2023-24 Off-Season Discussion

[Five Banners]

the dude walks 15% of the time so he's .300 obp (not great) but is a lock for 20 hrs.

Meanwhile, how many of those came like his last one of the season, in the seventh-inning of a 13-1 lead for the homer-happy Twins? Also, here’s the mindset that would be brought in:

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-twins-joey-gallo-striking-out-strikeouts-home-runs/600285250/

“"I'm going to strike out a lot," said Gallo, who saw his batting average drop to .182 on Sunday. "That's how it is with me unfortunately.”

It seems to make a lot more sense to save a roster spot then have someone like him tried it out over and over and potentially kill rallies when the Nats into scrappy mode. If they’re gonna cast next year as a time of development, at least get a veteran that may showcase better habits including plate discipline.

Let him do the Kingman thing on a team that can afford to stash him. (Even he only had one year below the Mendoza line.)

[Senatorswin]

90 days until the Nats first game in Cinsinnati,

[Senatorswin]

It was frustrating enough watching Dominic Smith last year. It would be painful to watch Joey Gallo.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Pederson and Gallo wont work with this coaching staff

any power hitter won't. Gallo would drive them nuts. Takes a lot of pitches, not a big contact guy. They much prefer Every Day Every Play  Vargas

[imref]

I'd be OK with Adam Dunn at this point.

[Five Banners]

I'd be OK with Adam Dunn at this point.

Pair him with Willingham again

[Slateman]

Eh, I'd rather just see what Yepez has or wait for ST cuts. There is no chance Gallo has a season that results in him being traded.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yepez, Meneses, and an OF. That's your lefty bat. Could be Garrett, but I will take 4 into 3 slots

[Senatorswin]

Another list has Gore as the most likely break-out Nat for 2024. He had the fifth most strikeouts for a lefty last year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Another list has Gore as the most likely break-out Nat for 2024. He had the fifth most strikeouts for a lefty last year.

Gore needs to cut the BBs below 3 per 9 IP and put guys away a bit faster with 2 strikes. That will save pitches. I think the HR/FB will come down naturally

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Alex Skepton is slashing .375/.444/.675 with six home runs in 88 plate appearances for the Australian Baseball League’s Brisbane Bandits. The 22-year-old outfielder — a native of Queensland — leads the ABL in BA, OBP, and SLG.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-a-hall-of-fame-ballot-with-a-notable-omission-explained/

Unsigned.  Aussie baseball profile - https://theabl.com.au/player/alex-skepton-698853

I know absolutely nothing about him. We used to have an Aussie or two on the board. Would be fun to hear from them. I know we don't typically sign or scout Pacific rim baseball, but I'd take a flyer on something like him. Give him a minor league offer, bring him into our minor league camp, and see what level he can play at.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

MLBTR (Leo Morganstern) speculation on Joc Pederson. Blue Jays are reportedly interested. Phillies and Giants have been talked about but would be poor roster fits. Trying to find a good fit, MLBTR discusses the Angels, Nats, and Mariners.

Another possibility is the Nationals, who are reportedly seeking a left-handed power bat this winter. If that is indeed the case, there might be no better option than Pederson. It’s hard to imagine the Nationals are in on Bellinger, or that Bellinger would choose to sign with a rebuilding club. Meanwhile, Brantley is an excellent left-handed hitter, but power hasn’t been a part of his offensive toolkit in several years. Brandon Belt is the only other free agent who looks to be an impactful left-handed hitter, but it’s anyone’s guess if he can keep mashing in his age-36 season.

The article has a pretty good discussion of his track record in recent years and discusses his tough second half last year.

there is plenty of reason for optimism as Pederson enters his age-32 campaign. For one thing, he recorded his highest walk rate since 2015 and the best walk-to-strikeout ratio of his career in 2023. His batting average and on-base percentage still declined, but that could merely be the result of bad luck on balls in play. While his .235 BA was below league average, his .264 xBA (per Baseball Savant) was significantly above average. Moreover, the -0.029 difference between his BA and xBA was the second largest gap among NL hitters (min. 200 balls in play).

In the same vein, the lefty’s .366 xwOBA was right in line with his .367 xwOBA from the previous season. Indeed, Pederson’s Baseball Savant page paints a pretty promising picture overall. His xwOBA ranked in the 90th percentile in MLB, while his 52.2% hard-hit rate ranked in the 96th. On top of that, he set a new career high in maximum exit velocity, crushing one particular pitch at 116.6 mph. Only 13 hitters topped that number in 2023, a list of batters littered with MVP candidates and All-Stars. Needless to say, we’re talking about a hitter who can still demolish the baseball.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/free-agent-profile-joc-pederson.html

[Senatorswin]

So let's say nothing goes right for the Nats this year:

- Meneses doesn't work out at first base - We sign Pete Alonso to play first in 2025.

- Luis Garcis bombs at second - We sign Jose Altuve for 2025.

- CJ Abrams has to come through. No replacements

- All major and minor 3rd baseman stink it up - Sign Alex Bregman for 2025

- We find out only Crews and Wood can play. We sign Juan Soto for 2025.

- One of the catchers has to come through. No Replacements.

- Only Gray and Gore can pitch effectively. - We sign Wheeler, Buehler, Fried for 2025.

See you at the parade.

[Five Banners]

So let's say nothing goes right for the Nats this year:

- Meneses doesn't work out at first base - We sign Pete Alonso to play first in 2025.

- Luis Garcis bombs at second - We sign Jose Altuve for 2025.

- CJ Abrams has to come through. No replacements

- All major and minor 3rd baseman stink it up - Sign Alex Bregman for 2025

- We find out only Crews and Wood can play. We sign Juan Soto for 2025.

- One of the catchers has to come through. No Replacements.

- Only Gray and Gore can pitch effectively. - We sign Wheeler, Buehler, Fried for 2025.

See you at the parade.

No Asterisks

[Slateman]

So let's say nothing goes right for the Nats this year:

- Meneses doesn't work out at first base - We sign Pete Alonso to play first in 2025.

- Luis Garcis bombs at second - We sign Jose Altuve for 2025.

- CJ Abrams has to come through. No replacements

- All major and minor 3rd baseman stink it up - Sign Alex Bregman for 2025

- We find out only Crews and Wood can play. We sign Juan Soto for 2025.

- One of the catchers has to come through. No Replacements.

- Only Gray and Gore can pitch effectively. - We sign Wheeler, Buehler, Fried for 2025.

See you at the parade.

Also, in this fantasy, I win the powerball

[English Natsie]

Do Altuve and Bregman supply their own trash-cans?...

[Slateman]

And buzzers

[Senatorswin]

Do Altuve and Bregman supply their own trash-cans?...

No, they realize they've signed on to a real class organization, say 3 Hail Mary's, and reform.

[Senatorswin]

Also, in this fantasy, I win the powerball

Well if that happens it wouldn't hurt to throw a fellow suffering Nats fan a taste.

[Slateman]

Well if that happens it wouldn't hurt to throw a fellow suffering Nats fan a taste.

Ill buy beers on the day of Corbin's final start

[Senatorswin]

Ill buy beers on the day of Corbin's final start

Deal

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ill buy beers on the day of Corbin's final start

but how will you know when it is Corbin's last start? You will just have to go to all of Corbin's starts to be sure. That's probably worth it to get several hundred million dollars.  More likely than not. Maybe.

[Slateman]

but how will you know when it is Corbin's last start? You will just have to go to all of Corbin's starts to be sure. That's probably worth it to get several hundred million dollars.  More likely than not. Maybe.

Mindfact: Corbin will always be the starter in our hearts

[Five Banners]

Mindfact: Corbin will always be the starter in our hearts

He remains the one who got the win in the pennant game clincher

[JCA-CrystalCity]

MLBTR chat excerpts:

CincyFanJB
8:24   All offseason so far has been all about Reds getting pitching, all have been acquired by spending money. Think they go after a RH outfielder through trade? They have the prospect capital to do it and don't NEED to get more pitching. I'd love Lane Thomas, what do you think it'd take?
Mark P
8:26   Since the jury is still out on Luis Garcia, landing one of the Reds infielders might be a pretty nice coup for Washington in a Lane Thomas deal, eh?  I don't hate the move for either side, though it probably wouldn't be a straight one-for-one

https://live.jotcast.com/chat/mlbtr-live-chat-17333.html

My reaction is that I would not mind moving on from Garcia. I don't see much unrealized upside or a breakthrough. He's a consistent subpar hitter with a respectable average and avoided Ks, but that's due to sacrificing power and an allergy to walks. D is below par. This is over 1245 PAs. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, that's what playing Luis Garcia is.