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US Presswire photo Laynce Nix hit .250 with 16 homers for the Nationals this year. |
Financial terms haven't been reported yet, but money isn't the key to this deal. The fact Philadelphia was willing to give Nix two years is the key detail here.
The 31-year-old outfielder had never signed a major-league contract before, let alone a multi-year deal. He came to the Nationals late last winter on a minor-league contract that wound up paying him $700,000 after he made the Opening Day roster.
Nix proved a valuable player for the Nats, ultimately batting .250 with 16 homers and 44 RBI in 124 games. Projected all along to come off the bench, he wound up starting more games in left field (59) than anyone else on the roster.
Nix was very productive at the plate early in the season, posting a .296 average, nine homers and an .881 OPS through June 14. But hampered by a lingering Achilles' tendon strain, he slumped badly the rest of the season, hitting a scant .209 with a .634 OPS after that June 14 date.
The Nationals did have some interest in re-signing Nix as a reserve outfielder but weren't willing to offer a two-year deal the way the Phillies did, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Now they not only won't have Nix back in 2012, they'll have to face him 36 times over the next two seasons as a member of their toughest division rival.
15 comments:
Three quick thoughts:
-- Mr. Nix is pretty much the definition of a 'replacement level player'; whether you use Fangraphs or Baseball-Reference, his average yearly WAR hovers just a bit above 0.
-- Only the Nats' right-handed pitchers are likely to have to face Mr. Nix next year. At a maximum, he seems destined to platoon with the Phillies' Mr. Mayberry, who will play against lefties. In fact, Mr. Mayberry's numbers against righties aren't appreciably different from Mr. Nix's, so he may not even be a 'full-time' platoon player.
-- As much as I (and others) appreciated Mr. Nix's contributions last year in the first half of the season, I'm glad any temptation to re-sign him has been removed. For the Nats to contend for a playoff spot in 2012, they need players who will add more offense than Mr. Nix does.
This is the luxury of having the bulk of your roster set in stone this early. Nix might get some decent PT in Philly too with Howard on the shelf for some time.
dfh21
So, do you think that the Phillies will re-sign Raul Ibanaz now?
... I'm sorry to see the Nats lose Laynce, since their lack of bench depth has already been identified. But in the long run, I realise they weren't in a position to sign him big, so more power to him ... I gues.
Go Nats ... Large!
Rizzo better come up with some better options.....His Late Winter bench signing have not been good. I like the way Marlin and Phils are proactive and sign people early. Rizzo has not been good at getting quality late....See Mark's bench stories....Matt Stairs, Alex Cora et al.....
I really wonder what in the world the Philly braintrust is thinking, signing Papelbon to a record RP deal, signing Thome, who has 28 innings played in the field in the last 6 years, signing Ty Wiggington, and now Nix to a 2 year deal. Wow. This is an old team rapidly getting older.
Sunderland -- good point about the aging of the Phillies. Maybe, with a little luck and a few aching muscles, this could be the beginning of the end of their run in the NL East.
Good for Nix. I like his game and he seems like a good guy to bring off the bench. Just don't think he has the durability to play more than a few days a week.
Bill Ladson: I was informed that the #Nats offered Laynce Nix a two-year deal, but Nix decided to sign a similar with the #Phillies
It looks like Bill Ladson is saying that you are wrong Mark?
considering ladson's track record, i wouldn't be too concerned about that.
i thought we were going to a balanced schedule in 2013 when the astros move to the AL. if that's so, it won't quite be 36 games in two years. ;)
MLB Network is reporting that the Marlins have signed Reyes for six years, $112 million. $18.67 million a year for Reyes? I’m very glad the Nationals didn’t do that deal. No, thanks.
I liked Nix, sad to see him go. He had nice pop and was a great competitor.
Good luck to Spuds, except when he's facing us.
Rizzo tends to like the more athletic players anyway - someone who can cover a lot of ground and steal bases.
Roger Bernadina, your time is now.
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