2025 Off-season - general thread

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I did some shots of Sasaki last night prior to falling asleep... and what a good sleep it was. I had dreams about the wonderful Hollidays that lie ahead for us... one can only hope, right? On a different note, living in Texas, we don't hear as much around the water cooler concerning my Nationals. Did the younger Lerners even entertain bringing my boy Soto back to DC... like even dinner on the Potomac?   

nothing. I guess they probably realized the bidding was uber ridiculous. If Rizzo picked up the phone to say hi to Boras and check out the price at an initial stage, it hasn't been reported.

Right now, it's OK to wish people Happy Hollidays around here. That, and streaming Roki.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think Laviolette has a very serious chance of being our pick.

Rizzo did his best to say he doesn't focus on one guy this soon.

Remember, Skenes was willing to take less than slot. If Jace is willing to do that and holliday isn't, then it could be time for a little gaming of the system. Also, let's track injuries and performance. A really good year from a pitcher, especially a righty who is a true #1, might even  change the mix.

[HalfSmokes]

If Rizzo cheaps out on the pick, the team deserves to be booed at every home game

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Gee, I didn't realize that Carlos Santana is coming off of two 23 HR years in a row with a .318 and a .328 OBP.

He might be the sweet spot if the bidding gets too high on Walker.

Would you prefer him or Goldy at this point?

[varoadking]

I think Laviolette has a very serious chance of being our pick.

Do we really need another outfielder?  We need all the help we can get in the infield...and behind the plate...

[varoadking]

Rizzo did his best to say he doesn't focus on one guy this soon.

Remember, Skenes was willing to take less than slot. If Jace is willing to do that and holliday isn't, then it could be time for a little gaming of the system. Also, let's track injuries and performance. A really good year from a pitcher, especially a righty who is a true #1, might even  change the mix.

They're gonna freak this up again, aren't they?

[HalfSmokes]

They're gonna freak this up again, aren't they?

There is an obvious choice, but it requires spending money. I know what my bet is

[nfotiu]

Would they have agents yet?   Jackson Holliday is with Boras, so I assume Ethan would follow.   If Jace is with someone else, then there is at least a chance he'll stay past the team control years.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

There is an obvious choice, but it requires spending money. I know what my bet is

They picked Crews knowing how much he would cost. I don't think this has ever been an issue for us oddly enough.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

They picked Crews knowing how much he would cost. I don't think this has ever been an issue for us oddly enough.

I think they spend their whole pool. Whether saving $400K on the 1/1 signing and spreading that around over-slot guys later in the draft makes sense, or whether it makes more sense to go full slot or higher and go cheap on rounds 6-10 seniors (like they've done in the past), I think I'll leave it to their judgment.

It is way too soon to say any of these players are locks. Most you can say is Holliday is the favorite right now to be best in the draft.

[Natsinpwc]

Do we really need another outfielder?  We need all the help we can get in the infield...and behind the plate...

Have you seen Wood play OF? He’s a 1B.

[varoadking]

Have you seen Wood play OF? He’s a 1B.

More like a DH...the kid is a terrible fielder...

I figure we're gonna get Lane Thomas back on the cheap since the Indians seem to be shopping him...

[Slateman]

If Rizzo cheaps out on the pick, the team deserves to be booed at every home game

Is it being cheap? Holliday is a HSer and his brother is a struggle bus right now. Lots of HSers flame out in A ball.

At this point in 2021, Elijah Green was the consensus #1 overall pick

[IanRubbish]

List of first round picks from past years:

https://www.mlb.com/news/every-no-1-overall-mlb-draft-pick

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I really do hope the team monitors the amount of cynicism they've earned and recognizes how it is reflected in declining SPH, attendance, and ultimately the price they will get for the team.

There's plenty of FAs who could help that are still on the board, so it's not like we are the only team that hasn't made a move. I get that Rizzo tends to run silent and is patient in his signings, but there's absolutely no good will towards the team anymore.

[Slateman]

I really do hope the team monitors the amount of cynicism they've earned and recognizes how it is reflected in declining SPH, attendance, and ultimately the price they will get for the team.

There's plenty of FAs who could help that are still on the board, so it's not like we are the only team that hasn't made a move. I get that Rizzo tends to run silent and is patient in his signings, but there's absolutely no good will towards the team anymore.

There would have to be a downturn in attendance for them to notice.

Only hope now is that the profits they have made and will make will end up offsetting the difference in asking price and actual price.

[zimm_da_kid]

Rule 5 draft at 2. Lots of guys with good fastballs and good-great numbers at aa available. Hopefully we get one of them and not a fringey position player

[Natsinpwc]

Being in on Alonso seems to indicate some level of trying.  We shall see.

[varoadking]

I really do hope the team monitors the amount of cynicism they've earned and recognizes how it is reflected in declining SPH, attendance, and ultimately the price they will get for the team.

There's plenty of FAs who could help that are still on the board, so it's not like we are the only team that hasn't made a move. I get that Rizzo tends to run silent and is patient in his signings, but there's absolutely no good will towards the team anymore.

Mark has the same message for the fans again this year:

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Maybe we get to eat Crow again

[HalfSmokes]

There would have to be a downturn in attendance for them to notice.

Only hope now is that the profits they have made and will make will end up offsetting the difference in asking price and actual price.

Attendance was up over last year, but still dreadful.

[tomwvr]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSN/attend.shtml

7th lowest attendance since moving here. And the last two seasons have been awful .

[English Natsie]

After the Rizzo comments, it's now four minutes to midnight...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Nationals take, Evan Reifert, a AA RHP reliever from the Rays system in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft.

https://www.mlb.com/player/evan-reifert-682126?stats=career-r-pitching-minors&year=2024

They also take Hyun-Il Choi, RHP, rom the Dodgers AA in the minor league portion of the draft.

https://www.mlb.com/news/rule-5-draft-results-2024?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Matt Cronin was selected by the Mariners in the 4th round of the minor league portion.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FG has Reifert as having an excellent slider (65/70), a good fastball (55), with subpar command (30/35). The latter seems mostly based off of 2023, because last year he only walked 3.48 per 9 (and K'd 14.15) ovefr 41 IP. Looks like he was hurt much of 2022 and 2023.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/evan-reifert/sa3014860/stats?position=P

Longenhagen had him at #29 in the Rays system and a 40 FV this summer. Sits in the mid-90s, tops at 97.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tampa-bay-rays-top-49-prospects/

Reifert transferred from an Iowa JUCO to Central Missouri, became a $20,000 undrafted free agent of the Brewers after the draft in 2020, and then was flipped for big league role player Mike Brosseau the following November. He was limited to just 7.2 innings in 2023 due to injury but has been back in action with Double-A Montgomery this season. Reifert’s slider is incredible, a low-80s knee-buckler that he throws more than his fastball; it often freezes hitters even when Reifert hangs it. Reifert sits 94-96 mph with his fastball, which has running action out of his three-quarter arm slot. It tends to find the meat of the zone (or miss the zone entirely) much more than the up/arm-side location where it would play best. Reifert will probably always be too shaky control wise to regularly warrant high-leverage assignments, but he’s looking like a solid middle-relief type with his fastball/slider combo.

I imagine that he sticks around for a while in the middle or bottom of the bullpen pecking order. I'm ok with this guy as an MLB minimum staff filler if he is usable more than a Thad Ward.