Nats pick up Doolittle's option, Harper headlines new free agents

Not that there was ever any doubt they would, but the Nationals today formally announced they have picked up Sean Doolittle's $6 million option, guaranteeing their All-Star closer will return in 2019.

With the World Series now complete, baseball's offseason began this morning, with 145 major leaguers officially becoming free agents. That list includes eight Nationals players: Bryce Harper, Matt Wieters, Mark Reynolds, Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera, Jeremy Hellickson, Tim Collins and Joaquin Benoit.

Doolittle could have joined that group and become a free agent himself had the Nationals decided to buy out his contract for $500,000 instead of picking up the $6 million. But they weren't about to part ways with the 32-year-old reliever, who in spite of a two-month stint on the disabled list with a stress reaction in his left foot posted dominant numbers in 43 appearances (1.89 ERA, 25 saves, 0.600 WHIP, 60 strikeouts, six walks).

Acquired from the Athletics in a July 2017 blockbuster that also brought Ryan Madson to Washington in exchange for reliever Blake Treinen and prospects Jesus Luzardo and Sheldon Neuse, Doolittle immediately became a fan favorite, both for his performance on the field and his conduct off it.

The left-hander made $4.38 million this season to wrap up a five-year, $10.5 million contract he signed with Oakland in 2014. That contract, which the Nationals inherited at the time of the trade, included two club options: one for $6 million in 2019 (which was picked up today) and another for $6.5 million in 2020 (which the team will decide later whether to exercise).

The Nationals have only one other significant decision to make this week with one of their free agents. They have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit a one-year qualifying offer to Harper, which by league rules would be for $17.9 million.

As was the case with Doolittle's option, this will be a no-brainer decision for the Nats. Though Harper also faces an easy decision to decline the qualifying offer during the 10-day window that begins Friday, the transaction ensures the Nationals would receive a compensatory draft pick should Harper sign at least a $50 million deal with another organization.

It's still unclear what exactly the compensatory pick would be. If the Nationals stayed under the luxury tax this season, the pick would come before the third round of the 2019 draft. If they went over the luxury tax, they would receive a pick after the fourth round.