Former Red Sox outfielder signs with the Nationals on a minor league deal
Former Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero is signing a minor league contract with the Nationals, according to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. It’s not clear if Cordero will get an invite to spring training.
Cordero returns to Major League Baseball after spending last season playing for the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. He played 23 games for the Lions, where he hit .129 with one homer and four RBIs and two doubles while owning a .200 slugging percentage.
If Cordero makes the Nationals opening day roster, it would be his fifth big league team he’ll play for; he’s been with the Padres, Royals, Red Sox, and Yankees over the course of his seven-year career.
The 30-year-old has been the definition of a AAAA player, striving in Triple-A but, once in the majors, struggling offensively. He owns a career 217/.283/.395 slash line with 27 homers in 797 plate appearances in 251 games. Teams have been enamored by his power potential, but his career 34.9% strikeout percentage has minimized his impact on big league pitching.
Cordero will offer the Nationals the ability to play all three outfield positions while also providing depth as a backup first baseman. The Nationals have Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe on their 40-man roster at first base. Alex Call, Dylan Crews, Stone Garrett, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, and Jacob Young all project as better options on the club’s 26-man roster heading into the 2025 season.
