One under-the-radar option for the Nationals to make a big splash this offseason

Free agency is here and there are rumors everywhere. The Nationals have been linked to numerous free agents such as Alex Bregman, Christian Walker, and Anthony Santander. But one name that has not been in any conversations regarding the Nationals is former Brewers SS Willy Adames. Adames fits the Nationals' need for power and for a steady presence on the infield and would be a key contributor in years to come.

Adames has been one of the most underrated players in all of baseball across the last few seasons. Since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in May 2021, Adames has put up at least 3.1 fWAR in every season he has spent in Milwaukee after doing so just once in his three full seasons in Tampa Bay. In his final season before free agency, Adames hit a career-high 32 home runs and recorded 4.8 fWAR, prompting the Milwaukee Brewers to extend him a qualifying offer, the first time the team has done so to a player in franchise history.

If you look strictly at his offensive numbers, Willy Adames already looks like a great player, but his defensive value is also very high. According to both FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, Adames was an elite defensive shortstop in 2022 and 2023, ranking among the top 3 in both DRS and OAA in that time. But defensively, his 2024 season was subpar, especially when compared to the excellent defense from seasons prior. Whether this is an outlier or a sign of what is to come is still to be determined, but should it be the latter, teams may not have as much reason to worry. Will Sammon and Katie Woo reported in The Athletic that Adames is willing to move to another position on the infield "if he gets a strong offer from a team in position to win." The likeliest position that Adames would move to would be third base, although second base could also be a possibility.

So where would Adames fit on the Nationals? Offensively, he would be a great fit. A consistent middle-of-the-order bat that will provide 25-30 homers and around a 110 wRC+ each season would do wonders for what is currently a lackluster Nationals lineup. Defensively, Adames would be an instant upgrade over CJ Abrams, who has been the worst defensive shortstop in baseball since he entered the league in 2022, even if his defensive regression in 2024 is more than a fluke. Adames would also be serviceable at third base, but should the rumors be believed, he would only move off of shortstop for a team that is in position to win, which would instantly remove the Nationals from that conversation. The Nationals can move in many directions in regards to the infield, but Adames would be an excellent signing and would bring energy to the team and to the fans.