Eaton reportedly returning to White Sox on one-year deal

Adam Eaton's tenure with the Nationals officially ended today when the free agent outfielder decided to return to the organization that sent him to D.C. in a blockbuster four years ago.

Eaton has signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the White Sox that also includes an $8.5 million club option for 2022, according to NBC Sports Chicago. The deal is pending a physical.

It's a somewhat surprising return to the South Side for Eaton, who spent the 2014-16 seasons with the White Sox before being traded to the Nationals for three pitching prospects, including 2012 first-round pick Lucas Giolito. Now the two will be teammates, Eaton (who just turned 32 on Sunday) likely starting in right field for an emerging Chicago club that has seen Giolito blossom into an ace.

The Dec. 7, 2016 trade at the Winter Meetings held at National Harbor elicited a wide range of opinions at the time, and it remains a topic of heated debate four years and one day later.

Yes, the Nationals did give up a future ace and two other promising young pitchers: Reynaldo López and Dane Dunning (who the White Sox just traded to Texas on Monday night for veteran right-hander Lance Lynn). But Eaton was the player general manager Mike Rizzo thought he was getting, even if major knee and ankle injuries suffered in April 2017 restricted his most significant contributions to one season.

That one season, though, arguably made the trade worth it in the end. Eaton played in 151 regular season games in 2019, batting .279 with a .365 on-base percentage, 15 homers and 49 RBIs. And then he hit .320 with a .433 on-base percentage, .993 OPS, two homers and six RBIs in the World Series, playing a key role in securing Washington's first title in 95 years.

At the time of the trade, Rizzo touted Eaton's club-friendly contract, which included a $9.5 million option for 2020 and a $10.5 million option for 2021. But after a disappointing season that saw him bat .226 with a .285 on-base percentage, four homers and 17 RBIs and 41 games - while also regressing into one of the worst right fielders in the majors according to defensive metrics - the Nationals decided not to bring him back for a fifth season.

The Nats bought out Eaton's 2021 option for $1.5 million in October, making him a free agent. Though they technically could have re-signed him at a lower salary, indications all along were that the club was ready to move on and seek a new corner outfielder who provides more power. Among the large group of free agents still available are George Springer, Marcell Ozuna, Michael Brantley and Joc Pederson.

Eaton's final numbers in 310 games across four seasons in D.C.: a .279 batting average, .365 on-base percentage, .419 slugging percentage, 26 homers, 112 RBIs and one World Series ring.