With the Nationals season simply 10 days away, and with the common season video games beginning over in Japan tomorrow, it feels proper to recap what the Nats did this offseason. Whereas it was a busy offseason for the Nationals, the shortage of an enormous ticket merchandise left many followers wanting extra. Right here we are going to go over the free agent pickups, the trades and the place the roster stands heading into the season.
The Large Commerce
The most important transfer Mike Rizzo made this offseason was not a free agent pickup, reasonably it was an enormous commerce. Whereas I wouldn’t fairly name it a blockbuster, the acquisition of Nathaniel Lowe gave the Nats a reliable first baseman for the primary time in years. Satirically, their final reliable first baseman Josh Bell got here again to DC, however this time he will probably be a DH.
The Nats traded excessive upside reliever Robert Garcia to get Lowe. Whereas Garcia’s underlying numbers counsel he’s a significantly better pitcher than his 4.22 ERA signifies, getting an on a regular basis first baseman for a center reliever you picked up on waivers is an efficient piece of enterprise.
Lowe is a excessive on base bat and a gold glove stage defender at first base. Whereas he has some energy, he’s not precisely the bopper the Nats have been crying out for in 2024 after they completed second to final in house runs. Nevertheless, Lowe will probably be piece within the Nats lineup.
Amount over high quality in free company
The Washington Nationals didn’t make an enormous splash in free company regardless of many followers and out of doors media anticipating them to. Now that they’re additional alongside of their rebuild, there have been excessive expectations concerning the Nats potential free agent targets. A Juan Soto reunion was all the time a pipe dream, however followers hoped for an enormous identify within the rotation or a serious energy bat. They acquired none of that.
As an alternative, they acquired a plethora of low-cost, low danger one 12 months offers. It was similar to their method in earlier off-seasons. In truth, the Nationals haven’t spent greater than $15 million to carry a participant in because the 2020-21 offseason. The Lerner household is clearly tighter with their cash than they have been within the 2010’s.
Nevertheless, the fellows they did usher in have some promise. Earlier than a tough outing Yesterday, Michael Soroka was the star of spring coaching, with improved velocity and massive strikeout numbers. The reunion of Josh Bell additionally gave the Nats an inexpensive energy bat and a effectively revered veteran. He did lots for the group in his first stint with the Nats. Bell has hit over 20 homers 4 instances in his profession, and the Nats want him to make it a fifth season in 2025.
Veteran arms Trevor Williams and Kyle Finnegan returned to the membership, with Williams signing a two-year deal and Finnegan coming again after being non-tendered. The Nats additionally signed their first ever participant instantly from Asia in Shinnosuke Ogasawara, although he’ll seemingly begin the season in Triple-A. Different strikes included the additions of Jorge Lopez and Lucas Sims to the bullpen, in addition to bringing in Paul Dejong and Amed Rosario to supply infield depth.
2025 Outlook
From their offseason method, it appears that evidently the Nats braintrust nonetheless suppose the workforce is a minimum of a 12 months away from being a viable playoff risk. The shortage of spending additionally turns up the new seat on possession. As 2019 will get additional within the rear view mirror, followers will tire of all of the shedding seasons. There’s a good probability that 2025 is one other shedding season.
Nevertheless, the Nationals will probably be seeking to enhance their win complete with all of their younger expertise. A 3rd straight 71-91 season wouldn’t be acceptable. 2025 remains to be all about creating the younger guys, however there may be beginning to be extra strain because the rebuild drags on. Nationals followers wish to see progress in 2025. There have been some good strikes within the offseason, however the rebuild remains to be not over, even when the workforce says so publicly.
