Roster Moves (2025)

[JCA-CrystalCity]

You forgot Crews unless you think his injury will keep him out through the ASB

I assume he's not back until after the ASB, 2nd half of June. That'll be about 8 weeks. I don't see any indications he's back early. If he's picked up a bat, they'd mention it.

elvir - I was just working with stuff already in the organization. Call it rearranging chairs on the Titanic, but I don't think we go "all in" before then on the merits and certainly not with this baseball ops group and ownership.

I mean, we can think of teams that might want an MLB average 1B/DH or CF before the All Star Break, but I think most of our trade candidates need to prove stuff before then. Rosario might have a market right now if someone is looking for a righty bat who can play (poorly) at 2B/SS/3B.

On the pitching side, I'm sure Law gets a shot when he's healthy. I think Brzykcy is the lowest leverage guy in the bullpen with options, so he's the logical demotion. I'm not sure Ribalta pushes anyone aside when he's healthy.

[zoom]

I am still a little ticked that Davey threw Ribalta 3 innings in the 'pen game' against the Dodgers.   He started the season pretty well. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FWIW, if Chappy is called up before 6/16 and remains up, then he does not burn an option this year.

I'm beginning to think that a lot of moves might happen around the time of the series with the Marlins on 6/13-15. That would likely be beyond the Super 2 date, so House could be up. Then there's the righty DH/1B they could add. I suspect Young will be up before that.

Cavalli to the rotation could happen any time. He's gone 4, 5, and 5 his last 3 starts in AAA, so he's probably as stretched as they want him to be. At this point, I think he's in the minors mostly to manage innings. Figure he starts Tuesday 6/3 and Sunday 6/8, then it might make sense to go with a 6 man rotation as they have 16 games in 16 days starting 6/10.

[nobleisthyname]

I think the main thing holding back Cavalli is making sure he doesn't earn another year of service time this season.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think the main thing holding back Cavalli is making sure he doesn't earn another year of service time this season.

he has 2 years and 41 days.

There's less than 131 days left in the season so he would be a "super 2" but with 4 years of control if he were brought up now

[Mattionals]

Jorge Lopez DFA'd. I'm confused. All the crap players that got cash this off-season are all getting let go. Never seen the leash this short.

[nobleisthyname]

he has 2 years and 41 days.

There's less than 131 days left in the season so he would be a "super 2" but with 4 years of control if he were brought up now

On the Nats Chat Podcast a few days ago they thought it was closer to July I believe or even after (can't remember exactly). The context was whether Parker was about to be sent down or not for Cavalli and Zuckerman said to pump the brakes a bit.

[Slateman]

he has 2 years and 41 days.

There's less than 131 days left in the season so he would be a "super 2" but with 4 years of control if he were brought up now

Zuck brought this up on his podcast that because all of Cavalli's injury time was also considered major league service time, if he plays spends more than 86 days on the 26 man roster, he gets to free agency in 6 years instead of 7. Given all the money they've invested, gotta think the Nats are going to keep that from happening.

[nobleisthyname]

Zuck brought this up on his podcast that because all of Cavalli's injury time was also considered major league service time, if he plays spends more than 86 days on the 26 man roster, he gets to free agency in 6 years instead of 7. Given all the money they've invested, gotta think the Nats are going to keep that from happening.

Yeah I just relistened to the segment to refresh my memory. It was 86 days as you say which would put Cavalli's arrival to the big leagues at early July or the ASB according to Zuckerman.

[Slateman]

That is totally fine. Cavalli's biggest issue has been durability. He hasn't even made it to 85 pitches yet. Let him roll another month

[Slateman]

https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/washington-nationals-recall-eduardo-salazar-5048fd186937

Lopez DFA'd, Salazar called up

[nobleisthyname]

López seemed to have settled down and was mostly effective as long as he didn't pitch on consecutive days. Obviously not ideal but I'm not convinced Salazar is an actual improvement quality wise. I wonder if this is more for clubhouse related issues.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He does seem hot headed. There may be a market for him rather than a straight release. Could be that they send him to whatever team will pick up the most of his contract

[IanRubbish]

https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/washington-nationals-recall-eduardo-salazar-5048fd186937

Lopez DFA'd, Salazar called up

Good news.  I was a little concerned about the $3 million they're paying him keeping him around.  Brings Rizzo's wasted bullpen rentals to $7.5 million for the season along with Poche and Sims.

Salazar might not be it but plenty of reinforcements in the minors who could ultimately take his place.

[Smithian]

Jorge Lopez DFA'd. I'm confused. All the crap players that got cash this off-season are all getting let go. Never seen the leash this short.

Not sure what ownership thinks this year, but Martinez and Rizzo are acting like the idea this season is actually to win. It’s a nice improvement over previous few seasons!

[Slateman]

Bigger question: Which pitcher is going to get all our wins now?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Bigger question: Which pitcher is going to get all our wins now?

Rutledge. It's got to be a guy they use when behind or tied

[GataNats]

Lopez is really the last of the bad batch left.  Getting rid of the riff raff.   Good times ahead

[aspenbubba]

López seemed to have settled down and was mostly effective as long as he didn't pitch on consecutive days. Obviously not ideal but I'm not convinced Salazar is an actual improvement quality wise. I wonder if this is more for clubhouse related issues.

I totally agree. Salazar was demoted before Pochand Sims were cut. Lopez must have gotten into it with one of the coaches. We will probably never find out.

[Smithian]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Martinez or Hickey got mad at him yelling at ump other nice. Timeline for cut may have been as simple as them chatting with Rizzo and agent before a cut. 

[welch]

Lopez is really the last of the bad batch left.  Getting rid of the riff raff.   Good times ahead

I thought Salazar was part of the bad batch. Just heard Davey talk about releasing Lopez. He talked as if Lopez was being sent to the minors, although Davey made it clear that he had lost patience with Lopez's temper tantrums.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I thought Salazar was part of the bad batch.

no. Was a waiver claim last year, iirc.

Interesting to hear Davey pregame press. Talked about how Lopez was up and down performance, kids have been good, wanted to go with them. Then he called it a bad fit and also admitted he wasn't pleased with how he blew up after the confrontation with the ump the other day.

Salazar apparently has been pitching well in AAA. 1.7 era.

[Elvir Ovcina]

López seemed to have settled down and was mostly effective as long as he didn't pitch on consecutive days. Obviously not ideal but I'm not convinced Salazar is an actual improvement quality wise. I wonder if this is more for clubhouse related issues.

Salazar sucks.  I really don't get why he keeps getting chances.  His major league numbers overall stink.  His minor league numbers overall stink.  There's nothing about his stuff that suggests he should be good. 

Yes, he had a brief period of success last year.  Blind squirrels find nuts sometimes.  Salazar sucks.

Salazar might not be it but plenty of reinforcements in the minors who could ultimately take his place.

No, there aren't.  Both the AA and AAA pitching staffs are hot garbage.

[Slateman]

Salazar is only here until Law is ready

[GataNats]

Grissom is about ready.   He started out slow in AAA but has been dominating over the past two weeks