DeJong: De New Guy in De Infield

[imref]

Nats sign Paul DeJong. Possible 3B?

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/nationals-to-sign-paul-dejong.html

[nobleisthyname]

I can't say I understand signing DeJong. He has no place on a team that wants to be competitive but even given the Nats are punting this season I'd much prefer to see Tena at 3B than DeJong.

[aspenbubba]

I can't say I understand signing DeJong. He has no place on a team that wants to be competitive but even given the Nats are punting this season I'd much prefer to see Tena at 3B than DeJong.

I hate to say it but the ownership is punting this season. I had hoped that Bregman would sign here  but this signing is based upon the FO believing House will be ready by the trade deadline. I believe it is wishful thinking while I don’t project House to be KieBUST 2.0. I just think it is premature to pencil him in the 26 man before the September call ups.

[Slateman]

I can't say I understand signing DeJong. He has no place on a team that wants to be competitive but even given the Nats are punting this season I'd much prefer to see Tena at 3B than DeJong.

I assume he is a backup shortstop. Could also compete for 3B

[aspenbubba]

I assume he is a backup shortstop. Could also compete for 3B

I believe Rosario was signed for that role as back up SS and 2B.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I can't say I understand signing DeJong. He has no place on a team that wants to be competitive but even given the Nats are punting this season I'd much prefer to see Tena at 3B than DeJong.

he's been someone a lot of people wanted for 3rd at talknats and elsewhere. I'm not wild about him, but he has good power and D. To me, he's the Joey Gallo of 3rd basemen. I could be wrong, and I wanted Moncada instead. I think he's the favorite for 3rd now, and you could see Tena in the minors now. I think I like DeJong more than Rosario, but they get jobs on South Capitol before Tena.

[nobleisthyname]

he's been someone a lot of people wanted for 3rd at talknats and elsewhere. I'm not wild about him, but he has good power and D. To me, he's the Joey Gallo of 3rd basemen. I could be wrong, and I wanted Moncada instead. I think he's the favorite for 3rd now, and you could see Tena in the minors now. I think I like DeJong more than Rosario, but they get jobs on South Capitol before Tena.

I think DeJong is a fine player and raises the team's floor. But he's not part of the future and I doubt he plays well enough (since most of his value comes from more nebulous defense) to warrant being flipped at the deadline. So he's just taking PAs from someone who might actually be part of a future competitive Nats team.

If he is just backup/bench bat then fine, I'm just not sure that's going to be the case.

[imref]

I can't say I understand signing DeJong. He has no place on a team that wants to be competitive but even given the Nats are punting this season I'd much prefer to see Tena at 3B than DeJong.

DeJong played 41 games at 3B last year. He is supposed to be a much better defender, and he has more power. Maybe this pushes Tena to AAA to spend more time developing?

I think it's pretty obvious the team views House as the long-term answer at 3B, and probably by the end of this season. So DeJong isn't blocking anyone.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He's a placeholder. A low obp, good power, strong defense guy at 3rd is addition by subtraction over Senzel / Lipscomb/ Vargas. As for Tena, the d didn't impress, so it depends on your projection of him going forward.

Don't think DeJong is more than a placeholder for one of House/ Wallace / Morales. In the meantime, a Tena / DeJong competition upgrades 3rd over 2024

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think DeJong is a fine player and raises the team's floor. But he's not part of the future and I doubt he plays well enough (since most of his value comes from more nebulous defense) to warrant being flipped at the deadline. So he's just taking PAs from someone who might actually be part of a future competitive Nats team.

If he is just backup/bench bat then fine, I'm just not sure that's going to be the case.

it's actually more of a move for short-term competitiveness than just giving ABs to in house hopefuls.

[Slateman]

If DeJong and Rosario make the team, does that put Tena in the minors?

It really seems silly to not give Tena major league at bats at this point.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If DeJong and Rosario make the team, does that put Tena in the minors?

It really seems silly to not give Tena major league at bats at this point.

that's my fear. I think there's just one backup infielder. I'd like to see Tena getting a lot of ABs at 3rd and DH in mlb, but that would mean cutting one of the 2 new vets, and I don't see that happening.

Is DeJong on a minor league contract with a friend and an opt-out?

[imref]

If the plan is to send Tena down to AAA to work on his defense, he's not going to be playing 3B.

[Natsinpwc]

De Jong had his very offensive year in a while in 2024. I wouldn’t expect much. Don’t know about his defense. Don’t see the point of it. Maybe hope he plays well and you can flip him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

De Jong had his very offensive year in a while in 2024. I wouldn’t expect much. Don’t know about his defense. Don’t see the point of it. Maybe hope he plays well and you can flip. )him.

he's the likely starter with a superior glove and 30[/s0] 20[/]hr power (and a .275 obp).

Edited

[Natsinpwc]

24 home runs last year. Was most on a long time. 30 in 2019.

Seems average MLB hitter overall or slightly below. 93 OPS plus for career. Probably better than Senzel. Did he have injury issues. Didn’t play that much in 2022-23. Don’t recall.

[imref]

he's the likely starter with a superior glove and 30 hr power (and a .275 obp).

so Gallo without the walks?

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Cheap, easily-interchangeable parts with no permanent assignments...we're Southwest without the future fuel contracts. 

[Natsinpwc]

Cheap, easily-interchangeable parts with no permanent assignments...we're Southwest without the future fuel contracts.

[zimm_da_kid]

He’s a righty with reverse platoon splits. God we need righties that can hit lefties

[IanRubbish]

Just another day in the office for Rizzo.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

24 home runs last year. Was most on a long time. 30 in 2019.

Seems average MLB hitter overall or slightly below. 93 OPS plus for career. Probably better than Senzel. Did he have injury issues. Didn’t play that much in 2022-23. Don’t recall.

typo. I meant 20. Had a hurt/bad 2022, but 19, 14, and 24 in 2020,2023, and 2024.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He’s a righty with reverse platoon splits. God we need righties that can hit lefties

Amed Rosario

[Count Walewski]

The folks at MLBTR seem to think DeJong is a slight upgrade over Tena and will platoon 3B with Rosario and back up Abrams at SS while Tena is banished to the minors to work on, frankly, both his defense and his offense.

A sad move by an increasingly sad team to cap off an extremely sad offseason. DeJong is washed up - he will be a league-average hitter if he has an amazing late-career renaissance in our nation's capital. Tena is a hungry young 23 year old who might still have some potential. If the Nationals are not going for it by signing Alonso or Bellinger, they should at least try to develop Tena rather than signing a veteran stop-gap.

[Slateman]

There's nothing for Tena to work on offensively.

At this point, you're just getting him ready to take over 2B?