On the heels of the Nationals’ acquisition of center fielder Adam Eaton, shortstop Danny Espinosa skipped the team’s annual Winterfest this weekend because he’s unhappy with his likely relegation to a bench role, a source told Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post. With Eaton in the field, 2016 center fielder Trea Turner is set to take over at short next year, leaving Espinosa without an everyday spot.
The Nats do value Espinosa, evidenced by their unwillingness to non-tender him, but general manager Mike Rizzo didn’t rule out trading the 29-year-old even before the club landed Eaton.
“I could see him as utility player. I could see him as a player you could utilize in a trade context to get another piece that you need,” Rizzo said last month.
If Washington does shop Espinosa, it shouldn’t have difficulty finding a taker, tweets Chelsea Janes of the Post. Espinosa is reasonably priced – he’s due an estimated $5.3MM in his final arbitration year – and has combined for 4.0 fWAR since 2015. The switch-hitter batted a modest .209/.306/.378 in 601 plate appearances last season, but he did club a career-high 24 home runs.
While right-handed pitchers have confounded Espinosa, who has slashed just .216/.294/.367 in 1,967 career PAs against them, he has been useful versus southpaws with a .257/.327/.454 line in 736 trips to the plate. Most of Espinosa’s value, though, has come in the middle infield, where he has totaled 35 Defensive Runs Saved and a 31.9 Ultimate Zone Rating.
By moving Espinosa, the Nats would likely turn to the 24-year-old Wilmer Difo as their primary reserve behind Turner and second baseman Daniel Murphy. They also haven’t closed the door on re-signing free agent Stephen Drew, as FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweeted earlier this week.
I’m sure the Nationals aren’t terribly thrilled by the 86 wRC+ he’s posted in his career, either.
He should be happy they tendered him a contract. They shouldn’t have.
I agree with you 100%!
Come on guys think a little before replying with nonsense comments. It’s pretty simple Espinosa is mad because the Nationals didn’t just non tender him instead and let him become a free agent in a think market for shortstops. It has nothing to do with him losing his starting gig to superior players such as eaton and turner. If they already knew they had no plans in starting him why keep him around? Espinosa is going to be a free agent soon, if he was given a starting gig even with a last place team (which is a very realistic possibility considering his elite defense & cannon arm) it would allow him to maximize his asking price in free agency . If he is relegated to a bench role this season it will only affect his earning potential. please stop and think a little before sounding like total homers.
They didn’t know they’d be able to get a cf, thus pushing Turner back to ss. Nats did the right thing.
With what they were willing to give up, as evidenced by what they did give up for Eaton, they knew quite well that they would be able to get a CFer.
This just came down to the Nationals taking a gamble that there are multiple teams with needs for his services and versatility and they wanted to get something back for him rather then just dump him. Clearly, it was the right decision on their part as though they didn’t get back much, they got back something. That’s usually better than just non-tendering him and getting nothing.
who can blame the guy
He needs to take responsibility for the consequences of his poor play.. Adam Eaton is better than he is – if he doesn’t like it, he should have played better.
He’s got some value because of his glove, but..every team is looking to get better. And the Nats are better with Eaton over Espinosa.
agreed but 24 bombs and gold glove play is worth a lot these days
hahaha a .209 hitter unhappy with bench role thats funny
Got him
A .209 hitter who smacked 24 bombs and is a top 5 defensive SS in the league. Espinosa isn’t great, but let’s not act like he has zero value.
Obv he’s no stud, but cherry-picking stats that he doesn’t play to doesn’t make you look too smart.
If you hit more than you weigh, this doesn’t become an issue.
lol
Lol
Unless you’re Kyle Blanks
It was an issue for John Kruk.
Dusty made the ss job was espinosa’s to lose. he lost it by piling up K after K. take away 2 hot weeks after Turner, the ghost of SS future, was briefly brought up and he hits in the 180s for the year with 1+ K a game. he can be mad, but he has no case.
Could be a good pick up for the Jay’s
Please, just no!
Agreed with Frank. Espinosa is essentially Justin Smoak with the ability to play a good SS and 2B. I’d rather just keep Barney and Goins for half the salary.
That’s a hard no!
Can’t blame Espinosa or The Nationals. He just came off one of his best season a team like the pirates might be a good suitor for him bud I don’t know
When a .684 OPS is considered one of his “best seasons”, then yes, you can blame him.
He’s not great with the stick, but you’re giving his top 5 glove at SS zero credit
Padres?
Cardinals?
Royals?
Cards don’t need him.
They could use him shift Diaz to 3rd which they talked about they would like to do in the future..trade peralta or use him off the bench
Padres seem like the likeliest spot to me.
Why on Earth would the rebuilding Padres trade for him when he only has one more year left on his contract!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
He’s not locked down to a lengthy contract and is a guy they can use without having to start someone’s service clock?
Actually, someone with just a year left makes more sense.
The projected starter is Luis Sardiñas. Not a guy whose service time we are worried about wasting
Padres spent more than that on Alexei Ramirez and Alexi Amarista last year. Somebody has to stand at shortstop. Might as well be a really good one.
Not if we have to give up anything with control and upside to get him
Chapman, cubs, 1 year
Clearly worked
Omg… Did you just… The Cubs were going for the title in 2016! They needed every edge they could get. The 2016 World Series came down to the wire. It’s entirely possible that if they hadn’t made that trade, the Indians would have come out on top. The Padres aren’t going to win the World Series in 2017 with or without Espinosa. Don’t compare them to the 2016 Cubs.
LOL is this really a headline?
The team added better hitters to all of the positions he could play, so he’s mad at the team for improving? He has a better chance winning a championship With this team as a bench player than as a starter. If You’re mad, GTFO Danny!
Exactly!!
Twins should put something involving Santana and Kintzler (throw in Perkins?) for this guy and junk prospects. Move could also shed some payroll dollars…. cuz you know, the Twins needed a new ballpark to compete financially.
lol Espinosa isn’t even worth that
Target field isn’t new?
That’s an extreme overpayment. Not even worth the junk prospects the Twins could offer
He’s gone for sure.
buccos. why not. could be insurance in case jung ho screws up again
Jung is the Pirates 3B. Espinosa has only played 9 games at 3B in his career. They can do better.
Jaso is going to learn to play 3B this winter. Essentially the 1B platoon is moving over to third and Bell is going to be the 1B.
I could see Danny complaining if he hit his weight !
Calling trade to Mets!
Wrong. Mets are loaded with IFs, for once.
Dodgers are better bet. 2B is open, and they need RH bats. And it lets them keep Utley for platoon w Espinoza.
WRONG (Donald Trump voice)
He’s gong to LAA
When the stove is so cold that this is a headline. Hey Danny, jimmy rollins had a better season than you, and he got released
Well he probably won’t be with the team for long
Maybe 2B for the Angels
No absolutely not
Who is slated to play 2B for LAA, anyway?
Cliff Pennington
Lol
Yes. Espinosa is anaheim bound
He damm luck to have a MLB job with that Batting Average. If he thinks he can do better, Good Luck with that.
Pirates or blue Jays are my best guess for a deal that involves Espinosa. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind either destination.
I can’t see why the blue Jays would be interested. They have good infield depth and aren’t interested in high strike out low obp guys.
Time to abandon switch hitting. past due, actually
Do you know which side of the plate he hits better ?
Far better hitting righty (against lefty pitchers)
.209, lucky he is making 5 million no matter how many homers he has.
He makes 2 million The 5 million is an estimation after arbitration, once again please read before commenting.
Pretty commonplace to quote what a player will make in the next season. And to use arb. estimate since they are usually pretty. accurate. So your snark just looks silly
Espinosa should be happy he has a MLB job. Who would want him as a starting SS with that batting average, Good luck with that Danny.
I don’t know about this Danny guy. I’d rather be on the bench for a playoff team than on the infield for the Angels or Marlins.
So damn funny! He’s angry?? How many times did he K vs. LA? Didn’t he K 3x in game 1 leaving a total of 6 men on?
Boohoo, you make millions of bucks to play a game. Grow up and do what the team needs you to do.
trade him to the brewers or white sox,, a team more his speed,
Billy Eppler needs to get on it I think he’d be a great fit for 2nd base with the Angels
Not a Nats fan. Do not care where he goes, though do hope (if he is traded) he gets a good team.
I say he goes to Padres to be a stop gap until their prospects are ready or the Angles and play him at 2nd until they can find a better fit
Going to the Angels is by now a death sentence
For your career
I think bagging on the Angels has just become a trend for people who don’t know s**t about baseball. Yea they’ve given out 3 brutal contracts and have a subpar farm system. But people play them out to be a horrendos team, but they’re not. Last year top pitchers Heaney and Richards, as well as other important players such as tropeano and street all got hurt so they had alot of luck go against them. The team just needs a good defensive 2nd baseman and the pitching staff to finally be healthy and they can start to compete. I mean they’re 2 seasons removed from the best record in the AL but got knocked out in the playoffs by a Royals team who was on a roll coming off a wild card berth. If you check out the roster they have a good young core of players including trout, kalhoun, simmons, cron, maybin, and a young good catching prospect in Taylor Ward. If these guys can finally put it together they have a shot.
I think he might be upset about this being his contract year. whatever the reason, as a fan of his, I am upset by his behavior. this is the classic example of putting yourself ahead of team. i wish him all the success but unless he refutes this report or apologizes, I hope he plays elsewhere next season.
Is it true he is going to the Angels?? Just saw a tweet on bleacher Report
I believe it’s a fit but have not seen anything about it
I take bleacher report with a grain of salt
I just saw from some writer that he was traded not sure if the guy is credible
He’s probably gone, but is trading him for almost nothing (especially after this) to bring in Drew? If I wanted a utility man, why not just sign Drew, for less, and not pay anything in a trade?
If he is so mad, he should just retire and forfeit his $5.5M salary. If he likes getting paid way more than I’ll make in my entire life, then he should shut up and gladly ride the bench
Agreed.
He’s now starting 2nd baseman for the angels
I understand his POV.
He was worth roughly 2 war, centainly not a world beater or all star. But he is clearly stater worthy, top 60 SS/2B (as in 30 teams 2 starters).
I’d say he’s more in the 30-40 range, he’s decidedly average.
24 hrs and is plus on defense at SS.
If he doesn’t wanna ride the bench, and rather sacrifice clubhouse reputation in exchange for more ABs on another team that’s his perogative.
If all of us here in the comments were pro players on the biggest stage, I’m sure some of us would also develop egos about being demoted. Defense and 24 hrs he has his merits.
I’d be discouraged if I was a Nats fan though, not what I want to hear from my guys in terms of being team players. lol
Seems like if I’m almost on a Nats blog with all the hate on his batting average. He’s really not that bad a player, if he can force himself on to another team and an extra 200 at bats that definitely has to help him if his wish comes true.
He’s a bum. And chill with the sabermetrics. They mean nothing.
Does he even have spot to play in Anaheim? Simmons at short. No one special at third. And I doubt the Angels have pujols play 1st given hes gonna be 40 this year.