On the first day of the offseason, the Nationals exercised Denard Span’s $9 million team option for the 2015 season, according to a person familiar with the situation, a no-brainer move that was expected following the center fielder’s excellent 2014 season. In his second season in Washington, Span was among the best leadoff hitters in baseball, combining stellar defense with strong hitting and helping the Nationals win a National League East title. 
The Nationals formally announced Span’s option pick-up on Thursday afternoon, but also declined options for first baseman Adam LaRoche and reliever Rafael Soriano, essentially parting ways with both players, which also came as no surprise. LaRoche wanted to remain in Washington, but his position is the presumed future home for former third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. LaRoche’s mutual option was for $15 million but is now due a $2 million buyout. The Nationals held a $14-million team option for Soriano, who struggled in the second half of the season, with no buyout.Span, who turns 31 in late February, was perhaps the team’s most valuable position player after Anthony Rendon this season. He began the season slow but finished with a share of the NL hits title (184) thanks to his torrid hitting over the summer. Span hit .302 with a .355 on-base percentage, a constant threat atop the order. His 113 OPS+ was fourth-best on the team. At one point, he reached base in 36 straight games.Span proved that, at his age, he can still improve. He better adjusted to NL pitching and finished with the second .300 season of his career. He finally accomplished his goal of becoming a better base stealer and nabbed a career-high 31 bases in 38 attempts. Although advanced metrics don’t rate him well, his defense in center field was steady, saved runs and instilled confidence in the pitching staff. He was worth 3.8 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), according to FanGraphs.com. And because of his professional and easy-going demeanor, Span was also a good ambassador for the Nationals.“Glad to be coming back!” Span said in a text message.Span’s return ensures the Nationals’ strong outfield of Bryce Harper-Span-Jayson Werth will remain intact for one more season. Span is eligible for free agency in 2016. The 2015 season will be the final year of a five-year, $16.5-million extension (with a 2015 option) he signed in 2010 with the Minnesota Twins. The Nationals traded for Span before the 2013 season, shipping away their top pitching prospect at the time, Alex Meyer, for three years of control of an everyday center field/leadoff hitter.“We knew when we acquired Denard from the Minnesota Twins two years ago what type of player we were getting,” General Manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement on the team’s website. “And he’s done nothing but bear that out the last two seasons. Denard was arguably our most consistent offensive player in 2014, keying so much of our offensive production, and his defense in center field is Gold Glove-caliber on a nightly basis. We’re excited to keep him in the fold for the 2015 season.”LaRoche, 34, will likely be the most coveted free agent first baseman. LaRoche spent four seasons in Washington, became a team leader and helped turn the Nationals from a rebuilding team to a two-time division champion. He hit .249 with a .781 OPS and 82 home runs over his four-year stint. He smashed 33 home runs, won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award in 2012. He hit .259/.362/.455 with a team-high 26 home runs and 92 RBI in 2014. He wanted to finish his career in Washington but knew that a crunch for positions would push him out. Teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates lagged in first base production and could be fits for LaRoche.Soriano, 34, lost the closer’s job in early September, a role that Drew Storen capably filled in the final month of the season. Soriano was the high-prized closer added on a two-year, $28-million deal before the 2013 season. Soriano brought experience, saved 75 games and posted a 3.15 ERA during his two seasons, but endured bouts of struggle. He was nearly an all-star in the first half of 2014 but lost his control in the second half, pitching as a setup man late in the season. He still hopes to close and pitch for a handful more years, but may need to take a one-year deal. Teams such as the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks struggled at the back of the bullpen this season.By declining options for LaRoche and Soriano, the Nationals’ free agent total rises to five, including outfielders Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston, and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera. The Nationals are not expected to extend a $15.3-million qualifying offer to any of the free agents. Free agents can negotiate terms of a new deal with their former team until Monday, and then can talk to any team beginning Tuesday.James Wagner/Washington Post
The Nationals formally announced Span’s option pick-up on Thursday afternoon, but also declined options for first baseman Adam LaRoche and reliever Rafael Soriano, essentially parting ways with both players, which also came as no surprise. LaRoche wanted to remain in Washington, but his position is the presumed future home for former third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. LaRoche’s mutual option was for $15 million but is now due a $2 million buyout. The Nationals held a $14-million team option for Soriano, who struggled in the second half of the season, with no buyout.Span, who turns 31 in late February, was perhaps the team’s most valuable position player after Anthony Rendon this season. He began the season slow but finished with a share of the NL hits title (184) thanks to his torrid hitting over the summer. Span hit .302 with a .355 on-base percentage, a constant threat atop the order. His 113 OPS+ was fourth-best on the team. At one point, he reached base in 36 straight games.Span proved that, at his age, he can still improve. He better adjusted to NL pitching and finished with the second .300 season of his career. He finally accomplished his goal of becoming a better base stealer and nabbed a career-high 31 bases in 38 attempts. Although advanced metrics don’t rate him well, his defense in center field was steady, saved runs and instilled confidence in the pitching staff. He was worth 3.8 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), according to FanGraphs.com. And because of his professional and easy-going demeanor, Span was also a good ambassador for the Nationals.“Glad to be coming back!” Span said in a text message.Span’s return ensures the Nationals’ strong outfield of Bryce Harper-Span-Jayson Werth will remain intact for one more season. Span is eligible for free agency in 2016. The 2015 season will be the final year of a five-year, $16.5-million extension (with a 2015 option) he signed in 2010 with the Minnesota Twins. The Nationals traded for Span before the 2013 season, shipping away their top pitching prospect at the time, Alex Meyer, for three years of control of an everyday center field/leadoff hitter.“We knew when we acquired Denard from the Minnesota Twins two years ago what type of player we were getting,” General Manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement on the team’s website. “And he’s done nothing but bear that out the last two seasons. Denard was arguably our most consistent offensive player in 2014, keying so much of our offensive production, and his defense in center field is Gold Glove-caliber on a nightly basis. We’re excited to keep him in the fold for the 2015 season.”LaRoche, 34, will likely be the most coveted free agent first baseman. LaRoche spent four seasons in Washington, became a team leader and helped turn the Nationals from a rebuilding team to a two-time division champion. He hit .249 with a .781 OPS and 82 home runs over his four-year stint. He smashed 33 home runs, won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award in 2012. He hit .259/.362/.455 with a team-high 26 home runs and 92 RBI in 2014. He wanted to finish his career in Washington but knew that a crunch for positions would push him out. Teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates lagged in first base production and could be fits for LaRoche.Soriano, 34, lost the closer’s job in early September, a role that Drew Storen capably filled in the final month of the season. Soriano was the high-prized closer added on a two-year, $28-million deal before the 2013 season. Soriano brought experience, saved 75 games and posted a 3.15 ERA during his two seasons, but endured bouts of struggle. He was nearly an all-star in the first half of 2014 but lost his control in the second half, pitching as a setup man late in the season. He still hopes to close and pitch for a handful more years, but may need to take a one-year deal. Teams such as the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks struggled at the back of the bullpen this season.By declining options for LaRoche and Soriano, the Nationals’ free agent total rises to five, including outfielders Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston, and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera. The Nationals are not expected to extend a $15.3-million qualifying offer to any of the free agents. Free agents can negotiate terms of a new deal with their former team until Monday, and then can talk to any team beginning Tuesday.James Wagner/Washington Post
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