The Nationals have claimed outfielder Joey Wiemer off waivers from the Giants, reports Robert Murray of Fansided. San Francisco designated Wiemer for assignment last month in order to open a roster spot for newly signed reliever Jason Foley.
Wiemer, 27 next month, was a fourth-round pick by the Brewers in 2020 and previously drew some top-100 fanfare back in 2022-23. His stock has since dipped as he’s bounced from Milwaukee to Cincinnati to Kansas City via the trade market, and now from Miami to San Francisco following a pair of DFAs.
In parts of three big league seasons, Wiemer carries a tepid .205/.279/.359 batting line with a strikeout rate just under 30%. That said, he popped 13 homers and swiped 11 bags as a rookie in 2023 and has held his own against lefties in the majors, hitting .255/.298/.484. It’s a power-over-OBP skill set, but Wiemer can play all three outfield spots and has a solid glove. He’s drawn positive marks in left, center and right in his career, drawing 11 Defensive Runs Saved and 7 Outs Above Average overall.
Wiemer is out of minor league options, so he’ll need to stay on Washington’s 40-man roster for the rest of the offseason and break camp with the team or else be designated for assignment once again. He can’t be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers.
For now, he projects as a possible bench option who could provide a righty-swinging complement to outfielders like James Wood, Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell III — although it’s also possible that the acquisition of Wiemer bumps Hassell back down to Triple-A. Hassell, unlike Wiemer, has minor league options remaining. A return trip to Triple-A Rochester could afford him everyday at-bats as he hopes to carve out a larger role on the big league club.
Forever Giant – take care of him Nats
Lmao
Your “Forever Giant LOL” schtick isn’t funny
Thanks for the usual humor cop schtick.
Also not entertaining…
You mean, forever brewer!! He’ll never put up better numbers in MLB than what he did in 2023
The Nationals? The “already clogged with five outfielders” Nationals?
How many are any good?
Like one and a half, maybe two, depending on who’s playing that day.
@TheFuzzofKing who is good?
Wood and Lile. Crews is possibly good but doesn’t currently hit.
Wood is good, and surprisingly fast at his age, although I see him more as a First Baseman in a few years. Lile will hopefully continue his beastly second half from last year.
As for Crews, he fell into the traditional Nationals trope of absolutely tearing the cover off the ball, but always hitting it right at a fielder. StatCast aside, those Line Drives were as useful as strikeouts.
Think christian Franklin will be good.
That’s true, dude could end being a 2025 Deadline steal.
All of them are better than him.
@JoeyM – that was my thought too. Arguably though they did need a backup CF for the bench or to stash in the minors.
No, they didn’t. Jacob Young is already on the roster for a backup CF role and they have two other guys in Christian Franklin and Robert Hassell III who are CF capable as well.
Unless a trade is coming, this is an odd spot to use a waiver claim on and fill your 40 man with.
If Hassell or Franklin make the big league team then Weimer gets bumped. Otherwise if neither one forces the issue this spring, the Nats may prefer to send both down to AAA for more development and everyday playing time.
Then it’s Crews in RF, Young in CF, with Wood and Lile sharing LF/DH. Weimer becomes the 5th OF, who they’re ok with sitting on the bench for long stretches.
Wiemer? I barely knew her!
He swiped 111 bags in 2023?????
Watch out Rickey Henderson!!!
In all seriousness…
Joey Wiemer went to high school right down the street from me.
I’ve pulled for him for years!!!
Hopefully he sticks with the Nats!!!
That’s not even catching up… Ricky stole 130 one year lol.
How many top draft picks are being signed to minor league contracts this offseason? Seems like a lot. Shows the crapshoot nature of the draft.
A fourth round pick is not a top draft pick.
Actually it is.
Actually, it is not.
He’s going to be this year’s Duke Ellis.
OMG! I’m sooooo going to miss *checks notes* Joey Wiemer in our OF!
Unless Hassell is going to start it would be a waste to keep him on the bench. Crews and Young also factor into the Nats Outfield but Weimer could serve as a 5th Outfielder/26th man on the roster
Solid depth piece here
He’s out of minor options—can they carry him on the ML roster as a depth piece?