2025 Off-season - general thread

[IanRubbish]

I'm actually excited to watch this season. There shouldn't be an at bat I'm bored by the player in the starting lineup. And there is no Patrick Corbin.

Ruiz, Wood, and Crews will undoubtedly improve, and far fewer of the Eddie Rosario/Senzel/Gallo types getting way too many ABs.  That said, not excited for A Rosario who fits that mold but he's just one guy.  Last year also saw runs scored drop by 40 over the previous year, with team OPS dropping 27 points.  Both numbers should improve this year. 

Good chance pitching regresses a little, and one of the big aspects of being more "excited" is coaching, managing, defense, and baserunning.  Watching them run themselves out of games and play miserable defense will not be exciting.  Not optimistic for improvements there, but will see.

[Slateman]

That's where I am.  Don't need to overpay for declining guys.

Season should be fun.  Can Wood sustain over a whole season?  How will Crews do? Will CJ stay out of the casino?  Can Gore for a full season at a top level.  Can Irvin and Herz and Parker show they are the real deal?  Can Ruiz bounce back?

Then you can't sign any meaningful free agent deals. I think a lot of Nats fans are in denial about how much of an outlier the Scherzer deal was. Most guys who sign a long deal at that age only get a couple years of performance before the decline.

[Natsinpwc]

Then you can't sign any meaningful free agent deals. I think a lot of Nats fans are in denial about how much of an outlier the Scherzer deal was. Most guys who sign a long deal at that age only get a couple years of performance before the decline.

Don;t forget Werth.  Also most guys don't want to play for also ran teams.  So you have to do a major overpay. 

[Slateman]

Don;t forget Werth.  Also most guys don't want to play for also ran teams.  So you have to do a major overpay. 

Werth was a pretty terrible overpay for what we got. Two good seasons and a myriad of injuries and terrible defense. He's exactly the kind of contract you expect to get.

[Natsinpwc]

Werth was a pretty terrible overpay for what we got. Two good seasons and a myriad of injuries and terrible defense. He's exactly the kind of contract you expect to get.

Yes that was my point.

[varoadking]

...a power first guy would still be a nice add.

Joey Gallo is still available...

[HondoKillebrew]

Werth was a pretty terrible overpay for what we got. Two good seasons and a myriad of injuries and terrible defense. He's exactly the kind of contract you expect to get.

If that guy hadn’t had the quirky caveman look, I don’t think a lot of people would remember him nearly as fondly as they seem to. 

[nobleisthyname]

If that guy hadn’t had the quirky caveman look, I don’t think a lot of people would remember him nearly as fondly as they seem to.

Also

https://youtu.be/YifK0wy7QIc?si=lLg7h5faUO6_dL_D

[Slateman]

Also

https://youtu.be/YifK0wy7QIc?si=lLg7h5faUO6_dL_D

Saw it live, with the radio call in my left ear

[imref]

 https://starsandstrikes.substack.com/p/it-sure-seems-like-the-nationals

It Sure Seems Like The Nationals Are Lurking In the Background on Alex Bregman
Could he be the reason the Nationals haven't addressed third base yet?

Speculation behind a pay-wall

[HondoKillebrew]

Saw it live, with the radio call in my left ear

Great moment. I was there, too. But he’s still loved by some Nats fans disproportionately to his contributions to the team.

[IdahoNat]

He was in the top 15 of the MVP voting in 13' and 14' if I remember correctly. So yeah not the best value of a signing but far from the worst.

[aspenbubba]

I remember a thread I started suggesting Werth being benched after his first few months here during his initial season.

[imref]

Maybe if you are an accountant, the Werth deal was bad. An analysis by Matt Snyder at CBS Sports a number of years ago showed that based on WAR alone, he under performed by about $28 million over the life of the contract.

But if you are a Nats fan, I don't know how you can argue that we shouldn't have signed Werth. His signing not only brought veteran leadership with World Series experience to a young clubhouse, but also sent a message that the Nats were ready to compete. It opened the door to other FAs coming here who wanted to win. And win we did with Werth on the roster.

Clubs in the position the Nats were in in 2011 overpay. as the Nats would have to do now to attract a big name FA. That's the reality of being a team that hasn't yet shown it can actually win.

[aspenbubba]

Maybe if you are an accountant, the Werth deal was bad. An analysis by Matt Snyder at CBS Sports a number of years ago showed that based on WAR alone, he under performed by about $28 million over the life of the contract.

But if you are a Nats fan, I don't know how you can argue that we shouldn't have signed Werth. His signing not only brought veteran leadership with World Series experience to a young clubhouse, but also sent a message that the Nats were ready to compete. It opened the door to other FAs coming here who wanted to win. And win we did with Werth on the roster.

Clubs in the position the Nats were in in 2011 overpay. as the Nats would have to do now to attract a big name FA. That's the reality of being a team that hasn't yet shown it can actually win.

Yes. That is where we are. I hope the Bergman signing will provide the same message in the coming years. I have to believe that Rizzo is being patient and as normal we hear nothing from the rumor mill.

[Slateman]

Maybe if you are an accountant, the Werth deal was bad. An analysis by Matt Snyder at CBS Sports a number of years ago showed that based on WAR alone, he under performed by about $28 million over the life of the contract.

But if you are a Nats fan, I don't know how you can argue that we shouldn't have signed Werth. His signing not only brought veteran leadership with World Series experience to a young clubhouse, but also sent a message that the Nats were ready to compete. It opened the door to other FAs coming here who wanted to win. And win we did with Werth on the roster.

Clubs in the position the Nats were in in 2011 overpay. as the Nats would have to do now to attract a big name FA. That's the reality of being a team that hasn't yet shown it can actually win.

Snyder is a freaking moron. There is no way anyone can look at 9 bWAR and say that was worth 126 million dollars. We won in spite of Werth because he couldn't stay healthy, and when he was, he would lose games because of his crappy OF defense.

Bregman doesn't provide leadership. His team was cheating. He knew about it and said nothing. None of his experience matters because it's the result of his cheating, and then having Dusty Baker come clean up his mess. Also, Werth posted a a .921 OPS his last year in Philly, capping off three consecutive seasons of improvement.

Bregman can go pound sand.

[varoadking]

We won in spite of Werth because he couldn't stay healthy, and when he was, he would lose games because of his crappy OF defense.

Word.  That stupid outfield slide of his against the Cubs cost us that 2017 playoff series...along with Wieters losing his ability to baseball and Max losing his composure...all after Max got the first 2 outs!

[Natsinpwc]

Maybe if you are an accountant, the Werth deal was bad. An analysis by Matt Snyder at CBS Sports a number of years ago showed that based on WAR alone, he under performed by about $28 million over the life of the contract.

But if you are a Nats fan, I don't know how you can argue that we shouldn't have signed Werth. His signing not only brought veteran leadership with World Series experience to a young clubhouse, but also sent a message that the Nats were ready to compete. It opened the door to other FAs coming here who wanted to win. And win we did with Werth on the roster.

Clubs in the position the Nats were in in 2011 overpay. as the Nats would have to do now to attract a big name FA. That's the reality of being a team that hasn't yet shown it can actually win.

The way it is worth is veteran leadership.  I think he helped but you can't quantify it. So some here will dismiss.  Not his fault Drew Storen couldn't get an out. 

[Natsinpwc]

Word.  That stupid outfield slide of his against the Cubs cost us that 2017 playoff series...along with Wieters losing his ability to baseball and Max losing his composure...all after Max got the first 2 outs!

We would have found another way to lose.  And really it's on Dusty for keeping him in the lineup and in the field. 

[varoadking]

We would have found another way to lose.  And really it's on Dusty for keeping him in the lineup and in the field.

It was only the 5th inning as I recall...maybe it was the 6th...either way, it was likely bit too early to be putting in a defensive replacement...

[imref]

It was only the 5th inning as I recall...maybe it was the 6th...either way, it was likely bit too early to be putting in a defensive replacement...

just looking back at that series and realized Vic was on the roster for it. Michael A. started in Center so the replacement options were Vic, Brian Goodwin, and Howie. Gio was playoff Gio, 3R in 3IP.

Werth went 2-4, 2B, with 2 BBs in game 5.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201710120.shtml

[Natsinpwc]

just looking back at that series and realized Vic was on the roster for it. Michael A. started in Center so the replacement options were Vic, Brian Goodwin, and Howie. Gio was playoff Gio, 3R in 3IP.

Werth went 2-4, 2B, with 2 BBs in game 5.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201710120.shtml

Sure but could have lifted him for defense.  Also I don't think he hit in previous games. 

[imref]

There's no way he's coming out for defense in the 5th inning.

[aspenbubba]

author=Slateman link=topic=41739.msg2344186#msg2344186 dat

Bregman doesn't provide leadership. His team was cheating. He knew about it and said nothing. None of his experience matters because it's the result of his cheating, and then having Dusty Baker come clean up his mess. Also, Werth posted a a .921 OPS his last year in Philly, capping off three consecutive seasons of improvement.

Bregman can go pound sand.

I think the average fan doesn’t give a crap about the Astros cheating at this point in time. I think Bregmans  status in the game automatically anoints him the de facto leader of his new team due to the size of his contract. Bregman maybe a leader by performance like employee # 11.

[imref]

I'd still rather have Santander