The Nationals don’t have Jayson Werth in their plans for next season, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reported earlier this week, “barring an unexpected development.” There had been some rumors that Werth could return to the team on a one-year deal for 2018, a scenario that GM Mike Rizzo “wouldn’t close the door on” in a recent interview, though it seems as though the team is ready to move on.
Werth was limited to just 70 games last season, perhaps emblematic of his overall injury-plagued tenure in Washington. The outfielder played in 808 out of 1134 games over his seven seasons in D.C., missing the equivalent of over two full seasons of action due to a variety of maladies. Despite the injuries and the criticism that often followed Werth in the wake of his seven-year, $126MM free agent deal with the club, Werth was an overall valuable asset when he did play, batting .263/.355/.433 with 109 homers in a Nationals uniform. As Castillo notes, Werth also provided a big boost off the field; Werth’s signing was seen as a pivotal moment in Nationals history as the club began to shape into a contender, and Werth brought a hugely-respected veteran presence into a young clubhouse.
The Nats will use Adam Eaton in Werth’s old left field position, with Michael Taylor becoming the regular center fielder and Bryce Harper holding down right field. Brian Goodwin, Andrew Stevenson, and top prospect Victor Robles all represent additional outfield depth for Washington, and if the team did decide to bring in another veteran outfielder, it would likely be a player with more positional versatility than Werth can provide.
It remains to be seen what kind of market will develop for Werth, 38, as he prepares for his 16th big league season. It should be noted that Werth hit .262/.367/.446 with eight homers over 196 plate appearances prior to suffering a bone bruise and fracture in his left foot in June, and he was likely still bothered by that injury after returning from the DL, given how his numbers fell off down the stretch. Werth could best stay healthy and productive by joining an American League team that can offer DH at-bats, though he joins a long list of DH/first base/corner outfield types on the free agent and trade markets this winter.
next stop Oakland lol
Probably. Oakland likes signing veteran players.
Then traded in July.
I was honestly thinking the same thing…
I was thinking the same thing
lol
As long as he stays as far away from Philly as possible we’re all good.
If Marlins trade Giancarlo, I think he’d be a decent, cheap option to platoon with Derek Dietrich in one of the outfield corners.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
As much as I dont like the guy; this signing would make sense. Then again, Jeter is gutting the franchise.
Not gonna need him with Grichuk coming in the deal.
No way
No surprise here. Nats might have brought him back for one more go-round were it not for his extensive injury history. I’d say it’s a toss-up whether or not any team will offer him a contract. Werth spent 2+ months on the DL this year for an injury he should have recovered from in about 3 weeks.
tons of teams would love him on a minors deal but we will see if he can get a major league deal
Back to the Phillies
he burned that bridge already
What did he do/say? Not familiar
Boston to fill the Chris Young role? And can he play any first base? That would fill 2 positional needs, along with adding a power bat that is much needed in the lineup. That would also provide them with more flexibility if he can fill in at all of 1B/DH/OF.
I thought about that too. Not sure if he could handle 1B, though he definitely has the power.
He came up as a catcher, so he may be able to play 1B.
Anyone can handle 1B. I’ve seen players fail defensively and get moved from every other position on the field but can’t think of anyone who was unable to play 1B. Kingman, both Frank Thomases, Giambi, Miggy Cabrera, David Ortiz, Duda, etc. None of these guys were/are good defensively but they were allowed to play 1B. Can you name a player or two who was moved off first because he couldn’t handle the position defensively?
Cardinals could get Stanton and trade Grichuk and Piscotty and sign Werth as a 4th Outfielder.
As a cub fan i would like to know, are Grichuk and Piscotty that bad? Cause they always killed the Cubs.
Grichuk is a meh hitter, good defender. Piscotty is a good hitter who had a bad year
I always hated when they came up. When dejong came up to the majors he became the guy I hated to see. If you guys get Stanton it’s gonna be tough for the Cubs to win the division again.
I don’t know that Stanton makes that big of a dent for St. Louis unless the Cubs can’t fortify their starting rotation.
Cardinals were not that far off down the division even having a bad start. The pitching is much better than the Cubs. With more offense I think they have a good chance at the division. Unless the cubs go all out which they will probably not.
Sounds like you’re a.closet Cardinals fan buddy.
Don’t make me puke seriously.
You are right. Stanton carried the fish to all those division titles. He won’t fit in St Louis. He changed his name from Mike. The toothless natives will think he’s a terrorist, with his new name.
Id rather have Stanton
and his contract , than the overated Heyward
Werth is the last thing the Cardinals want or need, need or want!
No thanks
Werth?….Why would they ever….???
They have Bader & Martinez already….Sierra could get a shot……O’Neill almost ready to come up. Wong even played some OF last season. Held his own, for the most part.
Why sign an Old man when there’s so much Youth Around???
Not happening
Twins could use part time DH/ corner OF, good makeup guy
But is he really that much of an upgrade over Grossman and/or Vargas? With his injury history? I don’t see it happening.
But ya never know I guess
I know it’s a business but man this guy sure has been loyal to DC, signed with a team that was pretty bad and has been there through it all, not sure why you wouldn’t at least get him as a viable bench spot but I guess I don’t know what he is asking for annually.
They declined Lind’s option, and he had a good year. Nats have never shown a propensity for nostalgia – you could say they’re the antithesis of the Giants. WAS is run like a business, and they’re not given to gambles. Werth’s health issues makes him a gamble.
Loyal to DC? A ridiculous contract will buy loyalty, loyalty is more like taking a hometown discount not cashing in to the highest bidder.
$126 million buys a lot of loyalty…
I think he goes to a lower divison team like the Padres.
Agreed. I’d say the Braves would be a natural match if they didn’t already have Markakis and Kemp. There just aren’t very many teams who have a need for Werth.
Let the great Werth vs. Hosmer debate begin.
In what world would we be comparing 2017 Jayson Werth to 2017 Hosmer?
I think he was referring to the players at the time of their big free agency, werth in 2010 and Hosmer today. The situations and players (again Werth in 2010 and Hosmer today) are remarkably similar.
This conclusion could have easily been read from context and what others have been saying all over the place.
Thanks.
Haha
The Neanderthals need an outfielder. He would fit right in!
Jayson Werth was an average bench player until Pat Gillick picked him off the injury pile after Los Angeles. His 4 years in Philly were his most productive. Give the man credit for obtaining that monsterous $127 million/7 year deal from the Nats. He missed almost 2 full seasons in D.C. Philly offered him 4 years and $66 million. Anyone would have gone to D.C. with that offer. Instead of being grateful to Philly for giving him a chance, he left and bad mouthed the Phillies because they wouldn’t “pony up” the Nationals money (btw, no one else came close). He could have left with dignity and thanked the Phillies organization for giving him a chance when no one else would coming off of wrist surgery. As a Phillies fan, I will forever be grateful for the years he wore the Phillies red. Not so sure many others will.
I was always amazed that the Dodgers gave up on him so soon. Granted, he had Ethier coming up behind him, but they should have seen the potential more clearly. At any rate, both Ethier and Werth are now FAs and both with significant injury histories. Ethier, I feel, is more likely to get a major league contract this winter. Call it a hunch
Didn’t Ethier just announce his retirement?
Nope……it was a False Report by FanRag…..LOL
He said that he fully intends to play somewhere.
He would be great as a platoon DH.
If Werth went back to the Nats, he should pay them. $126M wasted. Performed for half that contract, if that much.
Blame the Nats for handing out the contract.
I do. Rizzo was hypnotized by Boras. But somewhere in Werth’s conscious he knows the only top 10 list he’ll make is ‘worst contracts handed out.’
Haha Werth was a joke because Boras has DC ownership under his thumb. He took them to the cleaners!! Lerner family does not know how baseball teams should operate. They are a joke. Boras screwed them on Wieters deal as well!
The Mariners could really use him for lots of reasons. Hope they pursue him.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the Braves sign him for a one year deal
They already have Markakis & Kemp……adding Werth would be insanity!
But Markakis is a toss up if they keep him but the Braves do love their veterans
Correct that: Coppy loves his Veterans. No such attachments with AA at the helm.
I think he’ll do better than Markakis. I see no value in Markakis to be honest
In all honesty Washington is better without him. Taylor is a pretty decent player who had some clutch hits for them in the playoffs and obviously getting Eaton back is a tremendous boost. No doubt he did not live up to the contract he was given but no soul on this planet thought he would. Still a puzzling offer really. Anyway Washington should find a 4th outfielder with relative ease.
They already have one. Goodwin.
Colorado.
Giants.
If both were FAs I’d rould rather have Pence than Werth. They already have Pence, and one of the 2 is more than enough.
Bottom line, the man is 38 with a significant injury history. He had his moments but IMO he should at best be offered a minors contract to possibly catch on as an extra OF/DH type
Orioles seem perfect to me. They need outfield depth, have a DH, are close to where he’s been…
There is no bigger Jayson Werth fan on this planet than Jayson Werth. Overrated in all degrees.
To the M’s if Nelson Cruz is traded