Nationals linked to promising veteran slugger as possible free agent fit

The Washington Nationals hung around in the National League Wild Card race up until the end of July, though they have since fallen out of contention. Still, they may be an interesting team to watch this coming winter.

They have a bevy of young stars ready to take the next step but could also spend some money in free agency to supplement their youthful core.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report expects the Nationals to be one of the most active teams in free agency, and even listed a key slugger as a possible fit.

"They should be in the mix for a lot of that next tier of players who figure to go in the $5-12 million per year range," Miller wrote. "A reunion with Josh Bell at first base would make sense. Eugenio Suarez for the other corner infield spot is a logical target.

Suarez would be a very interesting fit in the nation's capital. The 33-year-old brings power from the right side of the plate, as well as a veteran presence to supplement the young stars the Nationals have.

This season, he is hitting .250 with 26 home runs, 90 RBI, and a .785 OPS, so he would certainly give the Nationals a significant boost on the offensive side. The team needs a middle-of-the-order presence if they want to build a contender for 2025 and beyond.

Miller even states that the Nationals could spend similarly to how the Kansas City Royals did last offseason, making key moves but not going into the top tier of players.

They will be an interesting team to watch this offseason. Perhaps they do ultimately target Suarez for an upgrade at third base.

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