Nationals confident they can keep Strasburg or Rendon — but not both
Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner is ready to say goodbye to either Stephen Strasburg or Anthony Rendon, but he’s still optimistic the World Series champions won’t lose both premier free agents.
“We really can only afford to have one of those two guys,” Lerner told NBC Sports Washington on Thursday. “They’re huge numbers. We already have a really large payroll to begin with.”
Last season, the Nationals lost another homegrown all-star, Bryce Harper, to the Philadelphia Phillies.
They’re scheduled to have a payroll of US$228 million in 2020.
Strasburg, 31, opted out of the final year of his contract to enter free agency.
Rendon, 29, hit .319 with 34 home runs and 126 RBIS last season. He was third in voting for National League MVP.
Strasburg was the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLB draft. He is 112-58 in 239 career starts with a 3.17 ERA. He went 18-6 with 251 strikeouts last season.
GM Mike Rizzo reportedly has said he would like a decision from both players this week regarding their future plans.
Lerner said the Nationals have contingency plans in the event the team loses both players.
“We can give them a great offer, which we’ve done to both of those players,” Lerner said. “They’re great people. We’d be delighted if they stay. But it’s not up to us, it’s up to them. That’s why they call it free agency.”
The Nationals have reached a one-year deal with infielder Howie Kendrick, bringing back the post-season hero for another season, according to multiple reports.
Kendrick will return to the World Series champions for US$6.25 million, with a mutual option for 2021.
Kendrick hit a grand slam in the 10th inning of the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance the Nationals to the next round.
He also put the Nationals in the lead for good in Game 7 of the World Series against Houston with a home run in the seventh inning that clanked off the foul pole.
Kendrick has done his part in the regular season with Washington the last three years, as well. He batted .344 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIS this past season in 121 games.
Minnesota has agreed to a oneyear, Us$4.25-million deal with veteran free agent catcher Alex Avila, according to multiple reports.
The 32-year-old left-handed hitter has played 11 seasons, eight with the Twins’ American League Central rival Detroit. He also played one season in the division with the Chicago White Sox.
Avila is a career .235 hitter, with a .348 on-base percentage over 995 games. He also has played for Arizona and the Chicago Cubs.
He has 103 home runs and 386 RBIS, and was an all-star in 2011 when he batted .295 with 19 home runs and 82 RBIS for the Tigers.
The Chicago Cubs have signed free agent right-hander Dan Winkler to a one-year, US$750,000 deal, according to multiple reports.
Winkler, 29, has an 8-2 record with a 3.68 ERA over 117 games in five seasons with the Braves, all in relief. He posted a 3-1 mark last season in 27 appearances with a 4.98 ERA, and still has one minor-league option remaining.
Winkler was traded to the San Francisco Giants in a deadline deal that sent right-hander Mark Melancon to Atlanta, but he was outrighted off the Giants’ 40-man roster one day later.
After he was picked up to close out last season with the New York Mets, right-hander Brad Brach will return to the club in 2020 on a oneyear free agent deal, multiple outlets reported on Friday.
According to The Athletic, Brach’s deal will net him US$850,000 from the Mets, with the Chicago Cubs still paying him an additional $500,000 in 2020. The Cubs released him on Aug. 5.
Brach also has a player option with the Mets for $1.25 million in 2021 that can increase with appearance incentives next season, according to The Athletic.