Mark Reynolds agrees to deal with Nats (updated)

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

April 12, 2018, 4:56pm

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With the offense struggling without Daniel Murphy and Adam Eaton on the disabled list, plus some regulars not hitting as well as in the past, are the Nationals looking to add another big bat with experience?

Free agent first baseman Mark Reynolds has agreed to minor league deal to join the Nats, according to published reports. The Reynolds deal was first reported by Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Update: MASNSports.com has confirmed the Mark Reynolds deal.

Reynolds played the last two seasons for the Rockies. Last year, the 11-year veteran hit 30 homers and drove in 97 RBIs, hitting .267, but also struck out 175 times over 148 games. He has also played for the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, Yankees, Brewers and the Cardinals.

Reynolds has hit 281 homers with 811 RBIs in 1,524 games. His best run was 2008 through 2012, when he combined to hit 164 homers with the Diamondbacks and the Orioles.

It is a somewhat curious move because the Nats already have Ryan Zimmerman at first base.

Maybe its due to the fact that he also went to the University of Virginia with Zimmerman and has a good relationship with general manager Mike Rizzo from his days in Arizona. Closer Sean Doolittle also attended and played baseball at Virginia.

Reynolds could be an insurance policy for now, getting him plenty of at-bats at Triple-A Syracuse so that he can possibly get a shot with the Nats or another major league club seeking a power bat later in the season.