Could this 2023 All-Star be the answer at first base for the Nationals?

Another interesting and hypothetical scenario was posed by Bleacher Report a few days ago, as Tim Kelly came up with the idea that the Washington Nationals could potentially look to acquire Yandy Díaz to bolster the first base position. Let's break down his fit on this team to see if it even makes sense for the Nats.

We know that first base has been a position of need for this club since Ryan Zimmerman retired, and the endless cycle of minor league journeymen and veteran stopgaps has become a burden to watch for us Nats fans. I would love for the Nats to make a move for a capable veteran to be a multi-year option for the club, or at least until a top prospect like Yohandy Morales is ready to become a full-time major leaguer. The team will have many options in free agency, as we already put out a piece covering the state of the free agent first base market.

However, if the Nats were to pursue the trade route, Díaz would certainly be a very intriguing option. I believe he would immediately be able to come in and improve the position immediately, as even his subpar first half of this past season still would have been an upgrade from a lot of what we saw at the position this year. While he didn't match his production from his 2023 season when he was named an All-Star for the first time, Díaz still put together a very solid season. This trade would remind me a lot of the Josh Bell trade, and ultimately that one ended up being a successful one for Mike Rizzo.

As you can see above, Díaz experienced a dip in every offensive category in 2024 despite playing in more games than 2023, but was definitely still an above average player. He found himself in some frustrating scenarios this season, as he dealt with a slew of smaller injuries and also had a dugout altercation with infielder Jose Caballero. While not a hot head by any means, there were whispers from Rays media that the team could have been looking to deal him for the right price, as there is the potential that his value will never be higher as a 33-year-old first baseman.

In all likelihood, it would not take a lot for the Nationals to be able to get a deal done here. Díaz presents a very realistic buy-low option for the club, and I could legitimately see the Rays pulling the trigger on a deal if the Nats offered a pair of Top 30 prospects. One thing about trading with the Rays is that you don't really see them lose trades, so if they are making him available then perhaps they know something that no other club knows. However, if they would take the deal for let's say #27 prospect Jackson Rutledge and another prospect, I would definitely be inclined to take that chance on the 2023 All-Star.

I don't know if the Nationals will be pursuing Yandy Díaz this offseason, but if they don't feel like shelling out a long-term contract or make a larger financial commitment to anyone in the free agency pool, then checking out this deal would make a ton of sense. Only time will tell if Díaz has already peaked as a big leaguer or if he's still got more in the tank, but if his strong second half this past season was any indicator, Díaz would be a worthwhile gamble for an up-and-coming team like the Nationals who need an established veteran presence.

Would you be opposed to the Nationals acquiring Yandy Díaz? What would you be content with giving up?