2023-24 Off-Season Discussion

[Lintyfresh85]

Winker will probably be an opening day starter - hopefully he can hold up enough to be able to trade him for something at the deadline

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Nats sign Jesse Winkler to a minor league deal with a ST invite. LHB / LF who was an all-star in 2021. Probably ends up at Syracuse as the new Matt Adams.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/winkeje01.shtml

loving this one. Maybe his uncle Henry will show up.

Edit - missing the L. About the only Nat you can say that about.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Winker will probably be an opening day starter - hopefully he can hold up enough to be able to trade him for something at the deadline

I'm getting the feeling that Robles and Young are going to be pushed aside from the starting lineup. I don't see Winker just as a platoon for Thomas or Garrett.

OTOH, could see something like Winker / Garrett in left, Robles or Young in CF, Thomas right, Gallo 1st, and Meneses DH. If they also brought in Soler, Menseses can be sent down.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Spencer Nusbaum is taking over Nats coverage at the Washington Post from Andrew Golden

I was wondering about the lack of product from Golden this month.

[Natsinpwc]

He probably went to cover something less depressing.  Like the Israel Gaza war. 

[Natsinpwc]

Nats sign Jesse Winkler to a minor league deal with a ST invite. LHB / LF who was an all-star in 2021. Probably ends up at Syracuse as the new Matt Adams.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/winkeje01.shtml

Cornering the market on former Reds top prospects.  Also it’s Winker and not Winkler. 

[aspenbubba]

Cornering the market on former Reds top prospects.  Also it’s Winker and not Winkler. 

Rochester

[imref]

Got the Fonz on my mind. Fixed.

[Natsinpwc]

Got the Fonz on my mind. Fixed.

Got ya.  Aayyy.

[imref]

talknats reports that the Nats are still interested in adding a starter.

[Mattionals]

talknats reports that the Nats are still interested in adding a starter.

I hear Livan Hernandez is available.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

talknats reports that the Nats are still interested in adding a starter.

a rotation piece or depth in AAA?

[imref]

a rotation piece or depth in AAA?

Good question. Right now the rotation is Gray, Gore, Corbin, Irvin, and Williams, with Rutledge and Adon as depth and Cavaili hopefully back in June.

If we add another starter I'd assume they replace Williams, or compete with him for the final rotation slot.

[Natsinpwc]

At this point why would you sign a marginal guy for an extra win or two.  Just better off tanking.  They should be and probably are looking for Triple A depth pieces.  Even those are going dry.  Phillies just signed a couple of those. 

[Natsinpwc]

Just read on Reddit reporting from Golden that Rizzo said no more MLB deals.  Might be more minor league deals with invites.  Not sure i f this will work.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Nationals/s/p4HcPZwsCY

[Mattionals]

Just read on Reddit reporting from Golden that Rizzo said no more MLB deals.  Might be more minor league deals with invites.  Not sure i f this will work.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Nationals/s/p4HcPZwsCY

It's going to be a long season. Probably lots of long seasons until the Lerner family sells.

[imref]

It's going to be a long season. Probably lots of long seasons until the Lerner family sells.

My hope is that in August Crews is here, maybe House too, Cavalli is healthy, and it's starting to look like 2011.

[Mattionals]

My hope is that in August Crews is here, maybe House too, Cavalli is healthy, and it's starting to look like 2011.

It sucks that they started the clocks on Gray, Gore, and Abrams though. Unless those guys sign some long term deals now, it's going to be tough to envision what the actual team would look like when they are competitive again.

[Senatorswin]

They surprised last year and were fun to watch through a lot of the year. Except for Cavalli they had unusually good health with their starters. They will be lucky to have it at that level two years in a row.

[Natsinpwc]

They surprised last year and were fun to watch through a lot of the year. Except for Cavalli they had unusually good health with their starters. They will be lucky to have it at that level two years in a row.

Very true.  I’m ok with a tank at this point in time but this needs to be the last year of that. Owners need to sell to someone interested in producing a winner again. 

[Natsinpwc]

My hope is that in August Crews is here, maybe House too, Cavalli is healthy, and it's starting to look like 2011.

Don’t see any reason to rush House. Still young.  Unless he totally crushes at Double A.  Will be more fine to watch the minor league teams again this year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Don’t see any reason to rush House. Still young.  Unless he totally crushes at Double A.  Will be more fine to watch the minor league teams again this year.

well, in terms of timing, you have to think about whether you want the high level prospects to overlap with any of the guys you got in trade in 2021/22 that are now in the majors. Other than Ruiz, who has a long term contract, the clock is running out on team control for many guys with significant roles on this team. The entire back end of the bullpen - Finnegan, Harvey, Rainey - are FAs after 2025, as is Senzel, Thomas, and Vargas (every day, every play!). For the rotation, the "we gone" moment is after the 2027 season for Gore & Gray, plus Ruiz and Garcia.  You may want to open the playoff window in 2025, which means hoping the end of 2024 you've seen something from Wood, Crews, House, and Cavalli that lets you think they can contribute early in 2025. Maybe 2026 is more realistic, in which case every one of those guys who turn into pumpkins after 2025 should be moved at max value.

[Natsinpwc]

All very true.  No rush to promote anyone.   

[Slateman]

Don’t see any reason to rush House. Still young.  Unless he totally crushes at Double A.  Will be more fine to watch the minor league teams again this year.

Plenty of positions up for grab. If you're raking through July, may as well call em up.

Big if though

[JCA-CrystalCity]

All very true.  No rush to promote anyone.   

my preference is to trade Floro and 1 or two relievers this deadline and maybe Thomas along with Gallo, and then see if we can patch together a wild card contender in 2025. To do that, you do want to hope that you see enough to promote Crews, maybe Wood, maybe Lipscomb or Baker if you are disgusted with Garcia, and maybe House if Senzel shows you nothing or is traded.