Adam Eaton is going to the Washington Nationals. In a deal with the Chicago White Sox, the Washington Nationals acquired outfielder Adam Eaton in exchange for three pitchers on Wednesday. The three right handed pitchers that were traded to the Chicago White Sox in return for Adam Eaton are Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.
The Adam Eaton trade is the first major transaction of the Washington Nationals in the off season. The trade also comes a day after the Washington Nationals struck out on former Chicago White Sox ace pitcher Chris Sale. Chris Sale has been strongly linked to the Washington Nationals in trade talks. Chris Sale eventually was traded to the Boston Red Sox.
After the trade, Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo expressed his sentiments on trading his three pitchers.
"It's never easy to let go of your prospects," Mike Rizzo said. "You feel like a proud daddy when they get to the big leagues."
Adam Eaton, who just turned 28 on Tuesday, last season batted .284 with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs and nine triples. His nine triples is the most by any player in the American League (AL) last season.
In his five seasons in the MLB, Adam Eaton has a .284 career batting average with a on-base percentage of .357 and a slugging percentage of .414, with 34 home runs and 177 RBIs. Adam Eaton also led the AL in triples in two of the last three seasons.
As Mike Rizzo explained about Adam Eaton, "He's a high-energy guy. There's an edge to him."
It's not on the only on the offensive end that Adam Eaton is effective. On the defensive end, Adam Eaton is equally as effective. Adam Eaton accounted for 22 runs saved during his first season mostly playing right field. That's the second most in the AL behind the Boston Red Sox Mookie Betts.
"We see the arrow still going up with him," Mike Rizzo said.
Adam Eaton still has three years left on his $23.5 million, five year contract. All three years are guaranteed. He is slated to earn $4 million next year, $6 million in 2018 and $8.4 million in 2019. The deal also includes a team option in 2020 worth $9.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout and if in 2020 the team option is played out, a 2021 team option worth $10.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout.
