9:51am: The Nationals have formally introduced DeJong’s signing. Proper-hander Josiah Grey was transferred to the 60-day injured listing to make room for the infielder on the 40-man roster.
6:54am: The Nationals are in settlement with infielder Paul DeJong on a one-year deal that ensures him $1MM, in keeping with USA At the moment’s Bob Nightengale. In response to Jon Heyman of the New York Submit, DeJong’s deal contains $600K in potential incentives. The Nationals’ 40-man roster is full, however the membership has a number of candidates for the 60-day IL who could be positioned on the shelf to make room for DeJong as soon as the signing turns into official.
DeJong, 31, was a fourth-round choose by the Cardinals again in 2015 and rose by way of the minors rapidly to make his massive league debut in 2017 on the age of 23. DeJong appeared fairly good in his first season within the majors, slashing .285/.325/.532 (123 wRC+) and clubbing 25 homers in simply 108 video games whereas splitting time between shortstop and second base. DeJong completed second in NL Rookie of the Yr voting to Cody Bellinger that 12 months, and by the point 2018 rolled round he had established himself because the Cardinals’ on a regular basis shortstop.
Previous to DeJong’s second season with St. Louis, the perimeters agreed to a six-year extension that ran by way of the 2023 season with membership choices for 2024 and ’25 that assured him $26MM. Over the following two seasons, DeJong clubbed 49 homers in 274 video games however hit simply .237/.316/.440 (102 wRC+) total because the .349 BABIP that sustained his star-caliber rookie season crashed all the way down to a under common .271 BABIP. Whilst his bat fell to one thing nearer to league common, nonetheless, DeJong’s robust work on protection was sufficient to justify his extension and place within the Cardinals’ lineup as an on a regular basis fixture.
DeJong’s offense continued to take a tumble from there, nonetheless. Whereas his protection remained respectable, DeJong hit simply .200/.273/.352 (72 wRC+) from 2020 to 2023, and finally discovered himself bouncing between the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Giants within the ultimate assured 12 months of his contract extension. DeJong ultimately signed with the White Sox on a one-year, $1.75MM deal final winter, hoping to rebuild his worth whereas taking on for Tim Anderson because the common shortstop on the south aspect of Chicago. 2024 become a stable rebound season for DeJong, as he finally posted an honest .227/.276/.427 (95 wRC+) slash line with 24 homers in 139 video games, his greatest energy output in half a decade. DeJong cut up his season between the White Sox and Royals. He moved to 3rd base in deference to Bobby Witt Jr. upon being dealt to Kansas Metropolis and proved to be a superlative defender on the place regardless of his glove work at shortstop hovering across the league common.
Now that DeJong is about to hitch the Nationals for the 2025 season, it appears probably he’ll function the membership’s on a regular basis third baseman. It’s a task that beforehand appeared prone to go to a platoon of Jose Tena and Amed Rosario, however Tena’s profession wRC+ of simply 80 doesn’t encourage confidence in him as a beginning caliber participant whereas Rosario has the flexibility to maneuver across the infield and outfield as wanted whereas taking part in primarily in opposition to left-handed pitchers. It’s potential Rosario might even be tasked with spelling DeJong in opposition to some lefties, as whereas each veterans are right-handed hitters Rosario is a profession .298/.337/.460 hitter in opposition to southpaws whereas DeJong truly has reverse splits each for his profession and in 2024. Along with probably serving because the membership’s main third baseman, DeJong provides the Nationals a viable backup to CJ Abrams at shortstop with higher protection on the place than both Abrams or Rosario.
The signing ought to considerably increase the ground for the Nationals on the infield, providing the membership a stable defender at third base who has sufficient pop in his bat to offer 20 homers a 12 months despite below-average on-base means. That’s an undeniably helpful participant for a Nationals membership that noticed its third basemen end third from the underside in each wRC+ (67) and fWAR (-0.4) final 12 months. DeJong ought to be capable to simply clear each of these benchmarks, and in doing so enable the membership to be affected person with high third base prospect Brady Home as he establishes himself in opposition to Triple-A pitchers this season with an eye fixed towards making his massive league debut later this 12 months. As soon as Home is able to take over on the sizzling nook, DeJong might develop into spectacular bench depth for the Nationals or a possible commerce piece over the summer season, relying on the place the membership is within the standings at that time.
