Jayson Werth signs with Nationals

The winter meetings officially begin Monday in Orlando, Fla. But for shock value, it will be hard to top the announcement made there Sunday.


The Washington Nationals signed right fielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract, a staggering deal for a one-time All-Star who turns 32 in May. The announcement came a few days after first baseman Adam Dunn left Washington to sign a four-year, $56 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

By signing with the Nationals, Werth tumbles from the top of the National League East to the bottom. He spent the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, helping them win the division title each season. The Nationals have finished last in each of the last three seasons.

But Mike Rizzo, their general manager, told reporters at a news conference in Orlando that signing Werth exemplified a turning point for the organization, whose last winning season came as the Montreal Expos in 2003.

“Phase 1 was scouting and player development, building the farm system,” Rizzo said, according to The Associated Press. “Now it’s the time to go to the second phase and really compete for division titles and championships.”

Werth’s agent is Scott Boras, who negotiated deals with the Nationals for the No. 1 overall picks in the last two drafts — starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who will probably miss the 2011 season after elbow surgery, and outfielder Bryce Harper, who is 18 years old. The Nationals also bid aggressively after the 2008 season on another Boras client, first baseman Mark Teixeira, who signed instead with the Yankees.

Werth’s deal exceeds the one Boras negotiated last winter for Matt Holliday, who stayed with the St. Louis Cardinals for seven years and $120 million. But Holliday is younger than Werth and far more accomplished. Holliday finished second in the voting for most valuable player in 2007 and had three seasons of 100 runs batted in; Werth, who was surrounded by a strong supporting cast in Philadelphia, has never driven in 100.

Last season, Werth hit .296 with 27 homers and 85 R.B.I., while leading the league in doubles with 46. He has 53 stolen bases over the last three seasons and has a strong career on-base percentage of .367.

Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman was the bench coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers when Werth played there.

“Jim is a great judge of character and clubhouse presence,” Rizzo said. “He was very flowery in his praise in Jayson on and off the field. He feels, like I feel, Jayson’s best days haven’t been had yet.”

By investing so much in that belief, the Nationals may have raised the asking price of the agents for more accomplished free agents, especially outfielder Carl Crawford.

Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson joked about the deal with reporters in Orlando. “It makes some of our contracts look pretty good,” he said. “It’s a long time and a lot of money. I thought they were trying to reduce the deficit in Washington, D.C.”

But the Nationals have surely delighted their players, including the rookie reliever Drew Storen.

“Fired up about Werth, he is going to be a great addition to our line up,” Storen wrote on Twitter. “Definitely a guy who is going to help us get where we want to be.”


Tyler Kepner