The Sunshine Squad 2024

[Mattionals]

I'm really hopeful that the 2025 Nats will look like this:

C - Ruiz/Adams
1B - Soto
2B - Lipscomb
SS - Abrams
3B - House
LF - Wood
CF - Crews
RF - Thomas

Might even be willing to take on Hassell in the OF and trade Thomas if Hassell has a bounce back season in the minors. Of course, if Soto isn't an option, then I'll have high hopes on YoYo.

[imref]

I'm really hopeful that the 2025 Nats will look like this:

C - Ruiz/Adams
1B - Soto
2B - Lipscomb
SS - Abrams
3B - House
LF - Wood
CF - Crews
RF - Thomas

Might even be willing to take on Hassell in the OF and trade Thomas if Hassell has a bounce back season in the minors. Of course, if Soto isn't an option, then I'll have high hopes on YoYo.

Move Soto to DH and YoYo to first.

[OfftheBat]

I'm really hopeful that the 2025 Nats will look like this:

C - Ruiz/Adams
1B - Soto
2B - Lipscomb
SS - Abrams
3B - House
LF - Wood
CF - Crews
RF - Thomas

Might even be willing to take on Hassell in the OF and trade Thomas if Hassell has a bounce back season in the minors. Of course, if Soto isn't an option, then I'll have high hopes on YoYo.

What are the odds that Soto returns to DC after the 2024 season?

[nobleisthyname]

What are the odds that Soto returns to DC after the 2024 season?

Do you want the answer fit for a Sunshine Squad thread?

[varoadking]

The Lerner's need to field a competitive team before they heap huge sums of money on a single player again...

Frankly, I don't see them doing either...

Such is our fate so as long as they remain the owners.  The good news here is that we all know it...

[aspenbubba]

I’m not sure why everyone is a fan boy of Thomas. He had one very good stretch in May and June when he was batting lead off. After Abrams was moved to lead off Thomas went into a steep decline batting .240 in July and August and less than .200 in September. He continued to hit HR’s but that was it.

[OfftheBat]

Do you want the answer fit for a Sunshine Squad thread?

Nope, give me the real deal brother 

[nobleisthyname]

Nope, give me the real deal brother 

My personal opinion is the chances are very low. Soto will almost certainly be signing a deal in the $400-$500M range, and there's a good chance a bidding war starts between the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, etc. I just don't see the Lerners stepping up to that level of bidding.

[OfftheBat]

My personal opinion is the chances are very low. Soto will almost certainly be signing a deal in the $400-$500M range, and there's a good chance a bidding war starts between the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, etc. I just don't see the Lerners stepping up to that level of bidding.

Makes sense, I agree with you, this is a realistic outcome.

[Natsinpwc]

I’m not sure why everyone is a fan boy of Thomas. He had one very good stretch in May and June when he was batting lead off. After Abrams was moved to lead off Thomas went into a steep decline batting .240 in July and August and less than .200 in September. He continued to hit HR’s but that was it.

Home runs are kind of important.  That’s why they get weighted heavier than singles and walks.  OPS+ was 114 last year and bWAR of 3.2.  Not a superstar but a good player on a team that needs it. If you throw out the high months when looking at stats you need to throw out the low months also.  I will just look at the whole year since that is a good sample size.

[Natsinpwc]

The Lerner's need to field a competitive team before they heap huge sums of money on a single player again...

Frankly, I don't see them doing either...

Such is our fate so as long as they remain the owners.  The good news here is that we all know it...

It is sobering when you write that.  Even though I know it already.  No worries about the stress of watching them in a playoff race or the playoffs themselves. 

[imref]

My personal opinion is the chances are very low. Soto will almost certainly be signing a deal in the $400-$500M range, and there's a good chance a bidding war starts between the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, etc. I just don't see the Lerners stepping up to that level of bidding.

The Nats have already offered Soto $440 million once, and that was when we had a larger payroll IIRC.

[nobleisthyname]

The Nats have already offered Soto $440 million once, and that was when we had a larger payroll IIRC.

Yeah, but I don't think $440M is going to get it done this time either. I would love to be wrong though. Soto is still my favorite player.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I may break out the "should we / will we sign Soto in 2025" discussion.

Remember the $440 million offer was to buy out 2-3 years of arbitration and 10 years of free agency. In 2025, there won't be any arbitration years to discount. I think 10 -12 years, $40 -45 million per year, will be bid by somebody. He may be worth that kind of money to some team, but I am not sure a DH is a good investment. Really need to see how the prospects develop.

[imref]

I may break out the "should we / will we sign Soto in 2025" discussion.

Remember the $440 million offer was to buy out 2-3 years of arbitration and 10 years of free agency. In 2025, there won't be any arbitration years to discount. I think 10 -12 years, $40 -45 million per year, will be bid by somebody. He may be worth that kind of money to some team, but I am not sure a DH is a good investment. Really need to see how the prospects develop.

The "Sign Fielder" thread for board members who weren't here prior to 2011.

I think Soto is the only player out there who would move the needle in terms of attendance as well as sponsor and merchandise sales to where you could justify spending that kind of money (mindfacting - i haven't done the math).

[IanRubbish]

Some sunshine...no Nats pitcher threw ball four today.

[imref]

Irvin: 52 pitches today, 43 strikes. 5Ks, 1H, in 5IP

[imref]

Via TalkNats:

Davey Martinez talks about "Hope Row," which is the section of lockers of Dylan Crews, James Wood, Brady House, Robert Hassell III, Trey Lipscomb, and Darren Baker all next to each other. They are the future, and as Martinez said, "They're close" in regards to Wood and Crews.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I  see Wood and Crews and I think Lynn and Rice. Tail end of '74 call ups, pennant winners, MVP, and split all the 1st place RotY votes in 1975.

[imref]

Zuck notes that the Nats this spring rank 2nd in pitcher ERA, WHIP, and opponent BA.

[varoadking]

The home opener being on April 1st is so apropos...

[Senatorswin]

I  see Wood and Crews and I think Lynn and Rice. Tail end of '74 call ups, pennant winners, MVP, and split all the 1st place RotY votes in 1975.

"75" was one of the most fun years with Lynn and Rice.

[imref]

Nats rank #18 on the MLB Hope-o-Meter ranking of fan optimism. Unfortunately that team to our north ranks #1.

https://theathletic.com/5350803/2024/03/19/mlb-hope-o-meter-ranking-30-teams/

18. Washington Nationals: 50.6 percent optimism

2023: 12 percent (27)
2022: 5.6 percent (28)

Pessimist Mike: When the only name addition to a last-place team is a guy who hasn’t broken the Mendoza line since 2019, what you get is another last-place team.

Optimist Lance: We may not win 80 games, but the current and upcoming core of CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gray, Keibert Ruiz, Lane Thomas, Dylan Crews, James Wood, and Robert Hassell make me hopeful for growth and promising moments this year, and contending again in future years.

Optimist Doug: The Nats have a history of rebuilding in a deliberate way. Witness the awful seasons before they selected Stephen Strasberg and Bryce Harper in consecutive drafts, followed by strategic free agents (Jayson Werth and Max Scherzer). They did it once; they can do it again.

Pessimist Ben: We’re paying the piper for the 2019 World Series (a price I am glad to pay).

[Senatorswin]

After years of the average age of baseball fans increasing it is now decreasing due in part because of the new rules. In 2019 the average age was 49. In 2022 the average age was 46. In July of 2023 it was 43. While the article gives a lot of credit to the rule changes I wonder if the legalization of gambling had a bigger impact since it's been going since 2019. It also says TV ratings are up.

 https://www.insidehook.com/sports/major-league-baseball-fans-getting-younger

[varoadking]

After years of the average age of baseball fans increasing it is now decreasing due in part because of the new rules. In 2019 the average age was 49. In 2022 the average age was 46. In July of 2023 it was 43. While the article gives a lot of credit to the rule changes I wonder if the legalization of gambling had a bigger impact since it's been going since 2019. It also says TV ratings are up.

 https://www.insidehook.com/sports/major-league-baseball-fans-getting-younger

A boatload of old people died in 2020...