Nats have multiple paths in search to bolster infield

The Nationals need a big bat, someone to hit behind Trea Turner and Juan Soto, and the most logical position for that person to play is a corner outfield position.

But it doesn't have to work out quite like that. Just as, let's say, a presidential candidate has more than one path to 270 electoral votes, general manager Mike Rizzo has more than one path to try to boost his club's lineup.

The state of the Nationals infield is very much in flux as the offseason begins. We know Turner is returning at shortstop. We know Starlin Castro is signed for another year and figures to remain the starting second baseman (unless he moves to third base). We know there's a chance Ryan Zimmerman and/or Howie Kendrick re-sign for one more year to hold at least part of a first base platoon. And we know Carter Kieboom and Luis García remain very much in the organization's long-term plan, though we don't know for sure if they're part of the 2021 plan.

So there are several different avenues Rizzo could take in trying to bolster his lineup with another infielder or two. And as you'll see from the following list of available free agents, there's a wide range of possibilities ...

DJ LeMAHIEU
Opening day 2021 age: 32
2020 stats: 216 PA, .364 AVG, .421 OBP, .590 SLG, 1.011 OPS, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 0 DRS (at 1B, 2B and 3B), 2.8 bWAR
Projected contract: 4 years, $64 million
Nats' likely interest level: Moderate to high. When he entered free agency two years ago, many folks wondered if LeMahieu would still be an above-average hitter after leaving Colorado. Update: He's not an above-average hitter now, he's an elite hitter. Unless you now wonder if his massive production was just a product of Yankee Stadium. At some point, though, don't you have to acknowledge this guy knows how to hit wherever he plays? And while a repeat of his 2020 numbers probably isn't likely, he remains an excellent defensive infielder who can play three positions. And those just so happen to be three positions of current (and more so long-term) need. This feels like a guy the Nationals should seriously court.

JUSTIN TURNER
Opening day 2021 age: 36
2020 stats: 175 PA, .307 AVG, .400 OBP, .460 SLG, .860 OPS, 4 HR, 23 RBI, -1 DRS (at 3B), 1.3 bWAR
Projected contract: 2 years, $26 million
Nats' likely interest level: Moderate to high. Big bats cost a lot. Not only in terms of dollars, but typically in years. That's what could make Turner an appealing option for the Nationals this winter. At his age, he won't be getting a long-term deal. But there's every reason to believe he can still provide a big bat (and decent defense at third base) for another season or two, given his rock-solid track record. Will he actually become available? It's tough to imagine the Dodgers letting him go. But if for some reason they do, the Nats should be ready to pounce.

DIDI GREGORIUS
Opening day 2021 age: 31
2020 stats: 237 PA, .284 AVG, .339 OBP, .488 SLG, .827 OPS, 10 HR, 40 RBI, -2 DRS (at SS), 0.9 bWAR
Projected contract: 3 years, $39 million
Nats' likely interest level: Low. Gregorius' left-handed bat would be welcome in the Nationals lineup. But where would he play? He's a career shortstop, and this team is not looking to make a change at shortstop anytime soon. He did, however, play a little bit of second and third bases back in 2014 with the Diamondbacks, so it's not out of the question he could change positions in D.C. Still, given the other options that should be available to them, this doesn't feel like something that sits high on the Nats' list of possibilities.

MARCUS SEMIEN
Opening day 2021 age: 30
2020 stats: 236 PA, .223 AVG, .305 OBP, .374 SLG, .679 OPS, 7 HR, 23 RBI, -5 DRS (at SS), 0.3 bWAR
Projected contract: 2 years, $16 million
Nats' likely interest level: Low. Like Gregorius, Semien is a career shortstop, though he has a little bit more experience at second and third bases. So he's not a perfect fit for the Nationals. And he's coming off a down year after a breakthrough 2019 in which he finished third in the American League MVP race. If you believe 2020 was a mirage, he could wind up a real bargain. But again, he's probably not high on the Nats' list because of his position.

KOLTEN WONG
Opening day 2021 age: 30
2020 stats: 208 PA, .265 AVG, .350 OBP, .326 SLG, .675 OPS, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 6 DRS (at 2B), 1.1 bWAR
Projected contract: 1 year, $8 million
Nats' likely interest level: Low to moderate. Most around the sport were shocked last week when the Cardinals declined Wong's $12.5 million option. That decision offered up quite an ominous sense of how bad the market is going to be this winter. Wong might just return to St. Louis on a lesser deal, but perhaps another club that values his Gold Glove defense at second base comes calling and woos him.

TOMMY LA STELLA
Opening day 2021 age: 32
2020 stats: 228 PA, .281 AVG, .370 OBP, .449 SLG, .819 OPS, 5 HR, 25 RBI, -7 DRS (at 2B), 0 DRS (at 3B), 0 DRS (at 1B), 0.5 bWAR
Projected contract: 2 years, $14 million
Nats' likely interest level: Moderate. A veteran, left-handed batter who can play second, third and first bases? Sounds like the kind of player the Nationals would be interested in, right? La Stella is a solid hitter, though his glovework leaves something to be desired. Still, if the Nats are ready to move on from Asdrúbal Cabrera but want another player in his mold, this guy comes close to fitting the description.

CARLOS SANTANA
Opening day 2021 age: 34
2020 stats: 255 PA, .199 AVG, .349 OBP, .350 SLG, .699 OPS, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 5 DRS (at 1B), 0.5 bWAR
Projected contract: 1 year, $6 million
Nats' likely interest level: Moderate to high. After a huge All-Star performance in 2019, Santana really struggled in 2020 for Cleveland. Was that a "Soul Sacrifice" on his part, or was he a victim of some "Black Magic Woman" voodoo? He does seems like a good candidate for a bounceback in 2021, and if nothing else he gets on base at a high clip and is quite Smooth defensively. If the Nationals are looking for a switch-hitting first baseman to pair up with Zimmerman, they might just want to call up Santana and ask: "¿Oye Como Va?"

MITCH MORELAND
Opening day 2021 age: 35
2020 stats: 152 PA, .265 AVG, .342 OBP, .551 SLG, .894 OPS, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 1 DRS (at 1B), 1.0 bWAR
Projected contract: 1 year, $2 million
Nats' likely interest level: Moderate to high. Speaking of left-handed first basemen, here's a prime candidate for that role in 2021. After a red-hot start with the Red Sox this summer, Moreland was traded to the Padres and crumbled. Still, you pretty much know what you're gonna get with him. He's not an everyday answer at first base, but he'd pair nicely with Zimmerman.

Other potential candidates: Jake Lamb, C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop, Jedd Gyorko, Brad Miller