As of recent, things have been pretty quiet on the news front concerning the Washington Nationals. With the club seemingly having all of their bigger acquisitions in the rearview mirror with Nathaniel Lowe likely being the headliner, it is tough times out here for people like me who have to create content about the team.
Sometimes, stories that would typically fly under the radar just fall into your lap, such as is the case for today. Former journeyman outfielder Corey Dickerson has officially retired from Major League Baseball. According to fellow FanSided site Redbird Rants, Dickerson was "unofficially retired from the game last season," but has officially submitted the necessary papers to the league this time, capping off a solid 11-year career that saw him play for a decent amount of teams.
His tenure with the Nationals was pretty abysmal, as he accounted for -0.6 bWAR and was an honorable mention for my All-Time Worst Nationals Team that I created last year. His numbers while with the Nationals was not pretty either, as he accounted for only a .637 OPS while hitting just 2 homers in 50 games and 152 plate appearances before being released right after the trade deadline in 2023.
Before coming to the Nationals, he had been a serviceable player for multiple years, even making an All-Star team with the Tampa Bay Rays back in 2017, and winning a Gold Glove with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. Those 2017 and 2018 seasons were the best years of his career, as he accounted for 2.7 bWAR in that All-Star season, and accompanied that recognition with a slash line of .282/.325/.490 for an .815 OPS. He also clubbed a career-high 27 homers and drove in 62 RBIs as well. The 2018 season saw him account for 3.6 bWAR, and although his numbers at the plate took a hit, his stellar defense still made him a very valuable player for the Pirates.
He also spent time with the Colorado Rockies, who picked him back in the 29th round of the MLB Draft in 2009, the same year that the Nationals took Stephen Strasburg with the #1 overall pick. The other teams he spent time with in his career would include the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, and St. Louis Cardinals. Happy trails, Corey Dickerson, and congratulations on a very solid career that most people could only dream of.
What is your lasting memory of Corey Dickerson? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.