Is Lind willing to return to Nats and serve as top bench bat again?

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Adam Lind, who was signed on the eve of spring training but proved to be a vital piece off the bench this season.

PLAYER REVIEW: ADAM LIND

Age on opening day 2018: 34

How acquired: Signed as free agent, February 2017

MLB service time: 10 years, 58 days

2017 salary: $1 million (made an additional $800,000 for playing in at least 110 games).

Contract status: $5 million mutual option for 2018 or $500,000 buyout.

2017 stats: 116 G, 301 PA, 267 AB, 39 R, 81 H, 14 2B, 0 3B, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 1 SB, 0 CS, 28 BB, 47 SO, .303 AVG, .362 OBP, .513 SLG, .875 OPS, -2 DRS (at 1B), -3 DRS (in LF), 0.9 WAR

Quotable: "I just know it's nice to help the team win games. And to tell you the secret to it, I don't think there is a secret. I'm just trying to have a good at-bat. Whether it's the first inning with a start, or two outs in the ninth." - Lind, trying to explain his pinch-hitting success

2017 analysis: The Nationals arrived for spring training believing they needed a better left-handed bat off the bench (and fallback option at first base for Ryan Zimmerman) than Clint Robinson, who struggled the previous season. They wound up signing Lind to a modest deal the day before pitchers and catchers reported to West Palm Beach, and the veteran slugger wound up producing far more than the club reasonably expected at the time.

Lind wasn't needed to start at first base often, only when the resurgent Zimmerman needed a day off. But he provided another option for Dusty Baker in left field when the Nationals were short on players due to injuries. And most importantly, he provided a highly potent bat off the bench late in games.

A starter most of his career in the American League, Lind learned how to handle pinch-hitting duties right away. He homered on opening day and then proceeded to hit .356 (16-for-45) with four homers (a new Nats career record), 13 RBIs and a 1.040 OPS as one of the majors' best pinch-hitters.

And when he did start, Lind had a knack for delivering hits at the most opportune moments. He recorded an RBI once every 4.56 at-bats, the third-best rate among all big leaguers with at least 300 plate appearances, trailing only J.D. Martinez and Giancarlo Stanton.

2018 outlook: Given what he did for them this season, there's no doubt the Nationals would love to have Lind back next season. The catch: He has a rare $5 million mutual option in his deal, meaning both sides have to agree to pick it up in order for him to return. After his productive year off the bench, might Lind find another club willing to offer more playing time in 2018?

If he does return, Lind likely would be asked to hold down the exact same role next season. Zimmerman avoided injuries during his bounceback year, but history suggests the veteran will miss at least some time due to physical ailments in 2018, so Lind would again be a nice fallback option. With the organization well-stocked in outfielders, there should be less need to consider him as anything more than an emergency option in left field.

There are few tasks in baseball more difficult than pinch-hitting, and success doesn't always carry over from year to the next. But Lind does seem to have the right approach to the job, and he embraced that role this season. If he's willing to sacrifice some at-bats in exchange for another chance to hold this role with a perennial contender, the Nationals would happily take him back.