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Washington Nationals: Looking ahead to the team’s 2019/20 free agents

By Blake Finney

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Ryan Zimmerman #11 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his first-inning, three-run home run against the New York Mets with teammates in the dugout at Citi Field on April 18, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Ryan Zimmerman #11 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his first-inning, three-run home run against the New York Mets with teammates in the dugout at Citi Field on April 18, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Washington Nationals Matt Adams
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Matt Adams – Mutual Option

Though he’s technically a new addition this offseason, the Washington Nationals are certainly glad to have Matt Adams back in the fold. After a successful stint in D.C. last season, before a late-season trade, he’s back as a valuable left-handed power bat for the Nats.

After signing for $4 million in December 2017, he once again gets $4 million guaranteed again this time around. However, this time, he has a $3 million salary in 2019 and a mutual option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout for the team.

Last season, he boasted a solid .257/.332/.510 slash line to go with 18 home runs, 48 RBI as he played first base and left field. But it was against right-handed pitching where he thrived, with a .882 OPS against righties as a National, compared to a .608 OPS against lefties with the Nats.

Even despite the trade to St. Louis, Adams frequently spoke of how he enjoyed his time in the nation’s capital. Evidently, he enjoyed it enough to return and both sides are bound to be satisfied with the current mutual option in place for 2020.

Both sides likely expect a similar output to 2018 next season, so even though mutual options are rarely exercised, it seems likely a mutual option will be taken to give both added security for 2020. This seems like a match made in heaven and gives the Nationals a great insurance policy for Zimmerman moving forward.

Prediction: Nationals and Matt Adams agree to exercise the mutual option

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