Nationals sign veteran infielder César Hernández

Only 90 minutes after clearing three spots on their 40-man roster, the Nationals filled one of them with a veteran infielder who could help in a variety of ways next season: César Hernández.

The Nats signed Hernández to a one-year contract tonight, making the 31-year-old only their second major league free agent addition of the winter to date, with only one more day left to make any more moves before Major League Baseball is expected to institute a lockout of players.

Hernández will make $4 million guaranteed, plus incentives, according to a source familiar with the terms, down from the $5 million salary he earned in 2021.

Hernández is coming off the best power season of his nine-year career, having connected for 21 homers and 21 doubles in 149 games split between Cleveland and the White Sox. He did, however, produce a career-worst .232 batting average and .308 on-base percentage. Over the course of his career, the majority of which he spent with the Phillies, the switch-hitter owns a .270/.345/.384 slash line, with 70 homers, 154 doubles and 335 RBIs.

Primarily a second baseman throughout his career, Hernández won a Gold Glove Award in 2020 when he was charged with only four errors and finished with six Defensive Runs Saved. He regressed this year, though, committing 12 errors and finishing with minus-11 DRS across 142 games.

The acquisition gives a rebuilding Nationals club another veteran middle infielder to go along with Alcides Escobar, who re-signed for $1 million shortly after the season ended. Hernández also brings some versatility, having played shortstop, third base and center field at times during his career, in addition to his natural position at second base.

If the Nats decide to make Hernández their regular second baseman, they could push 21-year-old Luis García to shortstop, the position he mostly played in the minors, and Escobar into a utility role. Or they could use Hernandez as a utility player and move him around the field, or perhaps to push struggling Carter Kieboom for playing time at third base.