Report: Matt Wieters expected to sign with Nationals
Matt Wieters has reportedly found a new home. The former Baltimore Orioles backstop won’t have to move far, reportedly securing a two-year deal with the Washington Nationals.
As teams prepare for their first Spring Training games this week, one of the top free agents available is reportedly off the market at long last. According to Jon Heyman of FanRagSports, All-Star catcher Matt Wieters is expected to sign a deal with the Washington Nationals.
Sources: Nats are closing in on a deal for free agent catcher Matt Wieters
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 21, 2017
The 30-year-old Wieters was drafted fifth-overall by Baltimore in 2007, and debuted with the big league club in 2009. Wieters spent each of his first eight Major League seasons with the Orioles and compiled a .256/.318/.421 career slash line with 117 home runs and 437 RBI in Baltimore. He appeared in the postseason with the O’s in 2012 and 2016.
Wieters played a combined 101 games in 2015 and 2016 as a result of Tommy John surgery, but has been productive both at the plate and behind it when healthy. A four-time All-Star – including last season in which he hit .243/.302/.409 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI across 124 games – Weiters also has two Gold Gloves to his credit.
Although, it’s worth pointing out that Wieters’ defensive reputation has taken a hit in recent years, as evidenced recently by Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs.
According to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, the Nationals will pay Weiters $21 million over two years: $10 million in 2017 and $11 in 2018.
Nationals have deal with Matt Wieters. $10 million this year with an option that would pay him $11 million next. $5 mil deferred through '21
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 21, 2017
Once the deal is official, Weiters will join a Nationals squad that already features backstops Derek Norris and Jose Lobaton. The Nats traded for Norris in December after he appeared in 125 games for the San Diego Padres in 2016. Norris hit .186/.255/.328 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI for the Padres last season. Lobaton was a part-time player for Washington last year and hit .232/.319/.374 with three home runs and eight RBI.
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Norris and Loboton had been expected to compete to replace departed starter Wilson Ramos. Ramos suffered a torn right ACL last season, and then signed a free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Rays over the winter. Now, it appears that Wieters will have the inside track on the everyday catching duties for the Nats.