When the Phillies signed the 34-year-old Daniel Nava to a one-year deal, most fans didn’t get all that excited. A career utility player with a .266 average isn’t much to get up for. But Nava has guaranteed himself a spot on one of the 30 major league rosters next season.
While Nava showed in Boston that he was not an everyday player, in Philly the six-year veteran posted his best season in the majors since 2013. He had a .301 average
over 80 games and 181 plate appearances.
While he did have a couple stints on the disabled list and wasn’t doing anything jawdropping, Nava also proved his versatility, making appearances at his regular left field spot while also moving around to right and first base.