WASHINGTON — It’s been a humbling offseason for free agent shortstop Ian Desmond.
While the 30-year-old former National hopes to still sign a long-term deal, and has gotten bites from several teams, he remains unsigned less than two weeks out from the start of spring training.
It’s been several years since Desmond reportedly turned down an extension offer from the Nats which would have paid him an additional $89.5 million through 2020. That offer came after the 2013 season; his production has continued a downward trend since.
After hitting a career high .292/.335/.511 in 2012, Desmond’s average, on-base and slugging percentages have steadily declined, with the shortstop reaching his nadir with a .233/.290/.384 slash line last season.
Desmond has also become a liability in the field. His fielding efficiency has crumbled, with errors skyrocketing — especially thanks to the 9 he had last April — from 15 in 2012 to 27 in 2015, while his ultimate zone rating and fielding percentage have also fallen since 2013.
It’s not just production preventing him from reaching peak value. Any interested teams would have to give up their highest non-protected draft pick to sign Desmond, essentially doubling their risk. The only team that wouldn’t?
The Nationals.
So why would they want him?
Re-signing Desmond to a one-year prove-it deal would be the epitome of a low risk, high reward scenario for the Nationals. He is a former All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger and — with 88 home runs and 79 stolen bases over the past four seasons — Desmond is still a rare blend of power and speed at his position.
With weeks remaining before full squads report, this conversation may still be a bit premature. Free agents signing high-dollar deals in February is not unheard of, after all.
But it is February, and Desmond is still a free agent.
Adding a bat like Desmond’s is the type of move which could put a borderline contender over the top…
Yo, what up?
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Ian Desmond (@IDesmond20) February 11, 2016Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan on Twitter.
