Starlin Castro has signed a two-year deal with the Nationals.
Castro, 29, spent all of the 2019 season with the Marlins. His salary made him a player the Marlins would have liked to of dealt but his production did not pick up until the second half.
Showing more power than ever before, Castro hit 22 home runs last season finishing with a .270/300/.436 slash line across 162 games.
Free-agent infielder Starlin Castro in agreement with #Nationals, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic. Move would not take them out of Donaldson sweepstakes. Plan is for Castro to play second base.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 3, 2020
While the Marlins employed Castro at third base, the Nationals are expected to move him back to second base.
Prior to his two years with the Marlins, Castro also spent two years with the Yankees after spending the first six years of his big league career with the Cubs.
The signing of Castro would seem to lessen the likelihood of Asdrubal Cabrera returning to the Nationals though it should have no impact on the teams pursuit of a third baseman. The Nationals have been linked to Josh Donaldson as they seek to replace the production of Anthony Rendon who signed with the Angels.
