The Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran first baseman Mark Reynolds, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). It’ll be a minor-league deal if Reynolds passes his physical, per Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post (Twitter link).
Reynolds, 34, had gone unsigned all winter despite reportedly having some contact with the Rockies. He had been the team’s regular first baseman for all of the 2017 season, turning in a useful (albeit Coors Field-aided) .267/.352/.487 batting line with thirty home runs over 593 plate appearances.
Now, Reynolds will head to an organization that does not appear to have much of an opening at the MLB level. Ryan Zimmerman — who played with Reynolds at the University of Virginia — is firmly ensconced atop the depth chart, with the left-handed-hitting Matt Adams supplementing him on the roster.
To be sure, Reynolds has spent time at other positions. The bulk of his time in the majors has come at third base and he has also appeared a few times in the corner outfield and even (quite briefly) at second. But it has been quite some time since Reynolds lined up at the hot corner, so it’s doubtful he’ll be considered more than a depth piece for the Nats for the time being.
When will Joey Bats understand that by now he’s not game ready, and needs MiLB time anyway???
To the guy above me.. Reynolds is better than Joey Bats.
FINALLY. Back to back .350 OBP, .450 SLG. (Inclusive of Coors Splits)
Always a fan of Reynolds, since 1 year he played for the Yankees.
Should Zimmerman continue to flounder a Reynolds/Matt Adams platoon could suffice in DC. He’s nobody’s Plan A But could be part of a successful Plan B.
This signing, combines with Zim’s anemic performance, lead me to wonder whether the Nats know something about Zim’s physical condition they have chosen not to share. Could explain his slump and laid back approach (with management’s approval) to this year’s spring camp.
That’s the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this – Zimmerman is either hurt or the org knows something. I have no idea what kinda depth WAS has at 1B in the minors, but this signing foreshadows something.
Zimmerman looked like a finished player in ‘16 before last years kind of out of nowhere surge.
Who’s Joey Batts?
Jose Bautista
Big fan of the word “ensconced.” It doesn’t get the usage it should.
How did the Mariners not sign Mark Reynolds? Aren’t all their 1B injured?
No, not yet… Vogelbach
For some reason I was thinking Zimmerman’s contract was up after this season, but he’s signed through 2019 with a club option for 2020. That pretty much eliminates the possibility WAS would trade for a José Abreu this season. After last year’s surprising resurgence, the organization is clearly feeling that “we’re stuck with him” reality they felt in 2016 with Zimmerman.
If NL had DH someone would have signed him a long time ago. 30 bombs are 30 bombs.