Rob Grabowski- USA TODAY Sports
When the Washington Nationals acquired David DeJesus, many did not quite understand the move. DeJesus was in the final year of a two-year deal with a $6.5 million option for the 2014 season, a pretty hefty price tag for a fourth outfielder, which DeJesus would theoretically be. However, DeJesus is only 33 and capable of playing for extended periods of time. He is a natural outfielder who is strong defensively and hits lefties and rigthties consistently, though the numbers do not show that this season.
When Washington put DeJesus back on waivers, eyebrows rose once again. What sense did it make for Washington to trade for a player they were just going to place back on waivers? One media outlet suggested Washington “made a mistake” claiming DeJesus, but that doesn’t make sense because Washington was not obligated to acquire DeJesus at all costs. What’s more, Washington flat out released organizational mainstay Roger Bernadina, so why would they release a player to make a roster spot for a player they did not actually want? The Nationals could have just demoted a player and brought someone else up as a placeholder. Washington acquired DeJesus to use him off the bench as a left handed bat with pop.
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But maybe, just maybe, flipping DeJesus somewhere else makes some sense for the Nationals. DeJesus’ team option is hefty, probably equivalent to what GM Mike Rizzo would spend to retool his bench this offseason — something I think goes without saying is a must for this winter. What Washington could be doing is trying to get some value for DeJesus, who could reel them in a good prospect from a team with no intentions of picking up DeJesus’ option after the season.
Rizzo is said to have wanted DeJesus since 2010, and if that is true, Rizzo probably wants to keep him, just not for $6.5 million. What Rizzo could be doing is bringing in DeJesus, giving him an idea of what playing in Washington is like, and perhaps setting Washington up for a one year deal with an option for DeJesus at less money, giving him more flexibility with the rest of his bench, which he will definitely retool.
Acquiring DeJesus may make more sense than originally thought; it’s all about reading between the lines.
