Free agent choices for lefty bat at first base

Here is a look at some of the left-handed hitting first base possibilities for the Nationals on the free agent market, besides the potential of bringing back Matt Adams.

Eric Thames, 33, can play first base and the outfield, and slashed .247/.346/.505 in 2019 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs for the Brewers.

Mitch Moreland, 34, plays first base and right field, most recently with the Red Sox. He slashed .252/.328/.507 in 91 games with 19 HR and 58 RBIs.

Greg Bird, 27, has dealt with plantar fascia in his left foot. He became a free agent Nov. 27 after playing with the Yankees. He hit .171 in 10 games but has power capability.

Logan Morrison, 32, has 139 homers and 424 RBIs in 10 years, playing first base and left field, most recently for 29 games for the Phillies.

Other possibilities: 33-year-old Lucas Duda, 32-year-old Yonder Alonso, 30-year-old Brad Miller or even 34-year-old Neil Walke, a switch-hitter who can play second base, first base and third base.

And here's a wild card. How about Jason Kipnis, 32, formerly of the Indians? He is a second baseman, but could also play first base in a utility role. His average (.232, .230, .245) over the last three seasons isn't out of this world, but he does have 47 homers in that span.

General manager Mike Rizzo can go back to the familiar and trusted, too. Adams, 31, has played in 205 games for the Nats with 38 homers and 104 RBIs in parts of two seasons. He played in 111 games at first base for Nats last year. Last season, his time was cut short because of a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, but when healthy, he is a great solution to the power bat the Nats crave to help from the left side of the plate and can play first base.

All of these choices have positive and some negatives. Adams is the most proven in D.C., but can he say healthy and be available for long periods of time if the Nats need his services? The Nats would love to have a lefty bat to augment veterans Howie Kendrick and Ryan Zimmerman. Now it is just a question of who Rizzo believes is the best fit.