2020-21 Offseason

[Kevrock]

Bummer

[Slateman]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1326563083251146754?s=20

So I find it interesting that Stroman took the QO, but Gausman is considering rejecting it.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Paxton would be the ultimate risk/reward guy.  He is a Boras guy, but I doubt he gets more than 2 years with his injury history and being 31.  He's never topped 160 IP, but he did start between 24 and 29 games each year between 2017-2019.  I'd be ok with having to cover 3-8 starts he misses and to have him healthy for the postseason.  If we sign him, however, I believe we need to acquire another cheap/serviceable guy as a #5.  We can't have 2 of Ross, Fedde, Voth, etc in the rotation at a time for stretches, and injuries would make that likely if we don't add another starter.

[Kevrock]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1326563083251146754?s=20

So I find it interesting that Stroman took the QO, but Gausman is considering rejecting it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1326563083251146754?s=20

So I find it interesting that Stroman took the QO, but Gausman is considering rejecting it.

Stro is presumably betting on himself to have a good year and really up his value and hit FA in a better market. Gausman might take stability while it’s in the table. Tough decisions, but I could see why Stroman would make this move and take a year to build his AAV up if it wasn’t there.

[Slateman]

Gausman took the qualifying offer as well.

[Slateman]

So.... it will be a depressed year for free agents.

What about a RF platoon of Joc Pederson and Kevin Pillar? Juan's ability to hit LHP pretty negates the L/R lineup. I feel like you could get both those guys for under 15 million, put 8-10 million at McCann, and your lineup is really formidable.

[hotshot]

I like it! Bring 'em in Rizzo.

Pillar can hit and plays superb defense. Pederson's bat is intriguing. Lotta power. Rarely walks. Off-speed stuff remains his big weakness. Has improved in the OF each season. 

[Slateman]

https://mobile.twitter.com/markzuckerman/status/1328710401308155906?s=21

Mark Zuckerman
@MarkZuckerman
·
19m
Nationals have signed former Diamondbacks slugger Yasmany Tomás to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training, source confirms. 30-year-old OF was a bust in Arizona because of his defensive woes, but Nats will take a low-risk shot at him.

[Slateman]

https://mobile.twitter.com/markzuckerman/status/1328710401308155906?s=21

Tomas has played 16 innings at first base. Wonder if he could be a platoon bat there (career .293/.343/.537 against LHP)

[UMDNats]

In Moneyball they taught Chris Pratt how to play first so it seems easy enough. Considering our crap roster and the bad year for FAs (and no trade assets), I think looking for platoons is our best option.

[Slateman]

In Moneyball they taught Chris Pratt how to play first so it seems easy enough. Considering our crap roster and the bad year for FAs (and no trade assets), I think looking for platoons is our best option.

Bad year for FA? It's a pretty good year for free agents. Ownership just wants to cry poor and not spend

[imref]

In Moneyball they taught Chris Pratt how to play first so it seems easy enough. Considering our crap roster and the bad year for FAs (and no trade assets), I think looking for platoons is our best option.

might be a DH option too if there's a NL DH next year.

[imref]

Nats sign LHP Sam Clay to a major league minimum deal.  27 years old, never pitched in the majors.  Hoping for Kyle Finnegan 2.0 I guess?

MLBTR notes:

Clay has just 22 2/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level under his belt. He’s pitched to a 4.37 ERA in that time but logged a much more impressive 26-to-10 K/BB ratio and a 60.6 percent ground-ball rate. Clay’s sinker has consistently generated ground-ball rates north of 55 percent, including a ridiculous 77 percent mark through 46 2/3 frames at the Double-A level in 2019.

Past scouting reports on the 6’2″, 190-pound lefty have also touted an above-average curveball, and it should be noted that because of his extreme ground-ball capabilities, he’s surrendered just six home runs in 405 1/3 minor league innings. To further emphasize the eye-popping nature of that stat, consider that Clay has faced 1814 batters in that time.

Seems like a low-risk / high potential reward type guy.

[imref]

Morosi tweets the Nats are pursuing LeMahieu.  If we end up signing him, that might move Garcia over to 3rd.

[Lazarchick 31]

Morosi tweets the Nats are pursuing LeMahieu.  If we end up signing him, that might move Garcia over to 3rd.

Would be the best signing they could make but really highly unlikely since he wants to be in NY and it's not like we are about to throw him so massive money up front.

Also I think that would signify more of Castro at 3rd and Carter on the way out.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Would be the best signing they could make but really highly unlikely since he wants to be in NY and it's not like we are about to throw him so massive money up front.

Also I think that would signify more of Castro at 3rd and Carter on the way out.

With the NYY, he's played a lot of 3d as well as some 1st.  I could see Garcia getting days off vs. lefties.  Of course, it's a long  way from him being signed.  Gonna guess how he's likely to be used will be a factor in who he signs with.

[Lazarchick 31]

With the NYY, he's played a lot of 3d as well as some 1st.  I could see Garcia getting days off vs. lefties.  Of course, it's a long  way from him being signed.  Gonna guess how he's likely to be used will be a factor in who he signs with.

Don't get me wrong I love their interest but it just doesn't seem to line up with a possibility. They would never throw him a front loaded contract, which imo, is the only way you're gonna get him away from NY. Make him and offer they cant match or won't match. That's just not feasible

[Lazarchick 31]

Now reported interest in trading for Bryant. Seems like they will go strongly for a top of the line bat but it better not end up a giant tease.

[imref]

Hmm, how much do we give up for a one year, $20 million player who was awful last year?

[UMDNats]

Springer RF
Turner SS
Soto LF
DJLM DH
Bryant 3B
Merrifield 2B
Gomes C
Robles CF

This is entirely possible and honestly fairly easy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

here was Boz's fantasy yesterday:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/11/19/nationals-offseason-potential-deals/

My own guess, falling between these extremes, is that the Nats sign left fielder Michael Brantley — who has hit .311 with an .852 OPS the past seven seasons — as well as switch-hitting first baseman Carlos Santana, who hit 34 homers in 2019 but will be a bargain because of his hard-luck .199 average this past season. With those two, plus progress from young Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom, the Nats’ lineup next year might roughly equal the punch of the World Series-winning team.

Because neither Brantley nor Santana, now 33 and 34, respectively, will require huge or long-term deals, the Nats also will be able to sign former Washington relievers Mark Melancon and Blake Treinen and bring back Sean Doolittle at a discount price to complete a deep bullpen that includes Daniel Hudson, Will Harris and Tanner Rainey.

[Lazarchick 31]

here was Boz's fantasy yesterday:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/11/19/nationals-offseason-potential-deals/

Yeah no thanks to all of that

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yeah no thanks to all of that

adding 2 or 3 bullpen arms sounded interesting.  I like Finnegan along with Rainey and suspect Harris will be good. Hudson I think will be a heart attack closer, but should be ok. Need a lefty beyond the minor leaguer they signed.

[Slateman]

Yea, I don't trust a 32 year old LeMahieu who has OPS'd under .700 away from Coors and Yankee Stadium

[UMDNats]

I also don't know how you can just say, "progress from Carter Kieboom" when he's never shown even a hair of ability to be an MLB hitter. You absolutely cannot pencil him in anywhere.