The Nationals have claimed infielder Lucius Fox off waivers from the Orioles, per announcements from both clubs. Baltimore had claimed Fox off waivers from the Royals earlier this month.
Fox, 24, was a big-time international signing by the Giants out of the Bahamas back in the 2015-16 international signing period. Signed to a $6MM bonus, he was viewed as a gifted up-the-middle defender with a promising hit tool but a lack of power. San Francisco clearly wasn’t the only club enamored of his skill set, as Fox has been included in a couple of fairly notable trades — going from San Francisco to Tampa Bay in the Evan Longoria swap and from the Rays to the Royals in exchange for Brett Phillips.
To this point in his career, Fox has gotten on base at a respectable clip but has indeed demonstrated a lack of power. In five minor league seasons, he’s posted a .244/.339/.332 batting line — never topping five home runs or 20 doubles in a given season. Scouting reports, including this one from FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, note that Fox has plus speed and strong defensive tools but is still inconsistent with the glove.
Fox will vie for a spot in a fairly wide-open Nationals infield mix next spring, where Alcides Escobar, Luis Garcia and Carter Kieboom look like the incumbent options at shortstop, second base and third base, respectively. That said, Fox also has a minor league option remaining, so if he lasts on the 40-man roster through the remainder of the offseason, he can be sent to Triple-A without first needing to pass through waivers.
Since the Dodgers “championship” was FAKE, I guess this Earth-shattering move means that Atlanta should just concede next year to the previous LEGIT champions. We’ll reclaim our throne in ‘23 or ‘24 though.
Don Quioxte fighting windmills
Would have been better if he was claimed by New York.
Correction: Lucius Fox was traded to Tampa Bay for Matt Moore, not Evan Longoria. That was Christian Arroyo.
even with fox not amounting to much meant that Rays still got the best part of that deal even without matt duffy in that deal
Maybe if you factor the Rays trading Fox for Phillips later on. But that was kind of a wash for everyone involved. Duffy hardly played for them and Fox never turned into the player people thought he might be.
Matt Moore had done below avg in 2016, and completely blew up into beyond a simple negative following year. Fox doing nothing was better and trade bait made him better than moore
Matt duffy gave quality years although he played relative low games in 2017 and 19.
Good name
Yeah, but Luscious Fox would be an even better name.
Didn’t she used to work with Stormy Daniels?
strong defensive tools but is still inconsistent with the glove.
As a Shortstop
confucius says if you ain’t got the glove then you don’t have strong defensive tools
Yankees miss out on another big name!!!
@datashark, FN hilarious! Well played sir.
Isn’t Lucius Fox the guy who runs Wayne Enterprises for Batman?
Didn’t you get the memo?
Was totally thinking this guys parents are obviously Batman fans
Classic humor today boys and girls. Well played gentlemen.
Hope he was smart with that signing bonus.
Six million is a lot to spend on drugs, strippers and hookers.
“With all do respect Lucious, I came here to do some driving.”
Sounds like a pop singer…
If my name was Lucious Fox, my walk up music would be the theme music from Sanford & Son.