The Nationals announced Wednesday that they’ve requested unconditional release waivers on outfielder Eddie Rosario, who was designated for assignment earlier in the week when top prospect James Wood was called up to the majors. Once Rosario and the remainder of his $2MM base salary officially clear, he’ll become a free agent who can sign with any team. A new club would only owe Rosario the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the MLB roster or injured list.
Rosario, 32, is a former 30-homer slugger whose bat has declined substantially over the past four seasons. He had a brief and memorable surge with the 2021 Braves after being acquired from Cleveland in a salary-dump trade — .271/.330/.573 down the stretch, plus NLCS MVP honors after going 14-for-25 with three homers — his overall offensive output dating back to 2021 has been sub-par. In 1433 trips to the plate between Cleveland, Atlanta and Washington, he’s batted just .235/.283/.403 (85 wRC+) with increasing strikeout troubles.
The 2024 season has been particularly tough. Rosario posted a strong .253/.319/.530 performance in the month of May, but that’s been bookended by two of the worst months of his career from an offensive standpoint. Overall, he’s hitting just .183/.226/.329 with the Nats, making it a foregone conclusion that he’ll pass through release waivers and become a free agent.
Rosario was a productive everyday outfielder with the Twins from 2017-20, hitting .281/.317/.493 and belting 96 home runs in 2002 plate appearances, but it’s been quite some time since he’s produced near that level over a sample of any meaningful note. Another club will likely take a flier on the veteran’s left-handed bat with another minor league contract, but he’ll probably have to play his way back to the big leagues with a strong showing in Triple-A.
28rings
Yankees fans saying “why doesn’t Cashman pick him up?” in 3,2,1…
LordD99
I was thinking Braves fans.
Stevieoriole
If he doesn’t pitch, the O’s have no use for him
Monkey’s Uncle
I can’t imagine why…
TommyHawkBraves
Hope I’m wrong but it seems inevitable the Braves pick him up.
getrealgone2
The homer fans are begging for it to happen.
TommyHawkBraves
It probably will. They’re playing 2 of Laureano, Wall, Duvall, Williams everyday and Laureano may be heading to the IL. If they like Eddie over their options in AAA (Evans, White, Martinez, Bolt) it could definitely happen. I’d personally rather see Luke Williams get a shot at playing everyday but Snit loves veterans.
bravesfan
Braves need to stay far away from him. I don’t even want him on a minor league deal
Acoss1331
If the Braves do pick him up, it’s probably a minor league deal. Rosario has been atrocious this season…
Codeeg
“Rosario, 32, is a former All-Star whose bat has declined substantially over the past four seasons. ”
Just to nitpick, Rosario was never an allstar.
Tigers3232
When was he an All Star?
Steve Adams
He wasn’t. That was an error on my part. It’s been fixed. Thanks for pointing it out, Codeeg.
CarryABigStick
Fast Eddie bites the dust.
Liberalsteve
Nationals fans and management have to be so thrilled that the overrated Soto didn’t accept that contract
refereemn77
That’s a joke, right? Soto is hitting .300/.437/.560 .996 OPS this season.
Blackpink in the area
People will say it was a bad signing but he helped keep Wood in AAA until July which will end up saving the Nationals a lot of money in the long term. So Rosario earned his money. In a perfect world he would have performed and brought back something in a trade at the deadline but he still earned his money.
TheGr8One
Well thought out take. Kudos. Sometimes the value isn’t always in the numbers.
920falcon
Wood’s injury probably kept him in AAA until July.
TheGr8One
Sure but Rosario signing allowed them to get an extra year of control. Worth much more than the 2 million they paid him down the road.
Rsox
Someone will take a flier on Rosario for the prorated league minimum. Padres could swap out Peralta with Rosario and no one would probably notice. Seitzer in Atlanta fixed him once, maybe he could do it again. Mariners and Astros have been looking for hitters
toycannon
I’ve got this bad feeling Dipoto is going to grab him.
MacGromit
“what did Jerry Dipoto do? what did Jerry Dipoto do?? We’re going to talk to Meg Rowley about a trade or two…”
m.soundcloud.com/user-822093808/wdjdd-remix-2
Go get him, Jerry. M’s can’t keep the Astros at bay with just pitching. you gotta score some runs. even Eddie would be an upgrade.
C Us Sink
Eddie’s .183 average would instantly become one of the highest in our lineup if claimed by Seattle…
Acoss1331
The White Sox can offer Luis Robert. I am hawking on behalf of the White Sox, we don’t need Robert on this team that’s just going to be losing for a while, might as well get prospects in return…
refereemn77
The White Sox have got to be having a fire sale at the deadline I would think. Or certainly in the offseason.
Baseball Babe
Not only does he not hit, but his attitude in the field was definitely “You expect me to run after the ball for a stinkin $2 million?!”
refereemn77
Sat out in the bleachers in LF at Target Field one game with some friends. We came to call him lazy. I don’t know how front offices didn’t see that!
Benjamin101677
I would be surprised if the Braves don’t give him a minor league deal with an opt out date. He has some huge hits with Atlanta has been a fan favorite and the Braves need some outfield help.
If he doesn’t hit in a few weeks and / or the trade deadline results in Atlanta getting a quality outfielder he can just be released.
Melchez17
If he’s a free agent, why would he have to accept league minimum?
Benjamin101677
Because he is on a contract and was released the nationals contract is the one in place so by mlb rules he would only get a league minimum prorated by his new team. Think this rule was made so that a player didn’t tank with a team than go to a new team and get a new huge contract
TheGr8One
I don’t know there’s any rule against a player signing a larger contract Nationals would be on the hook for up to what they owe. You don’t see it for two reasons. A cut player isn’t playing well so why give him more and no player is gonna purposely play bad expecting to come out of it with more. He’d be never signed again. Teams can tank and get better for it not so much for the players.
refereemn77
This! Midseason released players are not usually the top tier, and the contract still applies. The Nats would be paying the difference.