Now we’re having fun: 2025 Nats Roster

[IanRubbish]

I don't think "just sign Joc and go with the internal players" is how you build a wild card roster, unless you spend on a true ace (plus just a little on bullpen depth). That lineup could be around .500, and any plus side puts you in the WC mix.

The team would be .500 now without playing Corbin + Keibert's contracts, better baserunning, and better defense.  They basically have to build a 90 win team to win 80 with the current culture. 

The problem with an ace is how many years they want.  If Corbin Burnes wants six years that would be an issue, especially because it would likely come with deferrals with this org.  But if you give someone like him an annual raise but sign for 1-3 years would make a lot of sense.   Really depends on how the SP market goes this winter.

[Count Walewski]

Burnes is gonna get paid BIG because he is the best SP on the market this year and tons of teams are desperate for SP. I think it's a down year for FAs overall and the top guys might get overpaid a lot because of desperation. Maybe it is a good year for the Nats to sit out the FA market and continue to develop internal options.

I'll say I will be sorely disappointed if Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suarez are the top offensive FAs the Nats sign. I will be hoping for somebody with a more consistent record of big slugging.

[Natsinpwc]

Pederson is 157 OPS+ this year and 120 for his career.  He's a good hitter.  Suarez seems on the downward side of bis career. 

[IanRubbish]

I'll say I will be sorely disappointed if Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suarez are the top offensive FAs the Nats sign.

Scott Boras probably will be too.  Have to think he's going to work ownership + Rizzo on Tyler O'Neill, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman etc.

[Smithian]

I don't think "just sign Joc and go with the internal players" is how you build a wild card roster, unless you spend on a true ace (plus just a little on bullpen depth). That lineup could be around .500, and any plus side puts you in the WC mix.

I'm fine starting next season with what we have lineup wise, as long as they add a DH or 1B who you can hope for at least 20 to 25 homers. Next year, you are starting with Crews and Woods in the corner, not the mess we had early this season. Tena or free agent at 3B is better than Senzel and Vargas. First base has been solid since Joey Meneses experience came to its end. Catcher is catcher, but we shouldn't be needing offense from there. CJ Abrams is the wildcard that could go either way.

Flip Corbin for a free agent and the pitching staff may be pretty solid.  Bullpens are random. My main ask there is a quick trigger to make changes.

I don't think this team is challenging for a World Series any time soon, but flip Corbin for even an average starter, add some power, and I like this roster going into next season.

[Smithian]

I think people are underrating trades. I'm going to assume the Lerners are not ready to be the lowest payroll in the league and you'll see the Nats are at least ready to take advantage of Corbin drop and keep spending same everywhere else. If the Nationals are willing to add even $25 million of spending externally (not much considering Corbin and missing Thomas, Harvey arbitration), there will be a team somewhere in the majors willing to dump an arbitration players for a not painful prospect return.

[Slateman]

Joc is fine. The Nats need a starter. Probably a reliever too.

[Count Walewski]

Pederson is 157 OPS+ this year and 120 for his career.  He's a good hitter.  Suarez seems on the downward side of bis career. 

Joc is having literally the best offensive season of his career by a significant margin. He has had an OPS below .800 for 5 out of the last 7 seasons, though there was an .874 season mixed in there and this year he is OPSing .930.

An upgrade over Young? Certainly. The transformative slugger the Nationals need? Not in my opinion.

[Slateman]

Joc is having literally the best offensive season of his career by a significant margin. He has had an OPS below .800 for 5 out of the last 7 seasons, though there was an .874 season mixed in there and this year he is OPSing .930.

An upgrade over Young? Certainly. The transformative slugger the Nationals need? Not in my opinion.

I think you're looking at Joc Pederson wrong. First off, he's not replacing Young. He has been exclusively a DH this year, and last year played a total of 208 innings at a position. So he's not replacing Young.

Second, Pederson is a platoon bat and has fully embraced this role. In that role, he is thriving. He's a career .246/.350/.495 against RHP, and from 2021-2023, he's hitting .250/.335/.470 against RHP. And this season, he's hitting as well away from Arizona as he is at home. The statcast data is even more promising. Even though last year was his only non- .800 OPS season in the last three, he still had xSLG of .481 (compared to an actual slugging percentage of .418). Clearing being in San Fran had an effect on him. The last three seasons, with the away stats, he's OPSing .881 against RHP.

The concern is that he will be 33 next year, but that seems somewhat mitigated by him being in the 74th percentile in bat speed. There will be a drop off with age, but there will be with any free agent we get. Essentially, Joc Pederson's average season is the best season that Jesse Winker's had in 3 years. Maybe he's not transformative, but I don't think anyone has suggested that. we're simply looking to get good production out of the DH spot and add power to the lineup. Which Pederson appears to be able to provide. I also like the fact that he is a two time World Series champion and would bring veteran prescence and clubhouse vibes to a young team.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I could probably pull a few times I've thought about Pederson as a reasonable-priced off-season pick up when we were looking for pump and dump guys. Price is up, of course. Certainly cheaper than Soto,   Getting a lefty into the 1B/DH mix probably makes sense (he'd DH, but I view those positions as interchangeable in the batting order). It makes it harder to carry two IFs as backups, because you'd have to count on him, Yepez, and conceivably Vargas or Lipscomb as your corner OF backups.

[IanRubbish]

At some point have to choose between offense and fixing the poor defense.  Tena, for example, has proven to be a solid hitter, but his glove at 3B will cost the team games.  Some of this is coaching as well, but bringing in FA bats without a strategy for improving the defense doesn't make a ton of sense.

[Senatorswin]

According to Pipeline the Nats have the 5th rated minor league pitching prospects. It's mostly due to the emergence of Sykora and Susana but also Clemmey and Cavalli.

With the emerging young lineup they have the next few years have the potential to be a lot of fun on South Capital street.


Next year Parker and Herz should be built up to where they can pitch deeper in games along with Irvin and Gore.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

At some point have to choose between offense and fixing the poor defense.  Tena, for example, has proven to be a solid hitter, but his glove at 3B will cost the team games.  Some of this is coaching as well, but bringing in FA bats without a strategy for improving the defense doesn't make a ton of sense.

I hope Tena plays winter ball at 3rd. I think a lot of his problem is simply a lack of reps. The knock on him in Cleveland was he was goign to be too big to play SS, not that his hands or arm were bad. Left side of the IF and catcher throwing seem to be the biggest d issues. I think Wood will eventually be OK in left, and Crews I think is a plus RF despite the one bad error over the weekend.

[Smithian]

I hope Tena plays winter ball at 3rd. I think a lot of his problem is simply a lack of reps. The knock on him in Cleveland was he was goign to be too big to play SS, not that his hands or arm were bad. Left side of the IF and catcher throwing seem to be the biggest d issues. I think Wood will eventually be OK in left, and Crews I think is a plus RF despite the one bad error over the weekend.

This is where I'm at. Not ready to give up on Tena at 3B until he's shown even with long-term focus there that he can't improve.

[Slateman]

I mean, you could just have Vargas sub in as a defensive replacement

[IanRubbish]

I hope Tena plays winter ball at 3rd. I think a lot of his problem is simply a lack of reps. The knock on him in Cleveland was he was goign to be too big to play SS, not that his hands or arm were bad. Left side of the IF and catcher throwing seem to be the biggest d issues. I think Wood will eventually be OK in left, and Crews I think is a plus RF despite the one bad error over the weekend.

He's starting at 2B today with Vargas at 3B

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He's starting at 2B today with Vargas at 3B

interesting. HE played there almost 500 innings in AA in 2022, but not so much since then. 3rd young lefty hitter on the Nats playing 2nd.

[Senatorswin]

To start next year:

Infield

1st - Chaparro or free agent.
2nd - Garcia
3rd - House
short - Abrams
utility - Tena

Outfield

Left - Wood
Center - Young
Right - Crews
4th - Call

Catcher

Ruiz
Millas

Dh

Tepez

Starters

Free Agent
Gore
Herz
Irvin
Parker or Williams

Reliever
Parker or Williams
Finnegan
Rainey
Ferrer
Law
Barnes
Salazar
Resign Dylan Floro

Could take away Floro and add Vargas as free agent as another utility guy.

Hassell III could come up mid 2025 if somebody gets hurt.

[Slateman]

House aint starting the season with the big league club. Think a lot of you are gonna be disappointed. Dude doesnt take walks

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If Tena doesn't start at 3rd next April, then we need a signing because I don't see Wallace, House, or Morales as being ready.

[varoadking]

To start next year:

Infield

1st - Chaparro or free agent.
2nd - Garcia
3rd - House
short - Abrams
utility - Tena

Outfield

Left - Wood
Center - Young
Right - Crews
4th - Call

Catcher

Ruiz
Millas

Dh

Tepez

Starters

Free Agent
Gore
Herz
Irvin
Parker or Williams

Reliever
Parker or Williams
Finnegan
Rainey
Ferrer
Law
Barnes
Salazar
Resign Dylan Floro

Could take away Floro and add Vargas as free agent as another utility guy.

Hassell III could come up mid 2025 if somebody gets hurt.

You only have 25 players listed...

[Senatorswin]

You only have 25 players listed...

Resign Varga and have him and Tena be reserves.

Tena doesn't walk either and he's there on third every day. House has enough bats at AA and AAA he should be given a shot to start 3rd if he has a decent spring.

[Slateman]

Resign Varga and have him and Tena be reserves.

Tena doesn't walk either and he's there on third every day. House has enough bats at AA and AAA he should be given a shot to start 3rd if he has a decent spring.

Tena hits for average. House doesnt. He a somewhat better fielding version of Rougned Odor

[Senatorswin]

Tena hits for average. House doesnt. He a somewhat better fielding version of Rougned Odor

Tena's lifetime average in the minors is .284.
He averaged 1 walk in every 14 plate appearances.
He averaged 1 home run every 36 AB'S.

House's lifetime average in the minors is .276
He average 1 walk in every 15 plate appearances.
He average 1 home run every 27 AB'S.

If he has a good spring he should start at 3rd.

[Slateman]

Tena's lifetime average in the minors is .284.
He averaged 1 walk in every 14 plate appearances.
He averaged 1 home run every 36 AB'S.

House's lifetime average in the minors is .276
He average 1 walk in every 15 plate appearances.
He average 1 home run every 27 AB'S.

If he has a good spring he should start at 3rd.

House's numbers are carried by his performance in the low minors. In Double A and Triple A, he's a .261 hitter. And his walk rate is 5.6%. He isnt anywhere near ready. He wont be next season, and even if he is, the Nats would keep him in the minors, like they did with Wood