The Washington Nationals have picked up options on outfielder Adam Eaton and closer Sean Doolittle and declined an option on catcher Yan Gomes, according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman.
Both Doolittle and Eaton’s options are manageable at a combined $16 million for two integral parts to the Nationals’ World Series title.
Sean Doolittle
Doolittle finished an NL-high 55 games, recording 29 saves in 2019. He landed on the injured list in August with knee tendinitis. He returned ahead of the postseason, and was huge for the Nationals.
Doolittle posted a 1.74 ERA and 0.68 WHIP along with two saves and three holds in nine relief appearances.
Adam Eaton
Eaton has since recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in 2017, his first season with the Nationals after he was acquired in a trade from the Chicago White Sox. After missing all but 29 games in 2017 and 95 in 2018, Eaton played 151 games in 2019 for Washington.
He was moved to right field with the emergence of young prospect Victor Robles at center field. Eaton hit .279/.365/.428 with 15 home runs, 49 runs batted in, 15 stolen bases and 103 runs scored.
Bringing back Eaton gives Washington an insurance on depth at outfield and locks in a veteran outfielder to go alongside Robles and Juan Soto.
Yan Gomes
The Nationals also declined an option on catcher Yan Gomes. Gomes helped upgrade Washington’s catcher position that was a huge hole in recent years for the team offensively.
Gomes hit .233/.316/.389 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs in 97 games. In the postseason he had a batting average of .344, including .429 during the NLCS. He started Game 6 and 7 of the World Series while Kurt Suzuki was out with an injury. But, with him being slated for $9 million next season, the Nationals declined the option to shave some of its payroll with top stars like Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon being free agents.
