia Phillies and it would’ve left the Nats chasing Dallas Keuchel or frantically searching for a trade partner right now.

Instead, they’re able to wait for the right cost-effective options to arise for areas such as second base and in the bullpen. That’s what leaves the Nationals in a position of strength as if the market gets out of hand for someone like Brian Dozier, who they have been heavily linked with, they can simply pass and move on without feeling the pressure to get a deal done given the wealth of options at second base still out there.

The two markets in which the Nationals should be able to thrive from bargain hunting is starting and relief pitching. Last year, they were able to do exactly that by picking up guys with extensive experience in the majors such as Jeremy Hellickson, Edwin Jackson, and Carlos Torres on minor league deals as they were unsigned late in the process.

Meanwhile, the likes of the St. Louis Cardinals were rushing to pay Greg Holland a large sum on a one-year deal, and the same with the Minnesota Twins and Lance Lynn. Both teams were victims of a slow offseason as they tried and failed to fill gaping holes late in the offseason, rather than using it to grab valuable depth.

The Nats are also able to pursue Harper on their own terms for the rest of however this saga is likely to continue on for. On the other hand, the Phillies are in a much more precarious position where they could easily miss out on Machado and have them scrambling to pay whatever it takes for Harper. The Nats are comfortable with where they are, the Phillies aren’t.

Next. Six Nats who could breakout in 2019. dark

The Washington Nationals are experienced “winners of the offseason” in recent years and look set to win that crown again. The real hard work starts in just over two months when the regular season begins and the games start counting for real.

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