2025 Off-season - general thread

[Slateman]

This means Lerner and Rizzo still think this is closer to a 70 win team rather than an 80 win one. Though based on his other public comments I'm not sure if Rizzo likes being spoken for on his behalf here.

No, it simply means Lerner wants to maximize his cash grab with the team. Its a free 100 million every season. Doesn't have to invest crap into it. Doesn't have to pay for maintenance. Just has to charge ticket prices and collect his money at the end of the year.

[Natsinpwc]

No, it simply means Lerner wants to maximize his cash grab with the team. Its a free 100 million every season. Doesn't have to invest crap into it. Doesn't have to pay for maintenance. Just has to charge ticket prices and collect his money at the end of the year.

Bingo.

[varoadking]

He thinks we're stupid...

How do you get closer if you don't try?

[Smithian]

I think the best defense the Lerners and Rizzo have for not spending is true: if Dylan Crews and James Wood don't progress, if CJ Abrams doesn't rebound, and if guys like DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker don't progress, then this team isn't having a winning record. The goal in the 2010's was to win a championship and fine margins matter. This group needs a lot of internal progress to compete for a Wild Card spot, and it they can't do that in house right now, it would have required a massive influx of payroll talent to make up for that fact.

I still think an Anthony Santander type signing would have been nice at DH over Josh Bell and shown forward progress, but I'm not losing sleepover it even if this offseason feels a bit disappointing.

[Slateman]

Except it really wouldn't have cost that much. They payroll stupidly low. This team (and MLB, in general) is generating more revenue than ever.

Adding an Anthony Santandar or Joc Pederson, and pairing it with one of Jack Flaherty or Sean Manaea would have put us a good spot. And if the core doesn't develop, you can still trade these guys and unload the contract.

Next year, this core will cost more and the Lerners will again be tight fisted.

[Natsinpwc]

Next year they can tank again and get a top pick for the 2027 draft!!

[Natsinpwc]

Smithian is earning that avatar!  My hope is Wood and Crews look good along with some others and that gets some rich guys motivated to make an offer for the team.

[IanRubbish]

He’s wrecked the fan base.  How many people will come back for a 3-4 year run that will only end with another 5-6 seasons of tanking?

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

I think the best defense the Lerners and Rizzo have for not spending is true: if Dylan Crews and James Wood don't progress, if CJ Abrams doesn't rebound, and if guys like DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker don't progress, then this team isn't having a winning record. The goal in the 2010's was to win a championship and fine margins matter. This group needs a lot of internal progress to compete for a Wild Card spot, and it they can't do that in house right now, it would have required a massive influx of payroll talent to make up for that fact.

I still think an Anthony Santander type signing would have been nice at DH over Josh Bell and shown forward progress, but I'm not losing sleepover it even if this offseason feels a bit disappointing.

A "bit" disappointing is an understatement. They spent nothing. This was the year they were going to swing for the fences and Juan Soto is in a Mets uni. They didn't have to do that but they could've spent. If they aren't going to do it now its never happening.

[IanRubbish]

If they aren't going to do it now its never happening.

Wrong.   There's a plan.  A plan to trade one of this year's short term contracts to the Jersey Shore Blue Claws for their third baseman.  And when that kid is manning the Nats hot corner with -11 DRS and a .276 OBP in August, you will be in awe after Rizzo tells the Sports Junkies the player showed a lot of potential five years ago coming out of college, and has been a great clubhouse presence.   Moreover, he will be obtained without any kind of compensatory draft pick!   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

A "bit" disappointing is an understatement. They spent nothing. This was the year they were going to swing for the fences and Juan Soto is in a Mets uni. They didn't have to do that but they could've spent. If they aren't going to do it now its never happening.

there are two separate questions: has the team improved vs did they spend for a premier FA? I think the answers are yes to the first and no to 2nd, and I  sort of don't mind no to the 2nd, especially w/r/2 position players.

There's no real question that Lowe is an upgrade over what we trotted out at 1st. He's a good ballplayer. A full year of Crews should be an upgrade over Thomas, who really gave us only 2+ months of positive play (he stunk in April before his injury and only took off when he was back). Wood could play left in a wheelchair and still be an upgrade over Rosario. Ruiz is due for a dead cat bounce, and 3rd would be an upgrade even if it is replacement level. If it's DeJong, then at least the left side d is  better. If CJ Abrams is your concern, then you are in good shape. Would I have liked Santander or Pedersen or others instead of Bell? Yes. Is Bell better than Meneses? Likely.

I think they missed on pitching a bit. I am ok on t h e rotation quantity-wise, but there were some lead dogs I might have liked. Not to come up with a hi-lev reliever is a problem, but let's not overrate last year's high wire act. Let's ease up a bit on trashing this team because there's no Pete Alonso or $50 million committed to a SP.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

there are two separate questions: has the team improved vs did they spend for a premier FA? I think the answers are yes to the first and no to 2nd, and I  sort of don't mind no to the 2nd, especially w/r/2 position players.

There's no real question that Lowe is an upgrade over what we trotted out at 1st. He's a good ballplayer. A full year of Crews should be an upgrade over Thomas, who really gave us only 2+ months of positive play (he stunk in April before his injury and only took off when he was back). Wood could play left in a wheelchair and still be an upgrade over Rosario. Ruiz is due for a dead cat bounce, and 3rd would be an upgrade even if it is replacement level. If it's DeJong, then at least the left side d is  better. If CJ Abrams is your concern, then you are in good shape. Would I have liked Santander or Pedersen or others instead of Bell? Yes. Is Bell better than Meneses? Likely.

I think they missed on pitching a bit. I am ok on t h e rotation quantity-wise, but there were some lead dogs I might have liked. Not to come up with a hi-lev reliever is a problem, but let's not overrate last year's high wire act. Let's ease up a bit on trashing this team because there's no Pete Alonso or $50 million committed to a SP.

Its not trashing the team. Its trashing the owner who according to Tom Loverro told Rizzo no to a Christian Walker deal. I won't make excuses for an ownership group that refuses to put money back into the team. This was the year they were supposed to do it and they have an embarrassingly low payroll for a team in the Nations Capital while being obscenely wealthy. Every year its "well next year is the year they'll spend". I gave them til' this year to actually do it. I'm done defending it and them. They're cheap and they don't care about the team beyond cashing the check that comes in every year. They need to sell and sell now.

[HalfSmokes]

there are two separate questions: has the team improved vs did they spend for a premier FA? I think the answers are yes to the first and no to 2nd, and I  sort of don't mind no to the 2nd, especially w/r/2 position players.

There's no real question that Lowe is an upgrade over what we trotted out at 1st. He's a good ballplayer. A full year of Crews should be an upgrade over Thomas, who really gave us only 2+ months of positive play (he stunk in April before his injury and only took off when he was back). Wood could play left in a wheelchair and still be an upgrade over Rosario. Ruiz is due for a dead cat bounce, and 3rd would be an upgrade even if it is replacement level. If it's DeJong, then at least the left side d is  better. If CJ Abrams is your concern, then you are in good shape. Would I have liked Santander or Pedersen or others instead of Bell? Yes. Is Bell better than Meneses? Likely.

I think they missed on pitching a bit. I am ok on t h e rotation quantity-wise, but there were some lead dogs I might have liked. Not to come up with a hi-lev reliever is a problem, but let's not overrate last year's high wire act. Let's ease up a bit on trashing this team because there's no Pete Alonso or $50 million committed to a SP.

Giving this team credit for improving is like congratulating a kid for bringing an F up to a D-. They lost ground against the rest of the division, have no real hope for the playoffs, but got a competent first basemen so they earned a lollipop

[imref]

Giving this team credit for improving is like congratulating a kid for bringing an F up to a D-. They lost ground against the rest of the division, have no real hope for the playoffs, but got a competent first basemen so they earned a lollipop

not sure we lost ground against the Marlins.

[HalfSmokes]

not sure we lost ground against the Marlins.

The Lerners should raise a ‘We’re not the worst!’ Banner

[imref]

The Lerners should raise a ‘We’re not the worst!’ Banner

Other than the Mets, the entire NL East had had a pretty "meh" offseason as well. The Phillies added Luzardo as a back of the rotation starter, but not much else. The Braves did pretty much nothing and lost a bunch of starters.

Both of those teams obviously have much higher ceilings with their existing talent (and the braves are going to better if their injured players return), but the Nats arguably closed some ground.

The lack of activity among other NLE teams makes our not signing someone like Santander and a middle of the rotation starter even more frustrating.

[imref]

Lucas Simms has signed (1 year major league deal). Mason Thompson to the 60-day IL to make room.

[imref]

Thom Loverro reports that Mark Lerner nixed a deal that Rizzo was working on to sign Christian Walker.

Lowe was a pretty nice consolation package, but it would have been nice to have had Walker's bat in this lineup.

[Natsinpwc]

Other than the Mets, the entire NL East had had a pretty "meh" offseason as well. The Phillies added Luzardo as a back of the rotation starter, but not much else. The Braves did pretty much nothing and lost a bunch of starters.

Both of those teams obviously have much higher ceilings with their existing talent (and the braves are going to better if their injured players return), but the Nats arguably closed some ground.

The lack of activity among other NLE teams makes our not signing someone like Santander and a middle of the rotation starter even more frustrating.

I don’t think the prognosticators agree. For the Phillies they made some other additions also (Max Kepler). Bullpen probably the biggest question. Stott was apparently hurt all of last year and Harper had injuries. I’m assuming fangraphs factors all these things in. Braves and Phillies near the top along with the Mets. And Nats near the bottom.

https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings





https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

[Smithian]

Thom Loverro reports that Mark Lerner nixed a deal that Rizzo was working on to sign Christian Walker.

Lowe was a pretty nice consolation package, but it would have been nice to have had Walker's bat in this lineup.

I prefer .... Two years of Nathan Lowe team control to 3/$60 of mid-30s Christian Walker?

If Lowe plays well and they can extend him, then Mark Lerner may have been right on this one.

[aspenbubba]

I’m not sure this has been addressed. Perhaps JCA came closest. As you are painfully aware I always wanted Bergman and possibly Santander as DH. I am making an assumption here that the FO collective wisdom Iis assuming House will be ready by the trade deadline and they will select LaViolette in the draft. So De Jong was simply a stop gap at virtually no cost and opening up the possibility of Wood moving to 1B or DH when LaViolette makes the 26 man. Crews can play CF and the Nats have a plethora of OF prospects to man LF. This is the only rationale that I can justify the managements strategy this off season.

[Smithian]

I’m not sure this has been addressed. Perhaps JCA came closest. As you are painfully aware I always wanted Bergman and possibly Santander as DH. I am making an assumption here that the FO collective wisdom Iis assuming House will be ready by the trade deadline and they will select LaViolette in the draft. So De Jong was simply a stop gap at virtually no cost and opening up the possibility of Wood moving to 1B or DH when LaViolette makes the 26 man. Crews can play CF and the Nats have a plethora of OF prospects to man LF. This is the only rationale that I can justify the managements strategy this off season.

Betting on House in the short term is crazy.

With more time to digest the DeJong signing, I've gone from detesting it to liking it. We have a bunch of young arms without much major league experience. I think Abrams and Tena are legitimately the worst left side of the infield in major league baseball defensively without major improvement this Spring. DeJong being a decent defender is a huge improvement at either spot.

DeJong at 3B buys you more time to figure out what you have in Yohandy Morales, Brady House, Cayden Wallace. Maybe even Trey Lipcomb or Nasim Nunez pops. And you hope one of them takes 3B from DeJong who is then insurance for another CJ Abrams nightmare season.

[aspenbubba]

Betting on House in the short term is crazyv

Betting on House in the short term is crazy.

With more time to digest the DeJong signing, I've gone from detesting it to liking it. We have a bunch of young arms without much major league experience. I think Abrams and Tena are legitimately the worst left side of the infield in major league baseball defensively without major improvement this Spring. DeJong being a decent defender is a huge improvement at either spot.

DeJong at 3B buys you more time to figure out what you have in Yohandy Morales, Brady House, Cayden Wallace. Maybe even Trey Lipcomb or Nasim Nunez pops. And you hope one of them takes 3B from DeJong who is then insurance for another CJ Abrams nightmare season.

DeJong at 3B buys you more time to figure out what you have in Yohandy Morales, Brady House, Cayden Wallace. Maybe even Trey Lipcomb or Nasim Nunez pops. And you hope one of them takes 3B from DeJong who is then insurance for another CJ Abrams nightmare season.

Betting on House in the short term is crazy.

With more time to digest the DeJong signing, I've gone from detesting it to liking it. We have a bunch of young arms without much major league experience. I think Abrams and Tena are legitimately the worst left side of the infield in major league baseball defensively without major improvement this Spring. DeJong being a decent defender is a huge improvement at either spot.

DeJong at 3B buys you more time to figure out what you have in Yohandy Morales, Brady House, Cayden Wallace. Maybe even Trey Lipcomb or Nasim Nunez pops. And you hope one of them takes 3B from DeJong who is then insurance for another CJ Abrams nightmare season.

I’m only assuming what the FO is thinking. I have always stated that Houses’ arrival would be a look see in September if that. As for the others Tena has shown more than YoYo Lip Wallace and certainly Nunez. The later group won’t make an appearance and only one of them until late 26 if then.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

They aren't betting the mortgage money on House being up anytime before the trade deadline. If he starts the year like Wood did in AAA performance-wise, great, he might be up. I don't think he wins 3rd base out of the spring even if he has a Lipscomb-like spring.

[Slateman]

I prefer .... Two years of Nathan Lowe team control to 3/$60 of mid-30s Christian Walker?

If Lowe plays well and they can extend him, then Mark Lerner may have been right on this one.

It doesn't matter if he's right. What matters is that the GM went and negotiated a deal within the budget and ownership said no. And it wasn't a deal of "hundreds of millions." It was 60.

Ownership is simply looking to cash in.