The Nationals Bet on Volatility with Jeimer Candelario

The Nationals gave too many plate appearances to Maikel Franco, Ildemaro Vargas and Alcides Escobar last year. Their farm system was thin. They traded prospects for major league help. They won a World Series in 2012. The team paid the price with thin rosters and not much help on the way. It's an unfortunate consequence of their win-now mentality. I think the front office would do it again in a heartbeat. Eric Longenhagen and I continue to lead the Yadiel Hernandez fan club. We support the team. He's a fan of the player. For more information, visit the official website of this team, which is called the Washington Nationals.

Jeimer Candelario has seen a decline in his production. He started swinging more at bad pitches and on the first pitch. His power on contact was down even if he swung at worse pitches. He also didn't make as much contact. The Nationals bet on his volatility. They are betting on him. In 2020 and 2021, 49.4% of his batted balls came on pitches thrown over the heart of the plate. That number declined to 45.1% in 2022.

Jeimer Candelario's production declined last year. He's a one-year contract player. Steamer projects him as an average offensive player this year, but there's huge variance around that projection. Washington doesn't know if he'll return to his previous form. If he does, they'll get a player that could be a jackpot for them. If not, he won't change the trajectory of the franchise. It's not a transformational deal. The Nationals could offer him an extension or trade him at the deadline. They could get him with Carter Kieboom. This signing won’t swing the NL East.