Yesterday the Nationals announced that they had invited Dimitri Young to the minor league spring training camp. Young is a first baseman that has made headlines the past few years. Not for his performance of the field, but his apparent skills at boxing and drinking alcohol off the field. Young is supposedly rehibilitated, but can he play? On the field he is probably most noted for his 2003 season as a Tiger where he made the All Star team. He batted .297, 29 HR, 34 2B and 85 rbi’s.
Why is this important for the Nats? Young plays first base. Nick Johnson is still a huge question mark on whether he has recovered from his broken leg at the end of the last season. This signing shows me that Johnson isn’t ready and that they needed to add more big league depth to 1B in addition to Larry Broadway and Travis Lee. If Young can produce 2002-2003 numbers, this will be the best signing of the season. Just keep him away from the vodka.
