What is Alex Call's future with the Nationals?
The Nationals have plenty of outfield depth at the major league level. With Dylan Crews, James Wood, and Jacob Young presumed to be the starters in 2025, where does that leave veteran outfielder Alex Call?
On August 7th, 2022, the Washington Nationals claimed 27-year-old outfielder Alex Call off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. Call, a former third-round pick to the White Sox, coming off making his debut on August 5th, had been DFA’d by the Guardians 2 days before the Nats acquired him. Call was a decent Triple-AAA hitter (.280 AVG, 16 2B, 11 HR) and a great glove. Call would debut with the Nats 2 days later, hit leadoff, and go 0-4. Alex would bounce up & down in 2022 but make the opening day roster, hit 6th, and play left field on opening day in 2023. In 2024, Call would not make the opening day roster and only be called up following Jesse Winker being traded to the Mets. Alex Call (out of nowhere) became the best hitter in MLB over a month.
From July 28th to August 24th Call would hit .343 (1st in MLB over that span) with 3 homers and 14 RBI. Call had always been a reliable defender, but he was primed to start the rest of the season with the way he was tearing the cover off the baseball. Unfortunately, he would suffer a non-contact injury on August 23rd in Atlanta, partially tearing his left plantar fascia, and would go on to miss the rest of the season. So, what are the Nationals to do with the veteran outfielder?
Call will be going into his 30-year-old season in 2025 and does not have a starter role waiting for him. As well as he performed for 30 games, it is not realistic that he sustains it for a full season. However, Call is a great bench outfield option. Unless the Nationals go out and add 2+ outfielders to the roster, I believe Alex Call (and Stone Garrett) is a great reserve outfielder candidate. Call’s bat is not consistently reliable enough, but the glove certainly is. What Call does not have in the bat, Stone Garrett does. What Stone Garrett does not have with the glove, Alex Call does.
If the Nationals and Mike Rizzo add some outfield depth via the Free-agent market, then Alex Call might not be a National for much longer. Sure, he might start the season at AAA, but it is likely that he either elects free agency or is traded by mid-season. With Wood/Young/Crews being the everyday guys in the outfield, Alex does not fit into a starting role, but I believe he could with a few other teams. If the Nationals have proven anything, they will ship off whoever they can to fill other needs.