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Why the Nationals should go after George Springer in free agency

By Chase Hughes

Why the Nats should go after George Springer in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

There is a power outage at Nationals Park and this one wasn’t caused by Taylor Swift.

Okay, maybe that 2015 blackout wasn’t actually her fault. But we shouldn’t let that get in the way of a good metaphor to describe what is arguably the Nats’ biggest weakness entering the offseason. They desperately need to add power to their lineup.

One guy who would help in a major way is George Springer, the Houston Astros outfielder who is set to be one of the top free agents on the market. Many 2021 MLB free agent rankings have him in the top-five among available players, often just behind catcher J.T. Realmuto and pitcher Trevor Bauer.

Signing a top position player free agent has not been the Nationals’ way in recent years, at least not since they gave Jayson Werth a seven-year deal back in 2010. They have been more known for paying pitchers and letting their high-priced position players walk.

But that practice has seemingly caught up to them after consecutive offseasons where Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon departed in free agency. This past season, the Nats ranked 21st in the majors in home runs, which have become an increasingly important indicator of success in an era where more balls are leaving the park than ever before.

Just look at the top-six teams in home runs this season: the Dodgers, Braves, White Sox, Padres, Yankees and Twins. All six finished among the best 11 records in baseball and the top two home run-hitting clubs, the Dodgers and Braves, are currently playing in the NLCS.

The Nationals could use a boost to their lineup and specifically in the outfield. Victor Robles, though exceptionally good on defense, saw his OPS plummet to .608. Adam Eaton held a .669 OPS and has a $1.5 million buyout option in his contract. The Nats could save $9 million by getting rid of him.

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Even with Juan Soto, who is arguably the best hitter in the game, the Nats need help in their outfield. He also needs some protection in the lineup, as this season he led the majors in intentional walks (12), with 50 percent more than the next guy (Harper, 8).

Springer could provide help both with defensive versatility – he can play center or right field – and a big bat. In 2019, Springer clubbed 39 home runs. This past season, he hit 14 bombs in just 51 games, which is a 45-homer pace for a full, 162-game season.

Springer has slugged over .500 in three of the past four seasons. Only Soto and Trea Turner held slugging percentages above .450 for the Nats in 2020. 

Springer is 31 years old, but perhaps that could work in the Nats’ favor, in that clearly they have reservations about the long-term contracts younger players like Harper and Rendon generally receive. Springer likely won’t get a seven-year deal like Rendon got, and certainly not 13 years like Harper.

Springer will not be cheap on an average annual value basis, but the long-term commitment may not be nearly as daunting. He was on the payroll for $21 million this season. Maybe his next deal falls in the range of four years for $90 million, or five years for $120 million. It could be more, it could be less. But it won’t cost $300 million to sign him.

If the Nats are outbid for Springer, they could turn to cheaper options in free agency. There are some other outfielders who could be good options like Michael Brantley, Springer’s teammate in Houston, Marcell Ozuna of the Braves and Joc Pederson of the Dodgers.

According to Spotrac, the Nats spend more money on starting pitchers than any other team. Yet, they are 25th in money spent on outfielders and 22nd when it comes to infielders, respectively.

Going cheap with their lineup, however, didn’t pay off this season as it did in 2019, when they won the World Series. In order to get back to contention, they are going to have to spend some money.

With Springer, the money would be well-spent.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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