WASHINGTON — Ian Desmond’s tormented offseason officially came to a close when he agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers over the weekend.
The former Nationals shortstop will change positions once in Arlington, agreeing to fill a need in left field after shopping himself around at his natural position all winter.
You’re probably all too familiar with Desmond’s cautionary tale by now, the resolution to which actually included one final gut punch. Desmond turned down a $107-million extension from the Nationals after 2013, which would have paid him an additional $89.5 million on top of his two-years-remaining salary at the time.
He bet on himself, and regressed in consecutive seasons, continuing an already downward trend stemming from his career-best 2012 season. By far his worst year in the big leagues, the 2015 season unfortunately came at the absolute worst time, during his walk year.
The Nationals then offered Desmond a one-year qualifying offer, valued at $15.8 million, but he rejected that, too, confident his strong second half of the season was enough to prove his miserable first half was a fluke.
And, in the end, Desmond’s deal with the Rangers is worth $8 million, meaning he’s cost himself an additional $7.8 million in 2016 alone. A horrible, horrible twist of fortune.
Desmond’s steadily declining production wasn’t the only hindrance keeping him sidelined as long as he was; that qualifying offer he rejected meant whichever team he eventually signed with would have to give up their top non-protected draft pick.
The Rangers forfeit the 19th overall pick in the 2016 draft, which now becomes the Nationals’ 29th overall pick as compensation. The Nats received the 28th overall pick as compensation for Jordan Zimmermann, who signed with Detroit, earlier in the offseason, and forked their original first-round pick over to the Mets to sign Daniel Murphy.
Desmond may have taken a bath, as far as future earnings go, but he left behind one heck of a footprint as a pillar of the D.C. community.
Best wishes to our friend @IDesmond20 w/ the @Rangers. He'll always be the model we show our scholars. #Dorito https://t.co/Ra1nGDZ14Q
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Nats Youth Academy (@NatsAcademy) February 28, 2016@NatsAcademy @Rangers thank you for allowing me to be a part. Will always be part of my family.
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Ian Desmond (@IDesmond20) February 28, 2016Good luck, Ian. We wouldn't be where we are today without you. https://t.co/lRvcQF0a3i
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Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 29, 2016@Nationals And I wouldn't be where I'm at without you. We did good together. Keep the @NatsAcademy going strong. All the best.
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Ian Desmond (@IDesmond20) February 29, 2016“Keep on supporting your team. This is an exciting organization,” Desmond reminded Nationals fans last September. “Come out and cheer ’em on, and love ’em and don’t buy all the hype made in the media, and just come out and love ’em for who they are that day.”
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