2025 Off-season - general thread

[IanRubbish]

Yes. It's possible that the Nats just aren't viewed as a one piece away team by the top FAs so they will need to spend stupid money to land a Bregman/Santander, but more likely they just aren't bidding.  It's one more year of "Let's see the kids fill holes." The downside is that Gore, Garcia, and Abrams are gone or signed to FA contracts before the window opens.

Wood and Crews are gone after 2030, so at best there's a 5 season window from 2026 to 2030.  With the Lerners not even willing to pay arb eligible relievers anymore, probably looking at maybe a 2-3 season stretch of winning seasons, not unlike the mid-2010s Royals and Pirates, book ended by a long string of losing seasons on both sides.

[Natsinpwc]

Wood and Crews are gone after 2030, so at best there's a 5 season window from 2026 to 2030.  With the Lerners not even willing to pay arb eligible relievers anymore, probably looking at maybe a 2-3 season stretch of winning seasons, not unlike the mid-2010s Royals and Pirates, book ended by a long string of losing seasons on both sides.

At this point I would take that.  Pretty sad. 

[varoadking]

Seems obvious 2025 is just going to be a development year versus one in which we try to compete for a playoff spot.

Time to change that quote under your avatar...

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

If the new local oligarchs throw some petty cash at their coterie and support staff the ballpark will swell with swells who will eventually demand an on-field product that suits their suits

[Natsinpwc]

If the new local oligarchs throw some petty cash at their coterie and support staff the ballpark will swell with swells who will eventually demand an on-field product that suits their suits

That's the spirit.

[imref]

The lerners need to launch a meme coin.

[IanRubbish]

The lerners need to launch a meme coin.

They wouldn't spend any of the profits if they made any. 

[varoadking]

The lerners need to launch a meme coin.

They need to launch themselves into the sun...

[tomwvr]

They would not spend the money on a rocket. The fans would have to buy it.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

They would not spend the money on a rocket. The fans would have to buy it.

red carpet rewards!

[OfftheBat]

The lerners need to launch a meme coin.

No one would buy it 

[imref]

No one would buy it 

The Dodgers could buy it?

[OfftheBat]

The Dodgers could buy it?

Why not, is there something/someone that they didn't buy this Winter? lmao

[Smithian]

There is still time between now and Opening Day to make an add. Losing hope there.

I'd be pleased in this offseason if Nats went ahead and locked in Luis Garcia or James Wood into a longer team deal. That probably isn't happening.

I don't believe the idea this money is going into a lockbox. Really disappointing offseason without an add/extension.

[imref]

i don't see us locking up Garcia Jr with Seaver King in the system as a possible replacement.

Wood isn't a Boras client, so maybe....

[IanRubbish]

i don't see us locking up Garcia Jr with Seaver King in the system as a possible replacement.

Wood isn't a Boras client, so maybe....

Unfortunately, Wood is a Boras client.  I'd bet that Garcia is gone next year at the deadline when he's got 1.5 years left before free agency, and when he crosses the $6 million/year a mark that usually gets Rizzo a phone call from Mini Me to unload whatever budget line item is causing such a thing to happen.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Unfortunately, Wood is a Boras client.  I'd bet that Garcia is gone next year at the deadline when he's got 1.5 years left before free agency, and when he crosses the $6 million/year a mark that usually gets Rizzo a phone call from Mini Me to unload whatever budget line item is causing such a thing to happen.

one of the reasons I wanted to take a flyer on Moncada is that I think you can offer him an option on next year as part of the deal. He came up as an MI, so I think he could slide to 2nd if we wanted to keep him around and if any of our 3rd base prospects were ready.

[varoadking]

one of the reasons I wanted to take a flyer on Moncada is that I think you can offer him an option on next year as part of the deal. He came up as an MI, so I think he could slide to 2nd if we wanted to keep him around and if any of our 3rd base prospects were ready.

You have to stop thinking like a fan and more like Scrooge McDuck...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Guardians DFA'd Pedro Avila today to make room for Paul Sewald. Probably worth a waiver claim. Pre-arb, 5 years of control, good not great numbers. No options left.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilape01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2025-01-22_br

[JCA-CrystalCity]

poking around the list of unsigned relievers, with a focus on lefties, my new cheap signing target would be Danny Coulombe from the O's. He's been terrific since 2020, but he missed half the season last year recovering from bone chips being removed from is left (pitching) arm. He did come3 back 9/20, made 4 appearance in the regular season stretch and one in wild card series. I think the late season appearances probably show a good recovery. I don't think you need to go over $2-3 million given his injury history. Set up guy money. Last year he made $2.3 million, before the injury but before he hit free agency.

[imref]

Whoa! We’re #5!

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43520980/mlb-2024-25-olney-five-most-improved-teams-2025-reds-rangers-red-sox-diamondbacks-nationals

[IanRubbish]

Whoa! We’re #5!

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43520980/mlb-2024-25-olney-five-most-improved-teams-2025-reds-rangers-red-sox-diamondbacks-nationals

I think the Nats will have a better W-L, but 5th most improved might be pushing it.  I wouldn't be surprised if OPS goes back to .710 where it was in '23, but also if the pitching regresses a little, especially the bullpen.

[imref]

Talknats:

With the Ogasawara signing that is a new spend of just under $40 million (39.8 ) .  That's not nothing in where the league is. That is 12th most in baseball right now.

[varoadking]

Talknats:

Isn't that just a bit more than what they shed with the Corbin contract?

[HalfSmokes]

Up to 25th in payroll