By Adeniyi Precious 
The Washington Nationals just pulled off a sneaky good signing, bringing in veteran infielder Paul DeJong on a one-year, $1 million deal. That’s a solid bargain, especially considering DeJong crushed 24 home runs last season between the White Sox and Royals.
But here’s the real kicker—DeJong has absolutely owned the Mets throughout his career. His .322 batting average, .695 slugging percentage, and 12 homers against them make New York his personal playground. Now, he’s staying in the NL East, ready to haunt Mets pitching multiple times a year.
The Nationals, who ranked 25th in runs per game last season, are hoping DeJong adds some much-needed pop to their lineup. He’s got three 20+ homer seasons under his belt, including a career-high 30 in 2019 when he made the All-Star team. At just $1 million, Washington is getting a potential steal.
Are the Nationals a Real Threat?
Let’s be real—the NL East is stacked. The Phillies, Braves, and Mets are all serious contenders, making a Nationals playoff push a long shot. However, they’ve made some intriguing moves, adding Nathaniel Lowe and Amed Rosario while keeping Josh Bell. If young stars like CJ Abrams and James Wood take a step forward—and if Dylan Crews delivers on his potential—Washington’s offense could surprise some people.
The real problem? Pitching. The Nats’ rotation posted a 4.40 ERA last season and lacks a true ace. Unless that changes, their chances of making noise in the division are slim.
Still, for just a million bucks, DeJong is a great value pickup. And for Mets fans? Well, they better hope he doesn’t keep up his usual tormenting ways.