Return engagement: Josh Bell & Trevor Williams

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I can't see how having 6 guys for 5 rotation slots going into the spring is a weakness. If that turns into "play the contract," as Ian says they do, then there could be a problem

[welch]

Need a real 3B.

[imref]

Need a real 3B.

Zimm is ready and rested!

[imref]

Williams says he wants to start and throw 100 pitches per game

[Smithian]

If they sit one of Parker or Herz for absolute dregs like Soroka and Williams there should be anarchy

I assume rotation starting out is Gore-Williams-Soroka-Irvin in some order with Parker and Herz to battle it out in Spring Training.

Someone will have a bad spring or have health issues. I'm not too worried about talented young pitchers not getting opportunities. There are 162 games to fill up. If it happens that Parker or Herz is somehow not getting opportunities come midseason that means we have five pitchers doing well and we'll have been the MLB team to figure out health.

[imref]

Herz has earned himself a starter slot IMHO. His final 2 months (9 starts) were fantastic: 3.12 FIP, .258 BAbip, 53Ks, 24BBs in 47.1 IP

Parker had three rough outings in the last two months (10 starts) but even his struggles weren't terrible. 3.58 FIP, 49Ks, 17BBs in 50.2 IP. BAbip sucked at .346

Parker is probably the odd man out, but Soroka needs to have a strong ST to win a slot IMHO (though they will probably play the contract).

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

You can say whatever you want but Williams and Bell being the big haul is embarrassing.

[Slateman]

You can say whatever you want but Williams and Bell being the big haul is embarrassing.

I mean, technically Lowe is the big haul. But you're also not wrong.

Again, you take the Soroka, Bell, Williams, and supped Torres money, and make that Joc Pederson and Trevor Williams, and this is a much better offseason.

[imref]

Zuck noted that Irvin posted a 6.00 ERA in the 2nd half last year, he could also end up as the odd man out depending on ST performance.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I mean, technically Lowe is the big haul. But you're also not wrong.

Again, you take the Soroka, Bell, Williams, and supped Torres money, and make that Joc Pederson and Trevor Williams, and this is a much better offseason.

Not going to argue with you on this point. Joc, Williams, and Lowe would be a solid B / B+. Soroka, Bell, and savings is a C or an incomplete because we still have needs at 3rd and in the bullpen.

[Mattionals]

Zuck noted that Irvin posted a 6.00 ERA in the 2nd half last year, he could also end up as the odd man out depending on ST performance.

Dude was gassed and so was Parker.

[Natsinpwc]

Dude was gassed and so was Parker.

Which means you periodically rest the younger guys or use a six man rotation. Gore seemed tired also.

[PowerBoater69]

Livan Hernandez, Kurt Suzuki, Tyler Clippard, Edwin Jackson, Josh Bell, and who else?

[Slateman]

Not going to argue with you on this point. Joc, Williams, and Lowe would be a solid B / B+. Soroka, Bell, and savings is a C or an incomplete because we still have needs at 3rd and in the bullpen.

You can't give the offseason a passing grade at this point. Bell has been a 101 and 103 wRC+ the last two seasons. Juan Yepez has done that in his career if 588 plate appearances. So, we paid 6 million to do what we had at 800K in house. That's an F.

Mike Soroka was promised a starter position, despite having pitched all of 86 innings as a starter in the last five seasons. Oh and he posted an ERA over 6 in that time. So yea ..  replacing Corbin with a more injured Corbin is a fail.

The Lowe trade is nice, but it's nothing special. Trevor Williams is a back of the rotation starter..

Honestly, Pederson, Williams, and Lowe would have been a C grade. This offseason is basically throwing the season away. I don't blame CJ for hanging out in casinos. Ain't like anyone in management gives a crap about winning.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

.500 would at least get us back to the overachieving Brad Wilkerson/Terrmel Sledge era

[nobleisthyname]

Fangraphs article on the Bell signing:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-nationals-will-be-there-with-josh-bell-on/

...he’s been little more than a league-average bat for the past two years. Across 1,220 plate appearances from 2023-24, Bell has slashed .248/.322/.412 with a 102 wRC+

For the Nationals, however, even another replacement-level season from Bell would represent a massive improvement over the 70 wRC+ and -2.2 WAR they got from their designated hitters in 2024.

On top of that, the Nationals didn’t just sign Bell for his skills on the field. At the Winter Meetings, manager Dave Martinez said he wanted to bring “a veteran presence” to the roster to help with “chemistry and culture” in the clubhouse. Sure, that’s a platitude we’ve all heard countless times, but it makes sense for this team. Bell is the only player in Washington’s projected starting lineup who will be in his 30s as of Opening Day. He’s one of only five players on the 40-man roster with postseason experience. More specifically, he has a glowing reputation around the league as a great clubhouse guy, and that’s all the more meaningful considering how many clubhouses he’s been a part of. The last time Bell was in D.C., Martinez and POBO Mike Rizzo made clear how highly they valued his intangible qualities. Martinez described him as “an unbelievable human being.” Rizzo called him “one of the great make-up guys that we’ve ever brought in here.”

[Natsinpwc]

Sounds like they signed him to help get CJ straightened out. As well as a good example for the even younger guys.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/trevor-williams-to-open-season-in-nationals-rotation.html

Covers some of the same statements  as in Zuckerman's and Nusbaum's coverage of the Williams presser.

Speculates about either a 6-man rotation or a battle between PArker and Herz for the 5th spot.

Discussing Gore, Irvin, Herz, and Parker:

All four of those returning arms had productive campaigns. Gore is a former top prospect who posted a 3.90 earned run average while striking out nearly a quarter of opponents across 32 starts. He’ll certainly be in the rotation. Irvin led the team with 187 2/3 innings and turned in a 4.41 ERA with decent underlying metrics. The 27-year-old righty did seem to wear down in the second half, as he allowed a near-6.00 ERA after taking a 3.49 mark into the All-Star Break. He still seems likely to be a starting pitcher himself.

If Washington wanted to begin the year with a five-man staff, that could leave Parker and Herz battling for a job if everyone comes through Spring Training healthy. Herz showed more swing-and-miss ability, fanning nearly 28% of opponents with a 12.9% swinging strike rate in 19 starts as a rookie. The southpaw’s 9.4% walk rate was the highest of any of Washington’s starters, though. Herz has had far more worrisome walk numbers in the minors, including a massive 19% clip over 10 Triple-A starts last year.

Parker, 25, profiles as a steadier back-end arm. He made 29 starts during his debut campaign and turned in a 4.29 ERA through 151 innings. He struck out 20.6% of opponents against a tidy 6.7% walk percentage. Parker doesn’t throw quite as hard as Herz does and doesn’t miss bats at the same rate, but he looks the part of a league average starter.

Interesting to me to see Parker called a league-average starter. I think the Q is whether Gore is a #2 level starter and whether the rest are closer to #3s than #6 depth.

I still suspect this will work out OK if Soroka is kept on a short leash in the rotation (excel as a starter or be moved to the pen) and Williams stays healthy and does not fade.

[aspenbubba]

Why not go with a 6 man rotation if all are healthy. It seems that Irvin faded in the second half and Gore had a bad couple of months. Herz and Parker could certainly benefit from less starts given they have never pitched a full season at the major league level. Both Williams and Soroka are suspect coming off major injuries last season.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Why not go with a 6 man rotation if all are healthy. It seems that Irvin faded in the second half and Gore had a bad couple of months. Herz and Parker could certainly benefit from less starts given they have never pitched a full season at the major league level. Both Williams and Soroka are suspect coming off major injuries last season.

well, some of it depends on the drop off between your top starters and the 6th guy who is taking starts away from your best guy. Figure Gore and Williams, if he's your #2, would get maybe 27 starts instead of 32. But if you think the guys wear down, maybe an Irvin lasts longer. It also means a 7 man bullpen rather than 8. There were times last year when even 8 was not enough. I suspect, with Rainey gone, that may be less likely, but there's also Reifert (Rule 5), so he'd have to pitch a full load.

[Slateman]

Why not go with a 6 man rotation if all are healthy. It seems that Irvin faded in the second half and Gore had a bad couple of months. Herz and Parker could certainly benefit from less starts given they have never pitched a full season at the major league level. Both Williams and Soroka are suspect coming off major injuries last season.

Because it puts a lot of strain on the bullpen, as they won't have a long reliever.

Also, we should assume that, like most young pitchers, our guys will build up stamina and not fade in the second half.

[PowerBoater69]

Livan Hernandez, Kurt Suzuki, Tyler Clippard, Edwin Jackson, Josh Bell, and who else?

Asdrubal Cabrera, any others?

[Dave in Fairfax]

Asdrubal Cabrera, any others?

Matt Adams was waived in 2018, then picked up by the Cards, then came back to the Nats in 2019.

[imref]

Ugh: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-nationals-will-be-there-with-josh-bell-on/

In 2024, Bell ranked last among all first basemen in DRS and second to last in OAA and FRV, despite playing just 98 games at the position. As long as Lowe stays healthy, which he’s largely managed to do throughout his career, the Nationals won’t need to worry about Bell’s glove at first. Meanwhile, Bell won’t need to worry about the harsh positional adjustment for designated hitters dragging down his overall numbers. A full-time DH who plays all 162 games would finish with -17.5 Def; Bell finished with -17.8 Def in 2024. As long as he sticks at DH, things can’t get any worse.

Of course, that also means Bell’s defensive value won’t get any better. If he’s going to improve upon a replacement-level (-0.1 WAR) 2024 season, he’ll need to do it with his offense. More specifically, he’ll need to do it with his bat. Over the past four years, Bell has been the least productive baserunner in the sport, with -17.6 BsR. His best baserunning season in that span was 2021, when he finished with -3.9 BsR, eighth-worst in the majors. To put that in context, -3.9 BsR is so low that Steamer doesn’t project anyone to finish with -3.9 BsR in 2025. Heck, Steamer doesn’t have anyone else finishing below -2.9, while Bell is projected for -2.3. Bell’s baseline is such an aberration that Steamer refuses to accept it as his (or anyone’s) 50th-percentile outcome.

[blue911]

Asdrubal Cabrera, any others?

Emilio Bonifácio