The Washington Nationals continue to reshape their roster. Wednesday, the Nationals declined 2021 club options on Adam Eaton and Anibal Sanchez. They also declined the team’s portion of mutual options on Howie Kendrick and Eric Thames.
The Nationals avoid a total of $33 million in options by declining the four veterans. Sanchez was the highest option at $12 million. Instead he will receive a buyout of $2 million. Eaton’s was worth $10.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout. Kendrick had a $6.5 million mutual option, but will receive a $2.25 million buyout. Thames’ mutual option was worth $4 million, but he will receive a $1 million buyout.
The Nationals acquired Eaton ahead of the 2017 season in a trade that included then-top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito. The Nationals expected to have a cornerstone outfielder and top of the order guy. Yet an ACL tear during the 2017 season seemingly marred Eaton’s four seasons in Washington.
After playing a combined 118 games between 2017 and 2018, Eaton played 151 games during the Nationals’ World Series-winning 2019 season. However, the 31-year old Eaton struggled in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, producing a slash line of .226/.285/.384 which was far below his career average of .282/.360/.416.
His departure to free agency leaves the Nationals with a need for a corner outfielder. Juan Soto has played left field primarily through his young career. But, he played six games towards the end of the season in right field. Victor Robles is locked in at center field. Adam Stevenson is expected to be the fourth outfielder.
Sanchez, 36, appeared to resurrect his career in 2019, as he solidified the back end of the Nationals’ starting rotation. He was magnificent in the NLDS and NLCS during the Nationals run to the World Series. However, 2020 he regressed with his ERA ballooning to 6.62 in 11 starts. The Nationals may now look to find a fourth starter behind the strong trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin for next season.
Kendrick, 37, struggled from the start in 2020. He spent the first two weeks of summer camp in quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols. He returned to the team but never quite got in a groove, hitting .275/.320/.385 in a 100 appearances. He ended the season on the injured list.
It was a huge drop-off from his stellar 2019 season. Coming back from a ruptured Achilles in 2018, Kendrick was a key cog in the Nationals batting order, hitting .344/.395/.572 in 121 games. He was just impressive in the postseason, earning the 2019 NLCS MVP honors.
Coming off a disappointing season, Kendrick is mulling retirement after 15 years in the Majors.
For Thames, 33, there was a lot of excitement with his signing this off-season. However, the muscular slugger was a huge disappointment. He hit just .203 with a .317 slugging percentage. He had 42 strikeouts against 14 walks in 141 plate appearances and failed to provide protection in the middle of the Nationals’ order.
