What do recent acquisitions mean for Yepez, Chaparro?

The Nationals entered the offseason knowing they needed to acquire a new first baseman. Then they went and essentially acquired two of them over the holidays.

Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell aren’t the same kind of player. Lowe is more well rounded, draws more walks and plays better defense. Bell is more of a prototypical, all-or-nothing slugger who can carry a lineup for weeks at a time but is typically a liability in the field.

So, the plan – as best as we can tell at this point – is for Lowe to be the everyday first baseman, with Bell assuming designated hitter duties. Given the strengths and weaknesses of these two, that seems to make the most sense.

What, though, becomes of the other first basemen/DH types already on the Nats roster?

The team had a bunch of them last season, with Joey Gallo, Joey Meneses and Juan Yepez each getting roughly equal playing time at first base (54 games, 50 games, 45 games, respectively) and Andrés Chaparro (12 games) also getting a look down the stretch.

Gallo and Meneses are now gone, Gallo still seeking a new job after becoming a free agent, Meneses signing a minor league deal with the Mets after the Nationals dropped him from their 40-man roster. But Yepez and Chaparro remain, each likely wondering right now how much – if any – playing time is still available.

Yepez was the more productive hitter of the two, becoming a semi-regular in the lineup over the final three months of the season. In 249 plate appearances, he slashed a respectable .283/.335/.429 with 15 doubles, six homers and 26 RBIs. His 116 OPS+ ranked third on the club among the regulars, behind only Jesse Winker (126) and James Wood (122) and actually ahead of both Luis García Jr. (115) and CJ Abrams (110).

Yepez was a solid hitter against right-handers (.272/.323/.415), but he really excelled against lefties (.304/.356/.456). That could make him a potential platoon partner with Bell, though the veteran’s career splits (.798 OPS vs. righties, .770 vs. lefties) are pretty even.

Lowe doesn’t need a platoon partner, either, as he is owner of a career .795 OPS vs. righties and .776 vs. lefties. And being a far superior defensive player, there wouldn’t be a lot of reason for manager Davey Martinez to play Yepez regularly at first base unless his starter needed a day off.

Chaparro doesn’t have nearly the major league experience as the other guys, but in his limited playing time, there is a sizeable difference in his splits. In 45 plate appearances against lefties, he has slashed .300/.378/.600. In 87 plate appearances against righties, those numbers plummet to .173/.230/.321. (He enjoyed nearly equal success against pitchers from both sides at Triple-A last season: .931 OPS vs. lefties, .907 vs. righties.)

So, where does all of that leave the Nationals as they begin to prepare their potential Opening Day lineup and bench?

Lowe and Bell clearly are going to be close-to-everyday players. Mike Rizzo didn’t acquire them (and pay them their salaries) to sit on the bench with any regularity.

There’s probably room on the bench for either Yepez or Chaparro, but not both. Both still have options, so either could be sent to Rochester to begin the season and wait for a possible call-up. Yepez, by virtue of a bit more big league experience, would probably enter spring training with a leg up for the job, though Chaparro theoretically offers more power potential.

This much is clear: After a revolving door of characters at both first base and DH last year, the Nationals have positioned themselves for much more stability at both spots this year.