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Nationals Sign Franchy Cordero To Minor League Contract

By Mark Polishuk | January 15, 2025 at 6:33pm CDT

The Nationals signed outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero to a minor league contract, according to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media.  There are conflicting reports over whether or not the deal includes an invitation to the Nats’ big league spring camp, as Leighton writes that Cordero got an invite while the Washington Post’s Andrew Golden writes otherwise.

Cordero returns to North American baseball after a year spent with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball.  More specifically, most of Cordero’s time was spent with the Lions’ top minor league affiliate, as he played only 23 games with the Lions and struggled to a .129/.151/.200 over 73 NPB plate appearances.

It was hardly the performance Cordero was hoping for in his trip to Japan, which could be why (as per Golden’s report) Washington only issued him an invite to its minor league Spring Training site.  Regardless of the exact nature of Cordero’s contract, the minor league deal is a no-risk move for the Nationals to look at Cordero first-hand and see what he can still bring to the table as he enters his age-30 season.

Cordero hit .217/.283/.395 with 27 home runs over 797 PA and 251 games with the Padres, Royals, Red Sox, and Yankees from 2017-23.  Despite the lack of production, it was easy to see why so multiple teams kept taking chances on Cordero, as his power potential, exit velocity numbers, and plus speed gave the impression that a breakout was just around the corner. However, Cordero’s 34.9% career strikeout rate minimized his impact, as pitchers were often able to turn Cordero’s aggressive approach at the plate into a minus rather than a plus.

Defensively, Cordero has experience at first base and at all three outfield positions, though he isn’t considered to be much of a fielder.  Washington’s minor league depth chart doesn’t have many players with MLB experience at first base or in the outfield, so the Nationals could be viewing Cordero solely as a Triple-A backup plan.

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30 Comments

  1. how bout dem rangers

    6 months ago

    franchy

    Reply
  2. 99socalfrc

    6 months ago

    Franchy Cordero, is capable of things that are super human. Sadly, these feats are a rare occurrence.

    5
    Reply
    • Longtimecoming

      6 months ago

      Watched him in Peoria early on his career in ST and he had the tools. Just couldn’t use them consistently for some reason. He and Franimal both.

      3
      Reply
      • 99socalfrc

        6 months ago

        I remember when he was with the Padres he hit a 489 foot homer vs the D backs. Usually with an effortless swing too.

        3
        Reply
      • RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

        6 months ago

        Wonder if Franimal’s ever gonna make it back to the show. He’s had a couple of solid years overseas, and is somehow only 29.

        Reply
        • Stallionduck

          6 months ago

          Only one year in the NPB so far, but he did end the year quite hot. Might see him back in MLB if he can cut down on the strikeouts. Though Tyler Austin was better in NPB last year

          Reply
        • OldSaltUSN

          6 months ago

          Reyes was offered a multi-year contract by the Nippon Ham-Fighters, and MLB ballplayers can usually make some good money there. He opted for a 1 year contract instead, apparently believing that he can make it back to the bigs for the 2026 season.

          .290/.348/.564 with 25 homers isn’t a bad calling card, and he’s made $7M in career, so he’s probably not broke, but he signed anyhow last October (i.e. too early in the MLB off season to expect to be signed with a MLB club for 2025). Perhaps he has a out clause with the Japanese club if a US club comes calling.

          Reply
    • Stallionduck

      6 months ago

      Imagine a Yu-Gi-Oh card with that description of Franchy Cordero, that would be hilarious

      1
      Reply
    • Herc33

      6 months ago

      So much power and speed but so many other problems playing baseball

      1
      Reply
  3. NYCityRiddler

    6 months ago

    His brief appearance in the Bronx still gives me nightmares. Ahahahahaha!

    Reply
  4. DigglinDickers

    6 months ago

    I’m just waiting for some Sasaki rumors.

    1
    Reply
  5. swanhenge

    6 months ago

    Dude can hit em a mile. But that’s about where it ends with Franchy

    Reply
  6. آلي مكبيل_.._.بيتزا بيبيروني آشتون كوتشر

    6 months ago

    I remember watching him in the minors thinking that he swings like Darryl Strawberry. I was really hoping he would piece things together.

    1
    Reply
    • deweybelongsinthehall

      6 months ago

      My father said when Strawberry was a rookie, he had the best swing he saw since Ted Williams, Franchy is definitely not to be compared with Strawberry never mind Williams. Having witnessed Franchy hit it a mile, such was too rare of an occurrence to in my view waste a minor league spot on him. Having nothing against him, I hope I’m wrong.

      1
      Reply
      • آلي مكبيل_.._.بيتزا بيبيروني آشتون كوتشر

        6 months ago

        I don’t mean any disrespect to your dad’s opinion. There are videos available showing their respective swings. Ted Williams does not have similar hitting mechanics as Darryl Strawberry. While both great hitters, Strawberry’s longer stride complemented his tall, lanky build, enabling him to generate tremendous leverage and torque; similar to Franchy. Williams, with his shorter, more controlled stride, relied on his exceptional mechanics and hip rotation for power. While this is more about their approach than mechanics, Williams was meticulous about pitch selection, aiming to get a good pitch to hit. Strawberry, while powerful, was sometimes more aggressive and prone to chasing pitches outside the zone;similar to Franchy. Unfortunately, all of the tools didn’t lead to success for Franchy and would benifit from watching Williams as he is relying more on raw talent and athleticism that a methodical approach. Feel free to watch them side-by-side and form your own opinion. Youtube has some excellent slow motion film breaking down each.

        3
        Reply
      • Jizzrael

        6 months ago

        Is your dad Roger Beshens? If not, then stop making a weird strawman where you shoehorn your dad to make it seem like OP is comparing Franchy to Ted Williams.

        Reply
      • MLB-1971

        6 months ago

        Dewey – roster filler…..the Red Sox had a lot of that at AAA Worcester last year.

        Reply
  7. wbz41

    6 months ago

    “It felt wrong not to swing.”

    Reply
  8. gholly618

    6 months ago

    WTH cares.

    Reply
    • Gwynning

      6 months ago

      Yer mom for one, wait- hang on… yup, yer sister makes two.

      4
      Reply
  9. JackStrawb

    6 months ago

    “No risk contract”??

    He’s a bad corner defender with a 73 OPS+ over the last 3 years. He’s sub-replacement level. He has no upside.

    Every PA he takes, every inning he plays in the minors is time he takes away from someone who might actually contribute a few productive PAs for a contending Nats team in 2026 or 2027.

    Unless someone in the Nats org is paying off a debt this is the kind of signing that, while trivial, says a great deal about a FO.

    Reply
    • Gwynning

      6 months ago

      All he has is upside, as evidenced by yet another swing by another club. Your second paragraph is correct, though.

      1
      Reply
  10. Rsox

    6 months ago

    When you can’t hit in the NPB it’s time to try the KBO, if that doesn’t work Mexico. If that fails then there’s probably a beer league softball team somewhere looking for ringers

    Reply
    • Now Yu Know

      6 months ago

      Maybe Savannah Bananas?

      1
      Reply
      • Rsox

        6 months ago

        Yet another option

        Reply
  11. Gwynning

    6 months ago

    His best days may be behind him, but I feel like this is a decent MiLB signing. He can at least teach the younguns a thing or two and recant his many tales of The Show. Best wishes Franchy!

    3
    Reply
  12. dclivejazz

    6 months ago

    This Nats fan implores “why, Lord, why?” This seems like a total waste of a move, even in terms of throwing spaghetti at a wall.

    Reply
  13. Dumpster Divin Theo

    6 months ago

    Ooh la la

    Reply
  14. novaccine4me

    6 months ago

    Start printing those playoff tickets. Frenchy is what we were missing

    Reply
  15. PCA Ballin’

    6 months ago

    Bat speed king

    Reply

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