Grading the Rizzo Acquisitions ( Yes it is Early)

[aspenbubba]

Sims = F

Poche=F

Lowe = C-

Bell=D

Soroka = Incomplete

Rosario= B-

DeJung=D

Williams = C-

[welch]

Much better than that:

Sims = F

Poche=F

Lowe = C- B

Bell=D C+

Soroka = Incomplete

Rosario= B-

DeJung=D B

Williams = C-

[Smithian]

Much better than that:

Sims = F

Poche=F

Lowe = C- B

Bell=D C+

Soroka = Incomplete

Rosario= B-

DeJung=D B

Williams = C-

I agree with this. Price tag matters. I am grading Josh Bell on a different scale than Paul DeJong.

Small sample size, but DeJong is currently tied for tops in the majors in OAA. Our infield has looked more stable than it is has in years. He is a B or B+ signing. He wouldn't have been available for $1 mil if he had a bat to go along with the glove.

Josh Bell has been meh at his price tag.

Soroka it is early but I'm concerned.

[Natsinpwc]

I was a little surprised but DeJong is 0.2 bWAR at this time and Lowe is 0.0 bWAR.  I guess it beats negative. 

[Smithian]

It's way too early to pay attention to WAR stats. I felt weird posting the DeJong OAA.

[Natsinpwc]

Hitting wise Lowe is about 100 points higher OPS+ than DeJong.  DeJong eventually needs to hit.

[Natsinpwc]

It's way too early to pay attention to WAR stats. I felt weird posting the DeJong OAA.

Shohei is already 0.6.  Seems about right.

[Slateman]

Sims = F

Poche=F

Lowe = B+

Bell=D

Soroka = Incomplete

Rosario= C-

DeJung=C-

Williams = C-


Don't know how you can grade Lowe lower than a B.

[nobleisthyname]

I think Lowe has been an A- so far honestly. He has an .839 OPS with good power.

DeJong is a C. The glove has been elite but the bat has been atrocious. Even worse than expected.

I think Bell is a C at best, more like a C- or D+. Only thing he was brought here to do (ignoring intangibles) is hit and he isn't doing that with a .644 OPS (for comparison, Jacob Young has a .686 OPS).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

No complaints about Lowe at all. Fine acquisition. B+

If we are grading signings, then I would not have signed DeJong, but if we are grading based on met/ below/ above expectations, I'd say he's right about on. A bit disappointed at the lack of HRs after 20+ last year, and the Ks are high, but he's a guy who Ks a lot and has a poor average. His glove is a big, big, upgrade and a help to the pitchers. C-, maybe a D+.

Not a single pitcher we acquired is either meeting expectations or performing well. I can tolerate Lopez and Williams for now. Sims and Poche should be replaced as soon as there's an alternative. Ds for Lopez and Williams, Fs for the rest.

Bell?  Around expectations. C.

Rosario? Doing his job. B, B-.

[imref]

Sims = F

Poche=F

Lowe = B+

Bell=D

Soroka = Incomplete

Rosario= C-

DeJung=C-

Williams = C-

Don't know how you can grade Lowe lower than a B.

I agree with these.

[HalfSmokes]

Why is anyone surprised that you get trash when you dumpster dive?

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

The owner won't spend. This is what we get.

[imref]

Why is anyone surprised that you get trash when you dumpster dive?

because every so often you get a Schwarber, Alex Call, Robert Garcia, etc.

[varoadking]

Schwarby was a steal...wish we still had him...

[imref]

Schwarby was a steal...wish we still had him...

I will always wonder how different things would have been if he didn't hurt his hammy in 2021.

[IanRubbish]

Different year, different faces, same "hope this lottery ticket pays off" strategy that's been a massive failure. 

Most of the rentals combined have produced nothing in terms of trades, and haven't come close to making up for the poor drafting and development.

There's a way to work with a cheap owner but rather than doing anything creative, Rizzo just keeps repeating the same scratch off strategy no matter how many times it fails. 

[imref]

Different year, different faces, same "hope this lottery ticket pays off" strategy that's been a massive failure. 

Most of the rentals combined have produced nothing in terms of trades, and haven't come close to making up for the poor drafting and development.

There's a way to work with a cheap owner but rather than doing anything creative, Rizzo just keeps repeating the same scratch off strategy no matter how many times it fails. 

i think it's a bit different this year as the reclamation projects / lottery tickets have been supplements to the core. We finally have a solid core in Lowe, Garcia, Abrams, Crews, Wood, and Ruiz on the offense, and Gore, Irvin, and Parker in the rotation.

In past years it has seemed that the reclamation projects "were" the core.

The bullpen is the one place where we do not have much that could be considered "core" pieces other than Ferrar.

[IanRubbish]

TalkNats, which is usually naively oriented towards sunshine, doesn't think too highly of Rizzo's offseason moves.

They still got duped by bringing up Rizzo's comment about QO'd players.  Christian Walker was one, and Rizzo wanted to sign him, Mini Me said no.  So for Rizzo to claim he didn't want to sign QO players he's contradicting himself, and producing more lies and BS to provide PR cover for Mini Me. 

https://www.talknats.com/2025/04/18/the-draft-the-2026-payroll-and-buying-your-way-out-of-this/

[Smithian]

Lowe was a better value than Walker even before comparing their early production.

Lots of things to sing Rizzo on. Whoever made the Lowe call, it was a good one.

[aspenbubba]

Welch and Smithian there is no freaking way Bell is a c+. A wasted acquisition and a waste at DH.

[IanRubbish]

Lowe was a better value than Walker even before comparing their early production.

Lots of things to sing Rizzo on. Whoever made the Lowe call, it was a good one.

He also cost the reliever who had the highest K/9 rate and he will not be here for long.  Lowe is better than Gallo, but he also come with a cost and will also be gone in a short time.  Not a good move strategically to keep trading for guys you plan to trade.   And in Lowe's case, even if he's here after the deadline, he's an FA after next year and doubtful he'd want to stay here.  Moreover, he could get $15 million+ next year his final Arb season, a number which could get Mini Me to force Rizzo to trade him in the offseason. 

[rileyn]

People saw Poche and Sims from a mile away.  Rizzo did not.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So far, the Nationals’ four offseason hitting acquisitions (Lowe, Bell, Amed Rosario and Paul DeJong) have hit .211 with a .637 OPS. The six pitchers they acquired (Lucas Sims, Colin Poche, Jorge López, Kyle Finnegan, Michael Soroka and Williams) have allowed opposing hitters to post a .287 batting average with an .829 OPS.

That doesn’t preclude this group from turning it around. Sims and Poche are gone. Williams has located well. Soroka has made just two starts and has looked quite a bit better than his numbers suggest. At the plate, Lowe and Rosario have been as advertised. Bell often has followed cold stretches with hot ones.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/10/nationals-cardinals-losing-streak/

REally, the average and OPS damage has all been Bell and DeJong. My beef with Williams and Soroka is more that they've pushed Lord to the bullpen when they've both had success as relievers.