2023-24 Off-Season Discussion

[imref]

Everyone has reached agreement per talknats

[Natsinpwc]

Would be nice if anyone in the media could ask the team what their plans are ownership wise.  Still for sale?  Not for sale? Does current ownership have a long term plan?  Will they ever go near the luxury tax line again?

[Natsinpwc]

So Ferris and Buehler are on the same team now?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Everyone has reached agreement per talknats

last few deals:

Finnegan - $5.1 million
Garcia - ???? (agreement announced by team, no figures given)
Harvey -- $2.325 million
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/2024-arbitration-tracker.html

Amounts attributed to Feinsand's reporting

[nobleisthyname]

I'm seeing García's contract as $1,950,000 on spotrac:
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/washington-nationals/luis-garcia-20621/

Not able to find it reported anywhere though.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Looking at Harvey vs Finnegan, it really shows the closer / save premium for RPs.

[Slateman]

Looking at Harvey vs Finnegan, it really shows the closer / save premium for RPs.

Finnegan also has an extra year of relief work . . .

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Finnegan also has an extra year of relief work . . .

Harvey has a bit more service time (47 days). 2021 is much of the difference, I guess, and neither were "it" until they came to the Nats.. Finnegan is coming off a higher base ($2.325 vs. $870K in 2023), and Harvey didn't stick in the majors until July '22. Still, in terms of projected value, arguably Finnegan should be worth less.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm seeing García's contract as $1,950,000 on spotrac:
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/washington-nationals/luis-garcia-20621/

Not able to find it reported anywhere though.

Golden has the same number.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/11/nationals-arbitration-deadline/

[IanRubbish]

Why would we trade for a guy right now?

To save Mini Me a few pennies.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

10/6/23 MLBTR article on salary projections for arb eligible guys. Looks like he was pretty much on for Finnegan and Harvey, and was high for Lane and Luis.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2024.html

    Dominic Smith (5.081): $4.3MM
    Victor Robles (5.033): $2.7MM
    Tanner Rainey (4.127): $1.5MM
    Michael Chavis (4.089): $1.2MM
    Hunter Harvey (4.047): $2.2MM
    Lane Thomas (4.014): $7MM
    Kyle Finnegan (4.000): $5.1MM
    Luis Garcia (2.142): $2.4MM

[Senatorswin]

In 2023 CJ Abrams stole 47 bases and got caught 4 times. That's elite. If he can learn to hit left handed pitching better this guy could be a star.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

In 2023 CJ Abrams stole 47 bases and got caught 4 times. That's elite. If he can learn to hit left handed pitching better this guy could be a star.

huge "if." I'd like to see it. His power seems around average, which is fine for a SS.

Against lefties, he cut back on his Ks against lefties 2d half of the year, and increased his pull % a lot. Relatively fewer soft dribblers to the left side, but more grounders to the right side. BABIP and ISOd dropped.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/nationals-re-sign-travis-blankenhorn.html

minor league deal. I forget who we liked more when called up, Rutherford or Blankenhorn? I think Rutherford got squeezed off the roster when Millas came up, and Blankenhorn backfilled for a bit when the roster squeeze eased. Played some, then got plantar fasciitis according to the article.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/nationals-re-sign-travis-blankenhorn.html

At one time, he played second, but has been limited to 1st and OF the past few years. I guess until we sign a lefty bat to a major league contract, he's got a bit of a shot to stick?

[Slateman]

In 2023 CJ Abrams stole 47 bases and got caught 4 times. That's elite. If he can learn to hit left handed pitching better this guy could be a star.

huge "if." I'd like to see it. His power seems around average, which is fine for a SS.

Against lefties, he cut back on his Ks against lefties 2d half of the year, and increased his pull % a lot. Relatively fewer soft dribblers to the left side, but more grounders to the right side. BABIP and ISOd dropped.

Needs to learn to hit, period. And field his position

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Needs to learn to hit, period. And field his position

I'd like to see him stop trying to jerk the ball to right searching for a homer when he's up against a lefty. 50% pull last 3 months of the year. He cut his Ks below 20%, so his contact is fine. Just go with the pitch. Heck, with his speed, he can beat out soft hits to the left side.

[Senatorswin]

Against right handers he had an OPS of .786. Altogether he hit 18 home runs, 11 the second half. This suggests this year he could easily be a 20 homer 60-70 steal guy with a huge SB percentage. If he just pulls up his average against lefties, admittedly a big if, he's a huge keeper.

The Phillies shortstop we used to have had 30 steals but could have a lot more if he wanted because he didn't get caught all year. Abrams fielded better than Trea though.

So considering they'll both hit 20 some home runs, steal a lot of bases at a high success rate, Trea a better hitter for average at this point and maybe a few more home runs, CJ a better fielder, CJ 7 years younger, would you trade CJ Abrams for Trea Turner? Trea makes a lot more money but not a concern unless it prevents you from signing others which it probably would.

[varoadking]

Abrams fielded better than Trea though.

.966 vs .960...22 errors vs 23 in 2023...so pretty similar.

[Senatorswin]

.966 vs .960...22 errors vs 23 in 2023...so pretty similar.

CJ 384 assists, Trea 369. Again, pretty similar. But with Trea being 30 and CJ 23 I would expect CJ would fielding would be better over the next 7 years while Trea will go down with the possibility of him having to move to another position.

So would I trade CJ for Trea. No, even though it would be great to see Trea in a Nats uniform again.

[Slateman]

.966 vs .960...22 errors vs 23 in 2023...so pretty similar.

CJ 384 assists, Trea 369. Again, pretty similar. But with Trea being 30 and CJ 23 I would expect CJ would fielding would be better over the next 7 years while Trea will go down with the possibility of him having to move to another position.

So would I trade CJ for Trea. No, even though it would be great to see Trea in a Nats uniform again.

fielding percentage and assists

You guys are hilarious

[Senatorswin]

This is just a small mention in an article last August by Boz that was talking about the Nationals as a whole:

"Abrams may soon be a 20-homer, 60-steal shortstop with top-five defensive range."

[KnorrForYourMoney]

fielding percentage and assists

You guys are hilarious

Old dogs can't learn new tricks.

[imref]

Blankenhorn back on a minor league deal

[aspenbubba]

Blankenhorn back on a minor league deal

I read Zucks article this morning focusing wholly on Blankenhorns return. First thought was Zuck ran out of topics  as Blankenhorn was a FA that drew no interest from any other team. Then I had this fear that if this is a precursor to the ‘24 Nats this team is looking at 65 wins maybe.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Blankenhorn back on a minor league deal

I suppose if I link twice to the same article, we might as well post it twice .

By the way- has anyone heard anything about Blankenhorn?