2025 Off-season - general thread

[Slateman]

I was thinking about that when Santander was being discussed. Any particular hitters you would cite as having a swing that DOES translate well?

Santander would be fine given how Camden plays now. I just wouldn't expect 40 home runs.

[Natsinpwc]

If Baker cannot play SS/3B then he essentially becomes a backup OF and you need another backup IF. Can’t see that happening.

[GataNats]

Ah yes, the eye test in the minors. Where he hit .279/.343/.340 in Triple A.

Playing Darren Baker is like playing a worse version of Vargas.

lol.  Vargas had one home run in 400 at bats

[Slateman]

lol.  Vargas had one home run in 400 at bats

Cool. That's one more than Baker had all last year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

lol.  Vargas had one home run in 400 at bats

that's really not the comp. Lipscomb is the internal guy he has to beat out. Lipscomb didn't hit as well but is more defensively versatile than Baker, especially if you are penciling in one of Garrett or Call as the 4th OF. As for Vargas, if he's back at all, it'll be on a minor league contract with a NRI in the spring. He only makes the team as a backup. Baker is the injury replacement for Garcia but plays every day in Rochester.

[Slateman]

that's really not the comp. Lipscomb is the internal guy he has to beat out. Lipscomb didn't hit as well but is more defensively versatile than Baker, especially if you are penciling in one of Garrett or Call as the 4th OF. As for Vargas, if he's back at all, it'll be on a minor league contract with a NRI in the spring. He only makes the team as a backup. Baker is the injury replacement for Garcia but plays every day in Rochester.

IN terms of hitting ability, 2024 Vargas is absolutely the comp. Its all contact focused with no power.

Lipscomb is a better hitter than either Vargas or Baker. He's a more versatile defender and a better one at that. I'd much rather have him on the big league roster, so if/when Abrams craps the bed and has to be sent down, we can plug Tena into SS and put Lipscomb at third base. And I'd like to get Lipscomb at bats against LHP

[JCA-CrystalCity]

IN terms of hitting ability, 2024 Vargas is absolutely the comp. Its all contact focused with no power.

sure, but Vargas is not Baker's competition for the roster slot, or at least he doesn't have the same leg up as being signed and on the 40 man like he had last year. Lipscomb is his competition. They both are on the 40 man and both are looking to be MLB bench players next season. 

[Slateman]

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/nationals-shockingly-picked-land-125-million-superstar/5d9a2b7db1ccaf4076042d37

However, Anthony Franco, Tim Dierkes, and Darragh McDonald, and of MLB Trade Rumors, are all in agreement that Washington is poised to open the pursestrings in a major way by signing New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso this winter.

Spotrac currently lists Alonso's market value as commanding an annual salary of $29 million. The MLBTR trio agrees with a prediction that the 29-year-old slugger will receive a five-year, $125 million deal to take over first base in the nation's capital

How do we feel about Alonso for 5/125?

[Senatorswin]

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/nationals-shockingly-picked-land-125-million-superstar/5d9a2b7db1ccaf4076042d37

How do we feel about Alonso for 5/125?

Need the power.

[Natsinpwc]

Dominican League games are on MLB TV. Not sure if the Nats have anyone playing down there?

[Natsinpwc]

Dominican League games are on MLB TV. Not sure if the Nats have anyone playing down there?

Emilio Bonifacio siting. He must be 50.

[Natsinpwc]

Emilio Bonifacio siting. He must be 50.

OK, I exaggerated.  Almost 40 though.

[ZimW1N]

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/nationals-shockingly-picked-land-125-million-superstar/5d9a2b7db1ccaf4076042d37

How do we feel about Alonso for 5/125?

If that's the contract then I am in but if he gets much more than that then I'd rather go after Christian Walker or Carlos Santana.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/nationals-shockingly-picked-land-125-million-superstar/5d9a2b7db1ccaf4076042d37

How do we feel about Alonso for 5/125?

That's spot on what the Fangraphs crowd source was. I think I prefer that to either Ben Clemens's suggestion (7/$140) and to Walker in the 3 year $50-55 million range. It gives up some of the fantasy of having a good glove at 1st, but lower age risk. This also leaves a little bit of room to juggle with House and Morales. One of them can end up at 1st if he's a superior to Alonso as a fielder.

[Natsinpwc]

Pete is a DH.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-top-50-mlb-free-agents/

I don't think this has been posted yet. As combo of Joc to DH and Alonso at 1st would go a long way to upping run production, and Joc wouldn't require a long term deal. Make a push for Kirby Yates and bring back Trevor Williams, and that's ~$60 million to make a serious run. Doesn't solve your ace issue, but if any of Gore, Irvin, or Herz can sustain their 1-2 month peak performances for 3-4 months, then you have something.

[imref]

Sort of a nothing-burger article in the Post. Rizzo says the Nats are in a position to add talent but he hasn't yet had a budget discussion with ownership.


https://wapo.st/40AXN4b

[HalfSmokes]

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/nationals-shockingly-picked-land-125-million-superstar/5d9a2b7db1ccaf4076042d37

How do we feel about Alonso for 5/125?

Lerner is not outbidding Cohen

[Slateman]

Lerner is not outbidding Cohen

Cohen might let him walk to pursue Soto

[Senatorswin]

Sort of a nothing-burger article in the Post. Rizzo says the Nats are in a position to add talent but he hasn't yet had a budget discussion with ownership.


https://wapo.st/40AXN4b

It seems stupid for him to say he hasn't yet had a budget discussion with ownership. What are they waiting for? It's not rocket science. Here's the people we might want to go after, how much money can we commit. If another GM comes up to him in these meetings and proposes something how does he know what he can do if he doesn't know what resources he might have. ridiculous.

[Natsinpwc]

Just turned on and the AFL game involving the Nats is on. 9th inning though now. Do they show replays of these??

[imref]

Nightengale says the Nats are aggressively going after Christian Walker. Makes sense as he played for AZ.

Add Walker, Bergman, and Burger, plus a starter and things get interesting.

[Mattionals]

Nightengale says the Nats are aggressively going after Christian Walker. Makes sense as he played for AZ.

Add Walker, Bergman, and Burger, plus a starter and things get interesting.

His age concerns me.

[Slateman]

His age concerns me.

It should. But I want to see years/AAV numbers. Three years, <20 AAV, great. At >20 AAV ... meh, okay. 4 or more years ... bad deal.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It should. But I want to see years/AAV numbers. Three years, <20 AAV, great. At >20 AAV ... meh, okay. 4 or more years ... bad deal.

sort of on board. Would prefer Alonso at  5/ $125 million given the age difference, but Walker in the lower range would not be bad.

If you can sign Walker for  3 years / $54 million, then you could add Pederson, Yate, and T Williams too all for < $ 50 million AAV in 2025 and have a nice crew of vets with a still young team