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WASH: 3 players Nationals should sign to minor league contracts

By James Simmons

Felix Hernandez #34 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at CoolToday Park on February 22, 2020 in North Port, Florida. The Braves defeated the Orioles 5-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Felix Hernandez #34 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at CoolToday Park on February 22, 2020 in North Port, Florida. The Braves defeated the Orioles 5-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Justin Smoak may be a good power source for a Washington Nationals team laciking home run potential.
Justin Smoak #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park on August 25, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Justin Smoak

One aspect which was missing from the Washington Nationals in 2020 was a home run hitter off the bench. This franchise has always had a guy who could be called on to hit a long ball when needed (Adam Lind, Matt Adams, Mark Reynolds). Time to bring in Justin Smoak and see if he has any gas left in the tank, or power in the stroke.

Getting a veteran like Smoak on a minor league contract may be difficult. He has a proven track record (196 HR over 11 years) and is one year removed from a $4M deal he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The investment didn’t pay off and by early September Smoak was kicked to the curb. The San Francisco Giants brought him in for a whirl and he was hitless in six at-bats before being released for the second time in less than a month.

True, Smoak is a lifetime .229 hitter. Sure, its been four years since he crushed 38 home runs. A look at the current depth chart at first base displays Jake Noll, and nothing else.

Next. Maikel Franco a cost efficient third baseman. dark

Guys like Justin Smoak are not signed to minor league contracts to play in the minors. They are signed to make the team out of spring training and hit bombs when the season starts. If the price is right, he needs to be brought in to compete for a roster spot.

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