Pretty simple question here: What should the Washington Nationals do at first base next year? Should they look to the free agency market, should they promote a minor league, or is the answer already on the team?
Either way, the Nationals need a first-baseman. What should they do?
I think the question really begins at do the Nationals want to stick with Dominic Smith next season as the everyday starter. If so, finding him a platoon partner is of the utmost importance. I know the Joey Meneses story has been fun, but is his roughly league-average .749 OPS the answer? I don’t think so. Exploring Riley Adams at the position has been the talk of the town, but I’m here to offer a different solution. Why not Stone Garrett? James Wood, Dylan Crews, Lane Thomas, and Jacob Young seem like locks to be our primary outfielders by the All-Star break next year. Getting Garrett into the lineup more makes sense since he was the Nationals fourth most productive position player behind Jeimer Candelario, Thomas, and CJ Abrams.
If we move on from Smith, exploring a one-year prove it deal with Rhys Hoskins seems like the most probable option. If he does well, maybe a long term extension would make sense.
Discussion Thread: What should the Nats do at first base next year?
I think the question really begins at do the Nationals want to stick with Dominic Smith next season as the everyday starter. If so, finding him a platoon partner is of the utmost importance. I know the Joey Meneses story has been fun, but is his roughly league-average .749 OPS the answer? I don’t think so. Exploring Riley Adams at the position has been the talk of the town, but I’m here to offer a different solution. Why not Stone Garrett? James Wood, Dylan Crews, Lane Thomas, and Jacob Young seem like locks to be our primary outfielders by the All-Star break next year. Getting Garrett into the lineup more makes sense since he was the Nationals fourth most productive position player behind Jeimer Candelario, Thomas, and CJ Abrams.
If we move on from Smith, exploring a one-year prove it deal with Rhys Hoskins seems like the most probable option. If he does well, maybe a long term extension would make sense.