Luis Garcia Aspirations / Trepidations Thread

[varoadking]

Tena has done absolutely nothing, IMHO, to make one think he's a legit major leaguer.

You could say that about most of this roster...

[Smithian]

Tena has done absolutely nothing, IMHO, to make one think he's a legit major leaguer.

It this was 2015 and the Nats were in the midst of a competitive decade with a wide open window in front of the Nats, I would not give any brain energy to a player like Jose Tena.

Since it's in fact 2025 and we're in the midst of an awful run, I'd like to give a 24 year old player like Jose Tena 250-300 at bats. I believe there is more untapped bat potential with him than Luis Garcia and he will cost a fifth of what Garcia is making.

[aspenbubba]

I’m wondering that bringing up Nunez is a trial for him to take over Garcias spot especially after the bonehead error today that cost Parker a win. I’m not in favor of playing De Jung any more and would not offer him a contract for next year.

[Slateman]

It should be CJ taking Garcia's spot

[aspenbubba]

It should be CJ taking Garcia's spot

Yes with Nunez potentially playing SS.

[imref]

Yes with Nunez potentially playing SS.

Nunez is a career .210 BA / .586 OPS vs LHP, at best he's a platoon option.

Let's definitely be careful about getting too excited about a guy who has never shown that he can consistently hit.

[varoadking]

Nunez is a career .210 BA / .586 OPS vs LHP, at best he's a platoon option.

Let's definitely be careful about getting too excited about a guy who has never shown that he can consistently hit.

Agreed...neither of these Nats have proven anything in the Big's yet...

Player A MLB career stats - 339 AB's - .206/.282/.345/.627

N. Nunez MLB career stats - 108 AB's - .241/.344/.324/.668

[Smithian]

Agreed...neither of these Nats have proven anything in the Big's yet...

Player A MLB career stats - 339 AB's - .206/.282/.345/.627

N. Nunez MLB career stats - 108 AB's - .241/.344/.324/.668

Player A is on something of a decent streak -- that OPS is climbing!

[Slateman]

Played first base tonight.

In his best season, 2024, he was a .795 OPS against RHP. Is that good enough to start at 1B?

[Smithian]

Played first base tonight.

In his best season, 2024, he was a .795 OPS against RHP. Is that good enough to start at 1B?

I really, really hope this is some last gasp at upping his value because I can't watch a season of Garcia starting at 1B

[Slateman]

I really, really hope this is some last gasp at upping his value because I can't watch a season of Garcia starting at 1B

That's the only reason I can think to keep him. Hope that a new coaching staff and contract year push Garcia to be as good as he was in 2024, and then the Nats flip him at the deadline

[JCA-CrystalCity]

That's the only reason I can think to keep him. Hope that a new coaching staff and contract year push Garcia to be as good as he was in 2024, and then the Nats flip him at the deadline

He could be a useful utility guy, especially because he's a lefty hitting  infielder. Right now, that's probably more valuable to a team that competes at a higher level.

[Slateman]

He could be a useful utility guy, especially because he's a lefty hitting  infielder. Right now, that's probably more valuable to a team that competes at a higher level.

Utility for what? He can't play 2B. He can't play SS. I highly doubt he can play 3B. Hell, I highly doubt he can be an even competent fielding first baseman.

He has not utility other than his bat. I'm happy to trade him in the offseason, but he needs to be off this team before next year

[imref]

They'd have to pay him somewhere around $5M next year. I don't think they offer him arbitration and let him walk.

[Slateman]

They'd have to pay him somewhere around $5M next year. I don't think they offer him arbitration and let him walk.

They're paying him 4.5 million now, so I assumed it was going to be 6.5+

Like, maybe with a new coaching staff and playing 1B, you do that and try and get something at the deadline for him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Utility for what? He can't play 2B. He can't play SS. I highly doubt he can play 3B. Hell, I highly doubt he can be an even competent fielding first baseman.

He has not utility other than his bat. I'm happy to trade him in the offseason, but he needs to be off this team before next year

there are bat first backups who play multiple positions poorly. Amed Rosario immediately pops to mind, but this guy can't crush righties the way Rosario crushes  lefties.


My bottom line isn't different from yours or Imref - he's not worth offering arb to and he's not an every day guy anywhere.

[Slateman]

there are bat first backups who play multiple positions poorly. Amed Rosario immediately pops to mind, but this guy can't crush righties the way Rosario crushes  lefties.


My bottom line isn't different from yours or Imref - he's not worth offering arb to and he's not an every day guy anywhere.

Rosario actually crushes a platoon. Garcia's best is .795 OPS against RHP. That's not really "crushing."  Also, Rosario isn't amongst the worst defenders at any infield position like Garcia is.

Garcia regularly underperforms his expected stats. This year seems really egregious. He's hitting .271 against RHP. He has an xBA of .314. He is slugging .442 against RHP. His xSLG is .514. If you believe another coaching staff and better analytics/training mechanisms can get him closer, then sure, I guess. The problem is I think his problem is largely due to his own laziness.

[IanRubbish]

I really, really hope this is some last gasp at upping his value because I can't watch a season of Garcia starting at 1B

Not surprising for this org, but a completely ridiculous move.

[varoadking]

Just let him walk...we've done worse...

[zimm_da_kid]

His average exit velocity and hard hit rate have gone up every year. EV up to 90.0 this year.  His fly ball rate has also been trending up throughout his career (albeit in a zig zag way). If he can get his fly ball rate to 28%+ he’d likely hit 25+ homers and be able to profile as a 1B.

Riley Greene lite is the ideal. Similar exit velos, Greene just that’s significantly improved his fly ball percentage every year.

Keep Garcia for another year. It’s just arbitration.

[imref]

Did I hear he just made a spectacular play at 2nd?

[imref]

Back at 1B today.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

MLBTR projects him for $7 million in arbitration.
 https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2026.html

Hard for me to see this org as calling that money  well spent.

[varoadking]

MLBTR projects him for $7 million in arbitration.
 https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2026.html

Hard for me to see this org as calling that money  well spent.

Yeah...this is one time I think the LAC organization is entitled to take a player to arbitration...offer him $4.5MM...then trade his ass...

[Count Walewski]

Every rebuilding team needs a lovable scrappy player who is not very good but who is oddly charismatic. Its fun to cheer for this player and it is hilarious when they actually get a big hit from time to time. Luis Garcia Jr ably played this role for years, eventually becoming the longest tenured player on the team.

But now it is time to go.