Free agent bench options

It is no secret that the Nationals are looking to completely revamp their bench this offseason. The Nats endured 1,564 at-bats from non-starting players last year; they hit a combined .203 with a pathetic 20 homers. A good bench can propel a borderline winner into a playoff-bound team; last year, the bench was one piece that prevented the Nationals from eclipsing the .500 mark.

Bench players provide GM's a unique challenge on a year to year basis--- the job of the GM is to scramble together an assortment of 5 or so players that can step in and provide a clutch pinch hit, steal a critical base, step in for an injured starter, or enter the game as a defensive specialist. With that in mind, here are some free agent targets that should be on your radar (as I think they might be on Rizzo's radar) as the Winter meetings approach.

I aimed to target certain players that fit specific bench needs. I also explicitly tried not to include players that I think will get starting gigs next year--- for instance, of course the Nats would love to have someone like Wilson Betemit on board for next year, but I bet he signs somewhere where he might get 300-400 AB as a DH or 3B (Orioles, anyone?) rather than explicitly as a bench player.

2011 Bench Players who might return

Laynce Nix (31) was the lone bright spot on the bench last year for the Nationals, especially in the first half. His (.250 .299 .451) line with 16 HR was good for a 0.8 WAR overall in just over 300AB. The one issue with Nix is the low OBP, but you often want your pinch hitters to hack away anyway, so this is not a major issue. Nix is going to need a major league contract, probably for close to a $1 million or so to return, but this would make sense for both sides. The only hitch is that Nix's play last year might have earned him a look as a platoon starter on a bad major league team (note that his defense has actually been rated as above average in his career) and he might find this preferable to a bench roll on the Nationals.

Jonny Gomes (31), who came over to the Nationals mid-season from Cincinnati, put up a (.209 .325 .389) line last year, which added up to a 0.7 WAR. His batting average took a tumble from his career mark of .242, but made up for it somewhat by showing great patience at the plate (48 BB in 311 AB). Gomes has good value as a reserve player because he is so good against LHP--- he was (.311 .407 .456) against them last year, which was not dissimilar from his career mark of (281 .375 .501). Every team can (and often do) use a proficient platoon bat on their bench: Gomes provides that. The main knock on Gomes is that he is pretty much incompetent with the glove (-4.7 WAR defensively in his career), so the guy really shouldn't go anywhere near the outfield. Like Nix, a $1-$1.5 million major league deal would probably do the trick.

Rick Ankiel (31) was not a bench player last year, but he won't start in CF in 2012 for the Nationals. That said, he would still have great value as a defensive replacement in the outfield, and we know he is at least capable with the bat. Ankiel's defense was worth 1.7 WAR last year, and every team needs at least one or two outfield bench players--- what's not to like? It is possible that a major league team desperate for a cheap center fielder offers Ankiel a chance to start, but I think he ends up signing as a reserve.

Jerry Hairston (35) might have actually played himself out of a bench roll and into a platoon-type roll in 2012 because he played so well for both the Nationals and the Brewers, especially in the playoffs for Milwaukee. Although I'm sure Rizzo would love to have him back, I sense that he might find a more lucrative offer elsewhere.

Roger Bernadina (27) has spent parts of the past two seasons with the big league club, and has proven to be a useful, if not terribly impressive, 4th outfielder. Bernadina can play any of the three outfield spots (including, critically, CF), and brings speed to the table as well. Since the team already controls him for next year, he will either have to spend time back at AAA, or with the Nationals--- unless Rizzo can find a better alternative on the free agent market (unlikely), I'd say he spends significant time as a reserve next year.

Power Bat options

Eric Hinske (34) has made a career of being a proficient bench player. He won't put up a high average (.233 last year; .252 in his career), but has good power (10 HR last year; 134 in his career) and above average plate discipline. Hinske also might provide added leadership value to a team like the Nationals aspiring to make the playoffs since he has played in the postseason 4 separate years. Hinske can play 3B (which is valuable if Zimmerman continues to have occasional injury problems), either of the corner outfield spots, and 1B. He is not a terrible fielder if he needs to be out there, and $1.5 million would probably lure him to DC.

Hideki Matsui (37) is probably going to realize at some point this offseason that he is not going to get an offer to start every day. He had the worst season of his career last year in Oakland, posting a (.251 .321 .375) line, serving as the team's DH for most of the year. Since Matsui is essentially clueless with a glove in his hand, his value is limited to that of a DH or pinch hitter. With that in mind, Matsui still makes some sense for the Nationals. A quick look at Matsui's reveals a rapidly aging player, but keep in mind that he has gone from the Yankees in 2009 (where he was a +2.6 WAR player), to the Angels in 2010, and finally to hitters worst nightmare in Oakland. Matsui's peripheral stats were still good last year--- his SO/BB ratio is still good, his GB/FB ratio showed no signs of regression, and he also got very unlucky by posting the lowest BABIP of his career (.274) despite having the highest line drive percentage of his career. Matsui also offers something few reserve players can contribute: name recognition and popularity (especially with the Japanese population). A $1.5-$2 deal would probably be enough to lure Matsui to DC, assuming that no AL club wants him back as a DH.

Lyle Overbay (34) made the transition from starter to reserve player last year after he struggled in Pittsburgh as their starting 1B, and then got traded to Arizona. His OPS has dropped from .838 in 2009 to .762 in 2010, and finally .670 last year, but some of that might have been bad luck, since his BABIP dropped each of those years as well. Overbay's peripheral stats say that he still has a couple of years in the tank, and he has added value because he plays a very sound 1B (+6.9 WAR defensively in his career). If he can't find a starting gig anywhere, a $2 million deal would probably do the trick.

Scott Hairston (31) is a different player than his older brother, and (for the reduced price) Scott may actually make more sense for the club in 2012. Scott hits for a lower average and a lower OBP than Jerry, but makes up for it by having more power (7HR in 132AB last year). In short, Scott is basically an all or nothing type of player: 16 of his 31 hits went for extra bases, but his more than 3/1 SO/BB ratio leaves much to be desired. Unlike Jerry, Scott is also relegated to the outfield, where he is below average but serviceable. $1.5 million or so would

Other options I like less (of this mold), but might suffice: Jay Gibbons, J.D. Drew, Ross Gload, Brad Hawpe

Two-way generally useful reserve possibilities

Casey Blake (38) has quietly had a successful career in which he got off to a late start at age 29, but continues to put up fine numbers into his late 30s. Blake no longer has the power he once did, but his .252 average and .342 OBP pretty much mirrors his career stats. Another bonus with Blake is his more than adept defense --- he has posted a combined +3.3 WAR defensively the last three years --- and his versatility (he can play 3B, 1B, or the corner outfield. Blake is also another person who would bring a veteran presence, and he has experience in the playoffs. Assuming he doesn't get a starting gig anywhere, $2 million or so would probably be enough to bring him to DC.

Conor Jackson (29) has not been able to replicate his 2006-2008 years in which he put up consistently high batting averages, high OBPs, and enough power to justify his starting spot at 1B. That said, he was OK as a reserve last year, posting a (.244 .310 .341) line with Oakland and Boston in 352 AB, which pretty mirrors what he has done since 2009. The reason I include him here is that Rizzo drafted Jackson back in 2003, and he must of liked something if he justified using a 1st round pick on the guy. In any event, I imagine that a league minimum - $500K contract would probably suffice here.

Mark DeRosa (36) has already been rumored to be in negotiations with Washington, and I think this would be a perfect signing for the club. DeRosa is one of the few people in the league who has played 6 positions for more than a few innings in his career--- he has experience at any infield position and at both corner outfield spots. More impressive, DeRosa is considered above average at all of these positions (except maybe SS). Its tough to know what to expect offensively from DeRosa because he has missed so much time in the past two years, but he has put up a good career line of (.272 .341 .416) and even has two 20+ HR years in 2008 and 2009 to his name. DeRosa makes a lot of sense for the Nationals, and could play the roll of a Brian Bixler (minus the SBs) with the club in 2012.

Reed Johnson (34) put up an impressive (.309 .348 .467) line last year, but much of that can be attributed to an absurdly lucky .394 BABIP. Johnson is a versatile 4th outfielder, but he might be overvalued based on his year last year.

Nick Punto (34), who can play all over the infield, also put up big numbers last year in a way similar to Johnson in his age 33 season. However, unlike Johnson, Punto's improved plate discipline over the past several years bodes well for continued offensive production going forward. The Cardinals appear interested in resigning Punto, so he is unlikely to be an option.

Other options I like less (of this mold), but might suffice: Greg Dobbs, Willie Harris