Is Nick Johnson’s departure via trade at month’s end a foregone conclusion?
The answer to that is … a qualified maybe.
The Nats’ first baseman, in the final year of a 3-year contract, would seem to be their most likely trade chit. He’s stayed healthy, defying most observers, and has managed to stay around the .300 level with the bat all year. He’s got an on-base percentage over .400, thanks to his propensity for drawing walks, but has hit just five home runs at a position that traditionally demands more pop. Nonetheless, he’s produced runs at about same pace as he did in 2006, his best year at the plate.
If Nick goes, who takes over at first? The immediate assumption is that Adam Dunn becomes the everyday first baseman, but when you ask yourself which position presents the greater degree of difficulty for one who is, let’s say, defensively challenged, Dunn seems like a better bet to stay in left.
Josh Willingham has played a total of 3 innings at first base in his career, those with the Marlins in 2006. He’d have no lack of enthusiasm to give it a shot, but how quickly would he make the transition? Keep in mind, we’re looking at 2010 as well as the rest of this season.
Brad Eldred, the everyday first baseman at Syracuse, turns 29 today. Brad’s a veteran who hit 14 home runs in 74 games in 2 major league trials with Pittsburgh. He’s hit in the .280 range with the Chiefs, with 13 home runs over the first half of the International League season. He’s big — 6’5″, 290 pounds — but fairly agile, and is certainly a better first baseman than anyone other than Johnson on the Nats’ roster. As a caretaker at first — and the Nats going nowhere this year — he’d be adequate for the rest of the season. He’s right-handed all the way.
We should also be prepared for the possibility that Nick stays put, and the club tries to sign him to a short-term extension. Nick’s a character guy, much like Cristian Guzman, and might feel some sense of obligation to hang around a little longer at a discount, based on the number of games he’s missed since the club arrived in 2005. Or not, since I’m sure he’d love to participate in an actual pennant race.
First base is one of those positions where you look for an anchor, an everyday guy who produces a hefty share of the offense, and can pick the ball up when he’s in the field. Nick Johnson is one of those guys who looks like he could’ve played in the 1920’s, both in the way he looks in his uniform and his approach in the field. He always seems to be a little smudged, and that’s a good thing.
Whatever the outcome, we’ll have a much better idea in two weeks.
Phil Wood is a contributor to Nats Xtra on MASN. Contact him at philwood@
washingtonexaminer.com.
