Washington Nationals infielder Paul DeJong is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. With DeJong starting on the bench, Jose Tena is starting at third base and will hit eighth against D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. DeJong has gotten off to a slow start in 2025 in his first year in the nation's capital, as he's gone just 4-for-18 with two doubles, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 20 plate appearances over six games played. Tena will get a chance after going 1-for-2 with a strikeout in just two games played in the early going. He has never faced Pfaadt in his career and isn't a recommended lineup option for DFS gamers on Friday. The 31-year-old DeJong should see most of the playing time at the hot corner for the Nats early this season, and he still has some notable pop, but he won't contribute in the average department with a lot of strikeouts.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, free-agent infielder Paul DeJong has signed a one-year contract worth $1 million with the Washington Nationals. DeJong spent the 2024 campaign playing with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals. Across 139 games, DeJong held a .227/.276/.427 line with 24 home runs and two stolen bases. He generated a strong 10.2 percent barrel rate but was unable to make consistent contact. He posted a weak 34.9 percent whiff rate and a 32.4 percent strikeout rate, both well below the average marks. However, this was a slight improvement compared to the .207/.258/.355 line he held during the 2023 campaign. Fantasy managers should expect the 31-year-old to slot in as a depth option in the infield. He should not be targeted in any fantasy formats, as he is not likely to see consistent playing time.
According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, the Minnesota Twins have inquired about free-agent infielders Luis Urias and Paul DeJong. Hayes noted that shortly after the team acquired outfielder Harrison Bader and reliever Danny Coulombe, the focus shifted to adding an infielder. Urias spent his entire 2024 season with the Seattle Mariners. Across 109 games, the 27-year-old posted a .191/.303/.394 line with just four home runs. DeJong began his season with the Chicago White Sox and was eventually shipped to Kansas City. Across 139 contests, the 31-year-old went deep 24 times and posted a .227/.276/.427 slash line. However, he posted a hefty 32.4 percent strikeout rate. If the Twins were to sign one of them, they would be deployed as a rotational piece within the infield and would likely not have a starting role.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Yankees have expressed interest in free agent infielder Paul DeJong. The Yankees have been in the infield market all offseason after losing Gleyber Torres to the Detroit Tigers. Over the past week, they have been linked to San Diego's Luis Arraez but have reportedly begun to lose interest. DeJong would provide a much cheaper alternative and would likely see all his time at the hot corner. Last summer, across 139 games with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, DeJong hit 24 home runs with a .227/.276/.427 line. Under the hood, he generated a solid 10.2% barrel rate and a 41.5% hard-hit rate. However, he struggled at the plate, with a hefty 32.4% K rate and a 4.8% walk rate. If he were to head to the Bronx, Jazz Chisholm Jr. would likely spend most of the season at the keystone.
Kansas City Royals infielder Paul DeJong is out of the team's starting lineup on Wednesday for a contest against the New York Yankees in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium. With DeJong on the bench, Maikel Garcia will start at third base and bat eighth against Yankees right-hander Luis Gil. DeJong could find himself riding the pine more often moving forward due to a recent slump offensively. So far in six games in September, he has gone 3-for-19 (.158) with no homers, an RBI, no walks and six strikeouts. The 31-year-old veteran was acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline at the end of July and has been better with KC, though, batting .244 (22-for-90) with six home runs and 15 RBI. In deeper leagues, fantasy managers will want to keep DeJong on their benches until he pulls out of his slump with the Royals in a midst of a run for a wild-card spot in the American League.
MJ Melendez, Paul DeJong Both Not In Lineup Saturday
Kansas City Royals catcher/outfielder MJ Melendez and shortstop Paul DeJong are starting Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers on the bench. Both players have been swinging hot bats recently, with Melendez slashing .278/.316/.500 and DeJong slashing .375/.423/.750 in their last seven games. This speaks to the strength and depth of the Royals lineup, as Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are starting in their places. Still, both or either player could find their way into the game as pinch hitters late.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Paul DeJong swatted his 21st homer in Monday's 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, one of his two hits in four at-bats. DeJong's two-run homer off Angels pitcher Carson Fulmer came in the bottom of the fourth to give the Royals a 3-0 lead. He is hitting .316/.372/.605 with three homers, eight RBI, and seven runs scored in 13 games with the Royals after being traded from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. DeJong is hitting a combined .237/.286/.448 with 21 homers, 49 RBI, and 46 runs scored with two steals in three attempts. He's found a groove in the bottom of the Royals order, and fantasy managers are grooving with him.
The Kansas City Royals are acquiring veteran shortstop Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, according to a source. It's unclear what the return will be heading back to the White Sox. The Royals already have one of the best shortstops in the game in Bobby Witt Jr., so DeJong will give the contending Royals more infield depth as they look to secure a wild-card spot in the American League down the stretch. The 30-year-old DeJong has hit only .228 (77-for-337) in Chicago in 2024, but it's come with 18 home runs, 41 RBI and 39 runs scored in 363 plate appearances and 102 games. His clearest path to playing time with his new squad will probably come at second base. As long as DeJong is playing regularly, this trade will be a nice boost to his fantasy value in deeper leagues for his right-handed power stroke. DeJong is riding a five-game hitting streak with a homer and two doubles.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong hit his team-leading 15th home run on Saturday in an 11-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Chicago. DeJong is hitting .241 with 15 home runs, 33 RBI and 32 runs scored in 2024. The White Sox have now won three consecutive games for the first time since April and go for the series sweep on Sunday. DeJong continues to build potential trade value as the season heads into July and could find himself moved to a contender in a depth role for an organization.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong slugged his third homer of the spring as part of a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in Cactus League action on Friday. Signed to a one-year deal by the White Sox this offseason, DeJong is up to a .297 average with 13 RBI and a stolen base to go along with his three homers, producing a .928 OPS in the process. While the strong spring numbers are encouraging, DeJong has fallen off a cliff at the plate in recent seasons. Last season, he hit just .207 with 14 home runs and four stolen bases across 112 games between the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Giants a season ago. He should begin the season as the club's everyday shortstop but prospect Colson Montgomery should take over at some point this season.
Paul DeJong
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Nationals
