Nationals’ decision on Adam Eaton could open door for Yankees in big way

Adam Eaton would be a huge acquisition for the Yankees.

The Washington Nationals declined outfielder Adam Eaton‘s $10.5 million club option for the 2021 season earlier this week, which was fairly surprising given that team-friendly price coupled with his production in the nation’s capital ever since coming over in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

While Eaton’s release is foreshadowing a stagnant free agent market as owners regroup after suffering financial losses incurred by having no fans in the stands, this could be a prime opportunity for the New York Yankees to strike without having to spend a whole lot.

This offseason could prove to be beneficial for teams who opt to throw around a little extra cash. General manager Brian Cashman could stand to get a number of bargains in the coming weeks, and Eaton would be a tremendous addition if the Yankees are opting to move on from Brett Gardner.

We talked about Joc Pederson being a really cool signing if the Yankees don’t keep Gardy, but that was before we knew Eaton would be becoming a free agent. We didn’t even think that was an option! But the Nats are penny-pinching and it’s going to change the free agency game.

What the Yankees need more than anything is an aggressive contact lefty bat, which is exactly what Eaton brings to the table. He’s a career .282 hitter with a .360 on-base percentage. He plays manageable defense and has experience at all three outfield spots, which could come in handy when players inevitably miss time due to injury.

Even better? The Yankees can prevent him from returning to the upstart White Sox, who could stand to benefit greatly by such an addition.

If the Nationals wouldn’t pick up his $10.5 million option, Eaton doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on in terms of negotiations, especially after slashing .226/.285/.384 across 41 games during the shortened 2020 season. His time to cash in was after the 2019 World Series, when he hit .320 with a .993 OPS in seven games to lift the Nationals to their first-ever championship.

But this is the nature of baseball at the moment. Plenty of deserving players are being let go and won’t be able to earn as much as they had hoped, so a team like the Yankees needs to capitalize, spend a little bit extra, make the necessary additions for a fraction of the cost, and go out and capture a title within the next couple of years.

Eaton is one of those signings that will move the needle for this team in a big way.

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