WASHINGTON.- Puerto Rican outfielder Eddie Rosario and the Washington Nationals of the MLB have reached an agreement on a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the deal with Rosario has not yet been announced. It depends on the Puerto Rican completing a physical examination.
Rosario, 32, is a left-handed hitter who has played nine seasons in the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. He has a career batting average of .268 and an OPS of .755, with 159 home runs and 548 RBIs.
He started the most games for Atlanta in left field last season, hitting 21 homers with 74 RBIs while hitting .255. But the Braves, who led the majors with 104 wins in 2023, declined the $9 million team option this season.
Rosario stood out in Atlanta’s World Series title in 2021. In the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that year, he hit .560 (14 for 35) with three homers and nine RBIs for be named the Most Valuable Player.
Your place in Washington:
Rosario could add much-needed power to Washington’s lineup. The Nationals were looking for left-handed hitters during the winter break.
Washington hit 151 home runs last year, the second-lowest total in the majors and less than half as many as Atlanta, the league leader with 307.
The Nationals have finished last in the division in each of the last four seasons since winning the World Series in 2019, in what was the organization’s first championship.
FOUNTAIN: AP
