Ex-Braves playoff hero joins division rival
Eddie Rosario has decided to go from one recent NL East champion to another.
Venezuelan baseball reporter Daniel Alvarez-Montes revealed Wednesday that the ex-Atlanta Braves outfielder is signing with the Washington Nationals.
Rosario is getting a minor league deal with an MLB camp invite plus $2 million guaranteed if he is in the major leagues, Jon Heyman of the New York Post adds.
The lefty-hitting Rosario, 32, is best remembered in Atlanta for his heroics during their 2021 World Series victory. He was the MVP of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers that year thanks to two walk-off hits, including the go-ahead home run during the series-clinching Game 6.
Rosario was still decently productive for the Braves last season as well, hitting .255 with 21 homers and 74 RBI over 142 games.
Meanwhile, the Nationals are a rebuilding team but one that could benefit from Rosario’s veteran presence. In addition to his hitting prowess, Rosario can still provide some spectacular defense in left field as well.
READ MORE:
Eddie Rosario signing split contract with Nationals, per report
Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Eddie Rosario will be sticking around the NL East. Rosario has reportedly agreed to a split contract with the Washington Nationals that will pay him up to $4 million. El Extra Base’s Daniel Alvarez-Montes had the original report.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73187168/1719481401.0.jpg)
The deal will reportedly pay Rosario a base salary of $2 million if he makes the major league club. He can make an additional $2 million in incentives.
The Braves signed Eddie Rosario to a two-year deal worth $18 million in 2022 that included a $9 million club option for the 2024 season. Rosario was coming off a great performance during Atlanta’s run to a World Series title in 2021.
He struggled during his first season on the new deal and eventually was sidelined after undergoing laser surgery on his eyes. Rosario hit just .212/.259/.328 and produced a 62 wRC+ in 80 games. Rosario returned league average form in 2023 batting .255/.305/.450 with 21 home runs and a 100 wRC+. That wasn’t enough to convince Atlanta to pick up the 2024 option though and he became a free agent in early November.
