Now we’re having fun: 2025 Nats Roster

[Slateman]

yes, that seems to put Thomas, Finnegan, and Harvey on the table. Which is probably good. Doesn't mean they all get dealt, but we should not hold them too tightly.

Yea, that "one additional season" part just seems to target.

To me, this comes down to whether or not ownership is actually willing to spend some money in the offseason. Soto talk aside, we will need to add at least two bats (1B and DH), and should probably look to add a third for LF. We have some internal options to use as platoons against LHP, but the team needs some juice. If ownership will do that, Rizzo can target some younger players with higher ceilings. If not, Rizzo is going to have to grab guys that are much closer to the big leagues, but have lower ceilings.

[Smithian]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/nationals-trade-rumors-deadline-sellers-kyle-finnegan-hunter-harvey-lane-thomas-jesse-winker.html

Seems fine. Don't sell them for peanuts, but put them on the for sale rack.

[Slateman]

Seems fine. Don't sell them for peanuts, but put them on the for sale rack.

Kind of feel like you have to take whatever is the best offer at this point. Thomas is what he is, and, unless he explodes the rest of the season, MLB will view him that way. Finnegan is getting up in years and innings. Harvey has injury concerns. And with both of them, relievers are just volatile. Gotta cash in now and give the rebuild one last push.

[Senatorswin]

Baltimore sports talk radio was discussing the possibility of getting Finnegan at the deadline. They liked what he had done this year but were incredulous that he has 9 pitch timeouts this year, one a walk-off. The final consensus was they would want him if not for that. Seems ridiculous to overreact to that.

[Slateman]

Baltimore sports talk radio was discussing the possibility of getting Finnegan at the deadline. They liked what he had done this year but were incredulous that he has 9 pitch timeouts this year, one a walk-off. The final consensus was they would want him if not for that. Seems ridiculous to overreact to that.

I mean, giving the team a free ball in over 20% of your appearances seems like a significant concern to me

[Senatorswin]

I mean, giving the team a free ball in over 20% of your appearances seems like a significant concern to me

Seems insignificant to me. Even the walk-off didn't decide the game as they were going to lose anyway. How significant is it if nine times this year he had a pitch on the black the umpire called a ball. Sure it's something he needs to fix but I wouldn't shy away for him for 9 ball counts over the course of a half season.

It would be significant if the pitch clock caused him to be an ineffective pitcher. But that's not the case. There was a relief pitcher that came in this past weekend, I can't remember who it was, who they said on the Nats radio broadcast that he used to be a good pitcher but was a human rain delay on the mound. Once they implemented the pitch clock he fell way off.

[IanRubbish]

Baltimore sports talk radio was discussing the possibility of getting Finnegan at the deadline. They liked what he had done this year but were incredulous that he has 9 pitch timeouts this year, one a walk-off. The final consensus was they would want him if not for that. Seems ridiculous to overreact to that.

It's a symptom of the carelessness of this Davey-managed team.  Pitch clock violations, giving away outs on the basepaths, odd fielding decisions, all fixable if you put him in an org that's just a little more focused on results than this one.

[aspenbubba]

It's a symptom of the carelessness of this Davey-managed team.  Pitch clock violations, giving away outs on the basepaths, odd fielding decisions, all fixable if you put him in an org that's just a little more focused on results than this one.

What can Dave do? Make them run laps ? 25/10? Fine them ? It's up to the players to screw their heads on straight. Maybe they should hold a Kangaroo court ( players only) and keep a running total for a donation to the Nationals Foundation.

BTW, did you have a typo in your name and hit a "N" instead of a "M"?

[skippy1999]

What can Dave do? Make them run laps ? 25/10? Fine them ? It's up to the players to screw their heads on straight. Maybe they should hold a Kangaroo court ( players only) and keep a running total for a donation to the Nationals Foundation.

BTW, did you have a typo in your name and hit a "N" instead of a "M"?

[imref]

here's a detailed look at bullpen options if Finnegan and Harvey are dealt. https://www.reddit.com/r/Nationals/comments/1e0146n/relief_is_coming/

No great options, but Cate, Ribalta, Grissom, and maybe Rutledge if they convert him to the pen could all be interesting to watch. The rest are mostly reclamation projects or players coming off injury with big question marks.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hoping Brzykcy and maybe Schoff or Collins can recover some hope

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

At some point in 2025, we could see this:

C Ruiz
1B House
2B Garcia
3B Wallace
SS Abrams
RF Wood
CF Crews
LF Hassell
DH Morales (hopefully but he has a lot to prove)
4th OF Young
Utility Lipscomb

SP Gore
SP Irvin
SP Parker
SP Cavalli
SP Gray (if he doesn’t get TJ)

Others: Herz, Lord, Rutledge

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Of course I expect at least one major signing for a LF/1B/DH and maybe a vet SP to add depth there, but fun to see a solid prospect if not established young player to fill basically every spot if things work out.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Thinking about our rotation next year, and while I don’t think it’s wise to give a mega deal to a 30+ year old like Burnes, I would like a short-term deal for a vet.

What about Max on a 2-year deal?  Does he plan to pitch another couple years, do the Nats think he can make 20 starts a year, and would he be comfortable with the potential of the team to contend?

Would Bieber be open to a 2-year deal where he’d miss half of 2025 then really rebuild his value potentially in 2026?

Would Buehler do a 1-year “prove it” deal ala Flaherty?

[IanRubbish]

BTW, did you have a typo in your name and hit a "N" instead of a "M"?

Your pathetic attempt at a personal attack suggests you know you’re full of it.  But the front office appreciates you being gullible and drinking all of their kool-aid.

[Slateman]

Thinking about our rotation next year, and while I don’t think it’s wise to give a mega deal to a 30+ year old like Burnes, I would like a short-term deal for a vet.

What about Max on a 2-year deal?  Does he plan to pitch another couple years, do the Nats think he can make 20 starts a year, and would he be comfortable with the potential of the team to contend?

Would Bieber be open to a 2-year deal where he’d miss half of 2025 then really rebuild his value potentially in 2026?

Would Buehler do a 1-year “prove it” deal ala Flaherty?

Not sure why we want Max when he cant stay healthy. Same for Beuhler.

Bieber would be great, but I suspect he goes back to Cleveland to rehab from TJS.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Not sure why we want Max when he cant stay healthy. Same for Beuhler.

Bieber would be great, but I suspect he goes back to Cleveland to rehab from TJS.

All pitchers have injury risk.  I’d rather take a 1 or 2 year deal than sign a guy for 7 years and 9 figures and most of that deal they’re unavailable (Stras) or washed (Corbin).  You’d sign Max for leadership of a young staff and maybe 20 starts hopefully.  Buehler you hope for a bounce back as he puts his 2nd TJ further in the rear view while he hopes to re-enter free agency in 2026 and sign a huge deal.

[Slateman]

Max is 40. The injury risk is far greater with him. I
He's sitting 92 with his fastball. He is not a serious option for a team with the goal of a WC. And I dont know what leadership he brings, considering how LA and New York ended.

We'd get more out of signing Trevor Williams

[imref]

2025 schedule is out:

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Phillies for OD, possibly after a deep run in the playoffs.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Max is 40. The injury risk is far greater with him. I
He's sitting 92 with his fastball. He is not a serious option for a team with the goal of a WC. And I dont know what leadership he brings, considering how LA and New York ended.

We'd get more out of signing Trevor Williams

He’s 39, and he’s still been effective in his 5 starts with a 2.96 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.  I’d take Max over Williams next year as more effective, and Williams is every bit as much an injury risk.

[Slateman]

He’s 39, and he’s still been effective in his 5 starts with a 2.96 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.  I’d take Max over Williams next year as more effective, and Williams is every bit as much an injury risk.

He will be 40 in 9 days.

Max is more of an injury risk at this point. He's not even going to get to 20 starts this year. He herniated his disc and had surgery for nerve issues.

We can get more performance from Williams at half the cost.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

He will be 40 in 9 days.

Max is more of an injury risk at this point. He's not even going to get to 20 starts this year. He herniated his disc and had surgery for nerve issues.

We can get more performance from Williams at half the cost.

Williams has a track record of being able to hold up as a starter?  He’s turning 33, I’d say a Hall of Famer ages a little differently.

If Williams ends up half the cost, why do you think that is?  Teams are that stupid in an analytics era and caught up on a “name?”  You’re just smarter than the whole league?

[Slateman]

Williams has a track record of being able to hold up as a starter?  He’s turning 33, I’d say a Hall of Famer ages a little differently.

If Williams ends up half the cost, why do you think that is?  Teams are that stupid in an analytics era and caught up on a “name?”  You’re just smarter than the whole league?

Williams has 30 starts more recently than Max.

And yes, teams are caught up on a name. Max will cost 130 million and delivered less than 10 WAR. Why on Earth would we shell out 50-70 million for a guy on the tail end of his career? No thanks. No reason to add another bad contract after finally getting through Corbin.

[GataNats]

Williams is a fkin bum.  We should have traded him in that first big wash of injuries to pitchers on contenders