Hot Stove: 2019-2020 Offseason

[Slateman]

Ahhh two.different situations. I was saying that to say the talent is there. Struggling your first callup is not that uncommon,  see Trea Turner. Rosenthal has the talent also, he just had the yips.

I was only using it to highlight that ST is unreliable.

Cubs have pretty ludicrous demands for Bryant. I image the Rockied have the same for Arenado. Donaldson is an albatross waiting to happen.

We can always make a deal at the deadline if we need to. Who knows, maybe 2017 Zim will make a return

[aspenbubba]

Castro is not a "Dozier type"

That's correct. He is better, cheaper and has a greater upside.

[imref]

That's correct. He is better, cheaper and has a greater upside.

but does he know the words to Calma?

[imref]

So if you are Rizzo, do you bring back Zimmerman for around $4 million a year, or go grab Mitch Moreland or Eric Thames as the LHB / 1B? Heart vs Head

2019:
Zimmerman: .257 / .321 / .415, 6 HR in 171 ABs, -0.2 WAR (.213 / .285 / .361 vs RHP), 35 years old
Moreland: .252 / .328 / .507, 19HR in 298 AB, 1.3 WAR (262 / .338 / .549 vs RHP), 34 years old
Thames: .247 / .346 / .505, 25 HR, in 396 ABs, 1.6 WAR (.254 / .348 / .529 vs RHP), 33 years old

Seems it's a no-brainer to go after Moreland or Thames.

[Natsinpwc]

So if you are Rizzo, do you bring back Zimmerman for around $4 million a year, or go grab Mitch Moreland or Eric Thames as the LHB / 1B? Heart vs Head

2019:
Zimmerman: .257 / .321 / .415, 6 HR in 171 ABs, -0.2 WAR (.213 / .285 / .361 vs RHP)
Moreland: .252 / .328 / .507, 19HR in 298 AB, 1.3 WAR (262 / .338 / .549 vs RHP)
Thames: .247 / .346 / .505, 25 HR, in 396 ABs, 1.6 WAR (.254 / .348 / .529 vs RHP)

Seems it's a no-brainer to go after Moreland or Thames.

You know Zimm is coming back. Don’t get yourself wrong excited.

[Trea Burner]

Rizzo has had 2 consecutive good offseasons imo.

I’m not sure how Bryce negotiations went, but getting Corbin and professional hitters was a better strategy and now they are getting excellent depth for bullpen and infield.

[Truconfidence]

You know Zimm is coming back. Don’t get yourself wrong excited.

Just signed Thames for 3 mill and a option 2yr

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Just signed Thames for 3 mill and a option 2yr

https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=38453.0

Thames thread.  WE can try to have a roster discussion here and individual discussions in the player threads, but no real rules on this.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

OK, this is funny:

Nationals Bullpen Cart
‏
 
@NatsBullpenCart
 33m33 minutes ago
MoreNationals Bullpen Cart Retweeted Nationals on MASN
Today the Nats signed Daniel Hudson and Eric Thames. Please let there be a Donaldson River somewhere on this planet.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If I did the math right, then what the Nats more or less did is, instead of spending $26MM AAV over 4 years on Donaldson given the bidding war, they signed 2 relievers for $13.5MM AAV (huddy for 2 years and Harris for 3), and $12.5MM AAV for 3 infielders, 2 with a 1 year commtiment (Cabrera for $2.5MM and Thames for $4MM) and 1 for 2 years, $6MM AAV (Castro). Saved $52MM, so even if these guy bomb, it does not prevent reloading after 2021. 

Thames can play corner outfield for long enough for Stevenson to fly cross country.  Kieboom is the backup DL replacement for the other IF positions.  Difo / Sanchez probably are exposed, unless the decision is to go with 7 pitchers in the bullpen to juggle rosters.

Man, that's an old opening day roster.

[imref]

Isn’t Stevenson out of options?

[NatsAllThe Way]

OK, this is funny:
There is a Donaldson River in Australia.

[vicki4471]

For the most part our world series Nats are back together. I know I should be in mourning over the loss of Rendon, but honestly I am more sad about Parra being gone. So much of what made 2019 so special was ignited because of him.

[GburgNatsFan]

I don't think you can repeat that kind of stuff from year to year.

For the most part our world series Nats are back together. I know I should be in mourning over the loss of Rendon, but honestly I am more sad about Parra being gone. So much of what made 2019 so special was ignited because of him.

[Expos]

What an offseason for Rizzo. Strasburg back longterm..Howie back. Gomes in a cheaper deal. Cabrera and Hudson back. Signed Castro, Harris and Thames.

So instead of Josh Donaldson who wanted 110m over 4 years (we offered 100m over 4 years) we got:

2B- Starlin Castro 2 years 12m
1B- Eric Thames 2 years, 8m
3B/2B- Astrubal Cabrera 1 year, 2.5m
RP- Will Harris 3 years, 24m
RP- Daniel Hudson 2 years 11m

26 mil a year for those 5 guys or 25 mil a year for Donaldson.

What a great offseason for Rizzo. I'm pumped for the season.

[RyanZimsKazoo]

now just sign kris bryant and we can repeat

[Expos]

Lineup: 8
1. SS Trae Turner
2. RF Adam Eaton
3. 2B Starlin Castro
4. LF Juan Soto
5. 1B Eric Thames
6. 3B Astrubal Cabrera
7. C Kurt Suzuki
8. CF Victor Robles

Bench: 5
C- Yan Gomes
1B- Ryan Zimmerman
2B- Howie Kendrick
OF- Michael Taylor
IF- Carter Kieboom or Wilmer Difo

Rotation: 5
1- Stephen Strasburg
2- Max Scherzer
3- Patrick Corbin
4- Anibal Sanchez
5- Joe Ross or Erik Fedde

Pen: 8
Sean Doolittle
Will Harris
Daniel Hudson
Tanner Rainey
Wander Suero
Hunter Strickland or David Hernandez
Roenis Elias or Fernando Abad
Austin Voth or Javy Guerra

Love that squad.

[imref]

we still have Javy too.

[Expos]

we still have Javy too.

Yep. Good call. I will edit that post

[nfotiu]

Barrett too.   I wonder if he'll get in the mix or get traded.

Only he, Suero and Rainey have options according to Spotrac.

[Expos]

Barrett too.   I wonder if he'll get in the mix or get traded.

Only he, Suero and Rainey have options according to Spotrac.

I doubt Barrett is in the mix for the pen

[imref]

I doubt Barrett is in the mix for the pen

yeah, I'd guess he's in Harrisburg again as an injury call-up.

[Expos]

And either Kieboom wins the 3B position over Cabrera or he goes back to AAA. Rizzo won't have his #1 prospect sitting on the bench. He will be playing FT somewhere.

[imref]

Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
Free agent spending leaders this winter, in which teams have guaranteed just shy of $2 billion:

Yankees: $336.5M
Nationals: $314.8M
Angels: $260.9M
White Sox: $195.5M
Phillies: $132M
Blue Jays: $108M
Diamondbacks: $103.6M
Reds: $100M
Braves: $99.8M

Next highest: Rangers, $49.5M

[Elvir Ovcina]

Isn’t Stevenson out of options?

No.  He didn't burn one in '17 (wasn't in the minors 20 days after being added to the 40-man).  And he was a '15 draftee, so he would have gotten a fourth option year even if he had.