Nationals predicted to sign $14 million veteran first baseman, would move Luis Garcia Jr. back to natural position

Nationals predicted to sign $14 million veteran first baseman, would move Luis Garcia Jr. back to natural position originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Washington Nationals are set to go through another rebuild year, but they don’t really have any veterans to mentor their younger players. They also have younger players set to play not in their natural positions.

Fansided’s Christopher Kline predicts that Nationals will find one player to solve both of those problems, and sign Rhys Hoskins to be their first baseman. This would push Luis Garcia Jr. back to second base, as he’s set to be the first baseman with only two games experience.

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“The Washington Nationals are not trying to compete right now, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try to make any moves. Signing a veteran like Rhys Hoskins could not only give them a first baseman they could really use, but it would give them a clubhouse leader that they lack. Right now, Luis Garcia Jr., a player with just two big league games of experience at first base, is expected to start at the position while Nasim Nunez slots in at second base. Why not give Hoskins a look at first base, play Garcia at his natural position, and let Nunez continue to develop?” Kline wrote.

This past season, Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416/.748 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs, and 43 RBI in 90 games. However, just the season before where he was the starting first baseman for the whole season, he hit 26 homers and 82 RBI in 131 games. Overall, he would be a great power bat to add the lineup for Washington.

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Hoskins is projected to receive a two-year, $14 million deal, and for the Nats, that could be a smart move to get a veteran first baseman on their team to mentor their young core.

Hopefully the Nats make this move soon, or another team might see the value in Hoskins, and swoop in and take him.

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