Nationals acquire Adam Eaton from White Sox

After reportedly missing out on several blockbuster trades, the Washington Nationals finally made a big move at the 2016 winter meetings, trading for outfielder Adam Eaton. In return, the Chicago White Sox get a package of minor leaguers to continue their rebuild.

Chicago gets pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning in the deal, first reported by Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Eaton, who turned 28 on Tuesday, hit .284/.364/.428 with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, nine triples and 14 stolen bases for the White Sox in 2016, and has averaged .290/.362/.422, a 120 OPS+, and 5.1 WAR per season for the last three years.

What makes Eaton extra valuable is his team-friendly contract. He is guaranteed $19.9 million from 2017-2019, per Cot’s Contracts, and if his 2020 and 2021 options are exercised his remaining contract calls for $38.4 million over the next five seasons, a pittance for a player of his caliber.

The Nationals this week were rumored to be in on potential trades for center fielder Andrew McCutchen, pitcher Chris Sale, and closer Wade Davis, but nothing came to fruition. McCutchen remains in Pittsburgh, Sale is now in Boston and Davis was traded to the Cubs earlier Wednesday.

Eaton played mostly right field in 2016 with Chicago but has center field experience. His acquisition in theory allows Trea Turner to move from center field to his more natural position of shortstop for the Nationals, who won 95 games in winning the National League East in 2016.

Giolito was the Nationals’ top prospect, rated No. 4 overall in baseball at midseason 2016 by Baseball America. The first-round pick in 2012 put up a 2.97 ERA in 22 starts in the minors, with more strikeouts (116) than innings (115), and made six major league appearances, including four starts.

Lopez was the No. 48 prospect in baseball at midseason per Baseball America, and posted a 3.21 ERA in 19 minor league starts in 2016, with 126 strikeouts and 35 walks in 109 innings. He also made his major league debut with the Nationals last year, with a 4.91 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 22 walks in 44 innings.

Dunning was drafted in the supplemental first round by the Nationals in 2016 out of the University of Florida, and in his first pro season the right-hander had a 2.02 ERA in eight starts with 32 strikeouts and seven walks in 36 innings.