Now we’re having fun: 2025 Nats Roster

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

It’s hard to be patient waiting for prospects like Wood, Crews, House, and Cavalli to join the big league club.  I think we’re all tired of some of these older fill-ins with no future.  What has been the most pleasant surprise of 2024 is how some fringe and unknown young guys/prospects have emerged.  Garcia was being written off.  Young and Irvin both showed signs of promise last year, but they have both taken a major step forward.  Parker has come completely out of nowhere when we needed all the promising young arms we could find emerge at SP.

I won’t even begin to guess who isn’t dealt and remains in the bullpen, but these are the position guys and rotation guys I’m hoping/expecting to break camp:

C Ruiz/Adams: Ruiz really needs to pull a Luis Garcia and turn things around.
1B: Free Agent
2B: Garcia
3B: House: Might be aggressive, but this is “hoping.”
SS: Adams
LF: Wood
CF: Crews
RF: Hassell: Hoping he’s ready and Thomas retains some trade value and is dealt
4th OF: Young: Could start and give us 3 CF in the OF if Hassell isn’t the guy

SP Gore
SP Irvin
SP Parker
SP Gray
SP Cavalli

I could see a more frontline SP acquired and then you have at least 6 guys to count on with injuries certain to happen.

[imref]

Millas should be catching. Soto at DH

[Smithian]

This losing run is probably best in that now the Nats can operate in reality versus having an eye toward the standings.

I’m on record now as I have no desire for the Nationals to make a Soto run. He will be ultra expensive and he’s more DH than LF.

I want the Nats to invest in a clear cut front of the rotation starter and a DH who can be a league average bat at the spot. Otherwise, I’m happy with the infield and outfield options.

But I don’t know if Nats are going to spend or take another offseason in limbo…

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

This losing run is probably best in that now the Nats can operate in reality versus having an eye toward the standings.

I’m on record now as I have no desire for the Nationals to make a Soto run. He will be ultra expensive and he’s more DH than LF.

I want the Nats to invest in a clear cut front of the rotation starter and a DH who can be a league average bat at the spot. Otherwise, I’m happy with the infield and outfield options.

But I don’t know if Nats are going to spend or take another offseason in limbo…

I’d be ok with the spending being spending Corbin’s salary coming off the books on 1B/DH and maybe a short-term contract on a vet SP that’s not commanding a mega long-term deal.

[welch]

OF will be

- Young CF
- Thomas RF
- Wood LF

- Crews and Hassell promoted early and Thomas traded at the deadline.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think maybe the only question with no internal option is 1B. I think Wood and Crews both are likelies, so Young can play CF and Thomas DH if Hassell is not ready. Lipscomb is a nice option for 3rd if House is not ready. Catcher will stink, but that spot looks filled. There's no internal option for 1st. Lucky there's almost always short term FAs available to sign

Rotation? There's potential to fill all 5 slots with internal players. I'd explore the FA market for an older #2 and see what we can get, but it is not imperative

[IanRubbish]

I think maybe the only question with no internal option is 1B.

Given the history of signing Boras clients, and hints that there could be a Jayson Werth type signing, Pete Alonso could be a possibility.  Not sure it's a good idea, but could fit Mini Me and Rizzo's thinking. 

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I think maybe the only question with no internal option is 1B. I think Wood and Crews both are likelies, so Young can play CF and Thomas DH if Hassell is not ready. Lipscomb is a nice option for 3rd if House is not ready. Catcher will stink, but that spot looks filled. There's no internal option for 1st. Lucky there's almost always short term FAs available to sign

Rotation? There's potential to fill all 5 slots with internal players. I'd explore the FA market for an older #2 and see what we can get, but it is not imperative

Agreed.  YoYo is the biggest “hope” internally for a 1B.  If he doesn’t pan out, luckily finding someone to stick at 1B that can hit is the easiest spot to fill. 

I’m ok mostly seeing what we have in our young corps since we seem to have a reasonable option at almost every spot if not an almost sure thing.  Invest in trying to extend the young corps position players if possible.

If we’re close at the 2025 deadline, start looking to make trades to get over the hump.

If we need to fill some spots in free agency in 2026, then open the checkbook.

[IanRubbish]

OF will be

- Young CF
- Thomas RF
- Wood LF

- Crews and Hassell promoted early and Thomas traded at the deadline.

Service time could be an issue with Crews and Hassell at the beginning of the season.  If Young starts, could use Darren Baker as a 4th OF, would be the fastest OF in MLB.

[Slateman]

I think maybe the only question with no internal option is 1B. I think Wood and Crews both are likelies, so Young can play CF and Thomas DH if Hassell is not ready. Lipscomb is a nice option for 3rd if House is not ready. Catcher will stink, but that spot looks filled. There's no internal option for 1st. Lucky there's almost always short term FAs available to sign

Rotation? There's potential to fill all 5 slots with internal players. I'd explore the FA market for an older #2 and see what we can get, but it is not imperative

I just assume Rizzo signs some random journeyman or faded player to be our first baseman. Like Josh Bell or Garrett Cooper. For the rotation, probably someone like Sean Manaea or Kyle Gibson.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I just assume Rizzo signs some random journeyman or faded player to be our first baseman. Like Josh Bell or Garrett Cooper. For the rotation, probably someone like Sean Manaea or Kyle Gibson.

you have the right type for 1st. I really don't see a need for a backend starter in  FA.

[Slateman]

you have the right type for 1st. I really don't see a need for a backend starter in  FA.

Thats really not the right type of free agent for a team in a top 10 media market that, supposedly, has good pitching. They need a middle of the order bat in the worst way. But ownership will probably be cheap again.

And you always need arms.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Thats really not the right type of free agent for a team in a top 10 media market that, supposedly, has good pitching. They need a middle of the order bat in the worst way. But ownership will probably be cheap again.

And you always need arms.

a 3 year commitment would bring a higher quality 1B. The Nats could do it and still keep their AAV below the current year. Alonso doesn't sound like  a bad guess, but I think he gets more than 3 years.

[IanRubbish]

But ownership will probably be cheap again.

Given their history, any deal over $100 million would likely require the player to accept a deferral.

[nobleisthyname]

Lipscomb is a nice option for 3rd if House is not ready.

Unless he takes a big step forward this year I would like to see them try to sign someone to a short term contract over going with Lipscomb as the opening day starter. He's a nice depth/bench piece but not a starter on a team with legitimate playoff aspirations. I guess it depends if they expect House to be ready sooner rather than later next season.

[zimm_da_kid]

If stone can show anything like what he did last year, he should be our DH going forward.  He’s still young enough to have upside too

[imref]

Garrett isn’t doing anything in Rochester to warrant any level of excitement

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Unless he takes a big step forward this year I would like to see them try to sign someone to a short term contract over going with Lipscomb as the opening day starter. He's a nice depth/bench piece but not a starter on a team with legitimate playoff aspirations. I guess it depends if they expect House to be ready sooner rather than later next season.

If House isn't on the OD roster but they think he's ready by June 2025, then Lipscomb can cover for 2-3 months. IF they think House is more 2026, then getting a higher quality 3B than Senzel might be the way to go.

[IanRubbish]

If House isn't on the OD roster but they think he's ready by June 2025, then Lipscomb can cover for 2-3 months. IF they think House is more 2026, then getting a higher quality 3B than Senzel might be the way to go.

I'd rather just use Lipscomb or even Kieboom at that point.  We cannot go through another year of fielding mediocre 30 year olds solely for the purpose of hoping they can be flipped at the deadline, especially when the likelihood of getting anything good in return is so slim.  They've done enough to reduce the fanbase since the 2021 salary dumps, a sixth straight losing season with a lineup of Senzels, Gallos, Winkers, Rosarios, etc would be a great way to kill even more season ticket renewals.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The 3rd base potential free agents for next season look weak. Bregman is the pick of the litter, then Matt Chapman. I don't see giving them the years they would want. There's Eugenio Suarez perhaps on a bounceback, but he's timed his power outage poorly. Maybe he'd sign a 1 year for what we signed Gallo and Candy. Really, if it is a holding pattern for House, I could live with Lipscomb or maybe even Kieboom if he mashes in AAA.

Other than Alonso, first base looks really old. Maybe that would be good to poke around for a 3 year contract to, say, Goldy. I'm more willing to search for a plug in at first than at 3rd.  Alonso would be really interesting. I'd go 7 years on him.

Here's the MLBTR list.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/04/2024-25-mlb-free-agents.html

[imref]

my guess / hope:

C: Millas / Ruiz
1B: Soto
2B: Garcia
SS: Abrams
3B: House
DH: Adams
LF: Wood
CF: Crews
RF: Thomas

Bench: Young, Lipscomb, Vargas, Baker, Ruiz/Millas

Rotation: Gore, Cavalli, Parker, Gray, Irvin (Rutledge as next man up)

Bullpen: Who knows?

[nobleisthyname]

Alonso would be an ideal target.

[Slateman]

Alonso would be an ideal target.

Except thats a massive overpay

[nobleisthyname]

Except thats a massive overpay

I posted that comment before double checking his stats. I didn't realize his OBP was so low. Not sure how well he'll age actually. I'm fine with a mild overpay, but you're right he'd likely be a massive one.

[imref]

Gallo should be cheap.