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<p>OXON HILL, Md. &#8212; The Washington Nationals did make a deal with the Chicago White Sox during their hometown winter meetings, after all, only it was for center fielder Adam Eaton, not lefty Chris Sale.</p><p>The price of Wednesday&#8217;s swap was still steep: Washington parted with three young pitchers, including top prospect Lucas Giolito, hard-throwing Reynaldo Lopez &#8212; who made the team&#8217;s postseason roster &#8212; and 2016 first-round draft pick Dane Dunning.</p><p>The trade came on the last day of the so-called &#8220;hot stove&#8221; sessions outside the nation&#8217;s capital, allowing Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo to avoid leaving empty-handed after failing in a bid to get Sale, who went from the White Sox to the Boston Red Sox, instead.</p><p>Rizzo also had acknowledged discussing a deal for Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen.</p><p>By putting Eaton in center, the Nationals can move Trea Turner &#8212; runner-up for 2016 NL Rookie of the Year &#8212; back to his natural position, shortstop.</p><p>Eaton has three guaranteed seasons left in a $23.5 million, five-year contract that calls for him to earn $4 million next year, $6 million in 2018 and $8.4 million in 2019. The deal includes a $9.5 million team option for 2020 with a $1.5 million buyout and, if 2020 is exercised, a 2021 team option for $10.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout.</p><p>The 28-year-old Eaton has a .284 career batting average with a .357 on-base percentage and a .414 slugging percentage, with 34 homers and 177 RBIs in five seasons in the majors with the White Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks.</p><p>Last season, he hit .284 with 14 homers, 59 RBIs and 14 stolen bases, while leading the majors with 18 outfield assists.</p><p>The 22-year-old Giolito, a first-round pick in the 2012 amateur draft, made his major league debut in June and went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in six starts for Washington.</p><p>Lopez, also 22, was 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 games, including six starts, for the Nationals in 2016.</p><p>The 21-year-old Dunning was the 29th overall pick this year out of the University of Florida.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Chicago White Sox's Adam Eaton hits a double against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_AP_16254078095370.jpg</photo0><caption0>Chicago White Sox's Adam Eaton hits a double against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Howard Fendrich</p><p>AP Sports Writer</p></bylineMeta></div>

Nationals pull off deal with White Sox for center fielder Adam Eaton