Next on Nats' shopping list: left fielder

After most teams closed down shop over the holidays, the Hot Stove League should re-commence this week, as teams try to address the remaining holes on their rosters in advance of spring training. (Which begins in only six weeks!)

Most of the top free agents already signed last month, but there is a swath of unsigned major leaguers still out there. And that could play to the Nationals’ advantage.

We knew the Nats weren’t going to be in on any prominent (i.e. expensive) free agents, but they have needed to make at least a few affordable additions this winter. And after addressing third base (Jeimer Candelario) and No. 5 starter (Trevor Williams), the clear top remaining need is in left field.

As we’ve mentioned before, the depth chart in left field currently begins with Alex Call and Stone Garrett. And with all due respect to those guys, it’s just not realistic to think the Nationals would open the season with those two and nobody else at the position.

So the time should be coming soon when Mike Rizzo strikes a deal with somebody more experienced. And there are a decent number of potential candidates out there.

The list includes, in no particular order: David Peralta, Jurickson Profar, A.J. Pollock, Trey Mancini, Andrew McCutchen, Corey Dickerson, Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham, Ben Gamel, Raimel Tapia, Albert Almora, Kole Calhoun, Robbie Grossman and Chad Pinder.

No, those names aren’t going to get anybody all that excited. The most recognizable among them are all past their prime. But they’re all more experienced than anybody the Nationals currently have on the roster, and all should be available at reasonable prices.

It should be noted the Nats don’t necessarily have to sign a left fielder. They have some flexibility to move other guys around. If there’s a right fielder they prefer, they could move Lane Thomas to left. If there’s a first baseman they’d rather have, they can move Joey Meneses to left.

But the organizational preference appears to keep those two returning players at the positions they manned at the end of last season, making left field the hole that needs to be filled before spring training.

The Nationals have been trying to fill in some of the other margins of the roster the last few weeks with the additions of versatile role players who could come off the bench this year. They added another possible candidate to that mix Monday in Michael Chavis, who agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp, a source familiar with the deal confirmed.

Chavis, 27, has played mostly first base during his big league career, which includes 1,090 plate appearances from 2019-22 for the Red Sox and Pirates. A right-handed hitter, he has also played second base, third base, left field and right field.

Chavis had a rough 2022, though, for Pittsburgh, finishing with a .229/.265/.389 slash line over 426 plate appearances. He did pop 14 homers, but he also struck out a whopping 126 times while drawing a meager 19 walks. The Pirates designated him for assignment in late September, ultimately making him a free agent before he could reach arbitration for the first time in his career.

Chavis doesn’t appear to have an inside track at a spot on the Nationals’ Opening Day roster. If Meneses starts at first base, the team probably would prefer a left-handed backup, which either could be Candelario moving across the diamond or veteran Matt Adams making the team off his own minor league deal.

If something goes wrong with anyone else, Chavis could force his way into the Nats’ plans. More likely, he could open the season as the first baseman at Triple-A Rochester and be a candidate for a promotion if the need arises at some point.

The Washington Post was first to report Chavis’ signing.