With the MLB offseason already getting started with a couple teams making some under-the-radar moves, such as the Atlanta Braves dealing Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels, we can only sit back and wait for the Washington Nationals to make their first splash of the free agency period.
The question is, especially with the Juan Soto sweepstakes already beginning as well, will the Nationals wait to see how things play out with him? Or will they be aggressive early on and target some other names? Only time will tell, but we do know that the Nationals will need to address a couple of needs in free agency, in hopes of creating a competitive ball club for 2025 and beyond.
With all of that being said, let's take a look at a few newly anointed free agents that could be worthwhile pickups for the Washington Nationals this offseason.
IF Ha-Seong Kim - San Diego Padres
First of all, credit to fellow District on Deck writer, Stephen Newman, as he has been honking the horn with the idea of Ha-Seong Kim being a fit for the Washington Nationals for a pretty long time now. But, when taking a look at everything, Kim would be a really interesting acquisition for the Nats to make this offseason.
What makes him such a potentially valuable asset to this team is his defensive prowess and versatility. A winner of the Gold Glove award for NL shortstops last season, he is a glove-first player that could be a breath of fresh air up the middle defensively for the Nationals. Kim, who came over from South Korea in 2020, has carved out a very solid MLB career so far in his 4 seasons with the Padres. For his career he has a slash line of .242/.326/.380, good for a .706 OPS to go along with 47 homers and 78 stolen bases.
It's important to note that he turned down his $8M option for this upcoming season, indicating that he is looking for at least a partial raise and likely some long-term stability. A signing of Kim would likely allow the Nationals to move CJ Abrams to second base, where perhaps his defensive limitations could be masked with Kim's glove proving to be much more superior.
Ha-Seong Kim has declined his side of a mutual option with the #Padres, per @sdutSanders
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) November 2, 2024
Kim will be a free-agent. pic.twitter.com/MaK99blhCD
OF/DH Joc Pederson - Arizona Diamondbacks
This next one would be strictly a platoon fit, but Joc Pederson could bring some much-needed thump to the Nationals lineup in 2025 and beyond. With 209 career homers and 23 this past season, the power is easy to see, and would surely help to provide some pop for a lineup that was severely lacking in that department.
If he was to serve as a platoon bat, it would definitely help to get his price down, but it's clear that he's likely looking for a raise as well, as his mutual option was worth $14M for next year. He isn't good enough defensively anymore to be a regular in the Nats' outfield, but at the very least he would be able to serve as a DH along with Andres Chaparro, likely earning the majority of the at-bats since he specializes against right-handed pitching.
Joc Pederson has declined his end of a mutual option, source tells ESPN. He's a free agent.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) November 2, 2024
IF Jorge Polanco - Seattle Mariners
This one is sort of a head-scratcher in terms of figuring out what happened to Jorge Polanco. For years, he was a very underrated infielder with the Minnesota Twins, but after being traded to the Seattle Mariners last offseason, his production fell off a cliff, leading to him having his $12M option declined by the club, sending him to free agency.
During his tenure in Minnesota, he accumulated a .269/.334/.446 slash line with a .780 OPS, and provided solid defense at multiple infield spots. Last year with Seattle, that slash line fell to just .213/.296/.355 with a .651 OPS, despite playing in 118 games. Polanco has not come close to matching the production he had in his career-best 2021 season, when he homered 33 times and drove in 98 runs while accounting for 4.9 WAR, but could be a worthwhile gamble as he is still just 31-years-old.
He could slot in at second base and allow the Nationals to pursue a trade for Luis Garcia Jr., or could allow him to play third base, where, if he's successful, can lead to a deadline deal for him while serving as a placeholder for Brady House, who could come up after the deadline.
Mariners declined a $12 million option on Jorge Polanco, so he's a first-time free agent at age 31.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) November 1, 2024
Polanco hit .213/.296/.355 in 118 games for Seattle after a five-player bust of a trade that now basically hinges on whether the #MNTwins get value from prospect Gabriel Gonzalez.
Would you want the Nationals to sign any of these newly anointed free agents? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.