Day-0 - The Arrival of Daylen Lile

[varoadking]

Interesting comment on the FG Lile article. Slate's kicked around the idea of Lile-Crews-Wood outfield. Some commenters say the corner D might be brutal, especially if Abrams is at SS. Another commenter suggests CJ to center and one of Wood or Lile could be 1B or DH. I think getting CJ off SS and Crews in a corner in place of Wood/Lile may improve the overall D more than would be lost by the drop off Hassell / Young or Crews in CF.

Crews doesn't have the stick to play corner outfield and he's demonstrated that there are better defensive options for CF.  At this point in his development, he's a 4th outfielder, at best.  So is Hassell... 

If we hadn't taken Crews #2 overall in 2023, he'd still be in the minors...like so many other weak hitting outfielders.  But the Nats play the contract/draft pick, so there's that...

I don't see the guy being here here long term.  Maybe the new guy jettisons some of Rizzo's mistakes sooner than later...

[Slateman]

Crews doesn't have the stick to play corner outfield and he's demonstrated that there are better defensive options for CF.  At this point in his development, he's a 4th outfielder, at best.  So is Hassell... 

If we hadn't taken Crews #2 overall in 2023, he'd still be in the minors...like so many other weak hitting outfielders.  But the Nats play the contract/draft pick, so there's that...

I don't see the guy being here here long term.  Maybe the new guy jettisons some of Rizzo's mistakes sooner than later...

[imref]

Crews doesn't have the stick to play corner outfield and he's demonstrated that there are better defensive options for CF.  At this point in his development, he's a 4th outfielder, at best.  So is Hassell... 

If we hadn't taken Crews #2 overall in 2023, he'd still be in the minors...like so many other weak hitting outfielders.  But the Nats play the contract/draft pick, so there's that...

I don't see the guy being here here long term.  Maybe the new guy jettisons some of Rizzo's mistakes sooner than later...

This has to be a parody post.

[Natsinpwc]

Crews doesn't have the stick to play corner outfield and he's demonstrated that there are better defensive options for CF.  At this point in his development, he's a 4th outfielder, at best.  So is Hassell... 

If we hadn't taken Crews #2 overall in 2023, he'd still be in the minors...like so many other weak hitting outfielders.  But the Nats play the contract/draft pick, so there's that...

I don't see the guy being here here long term.  Maybe the new guy jettisons some of Rizzo's mistakes sooner than later...

Maybe.  But he’s cheap and controllable.  Plenty of time to see if he can do better with a real hitting coach.

[varoadking]

This has to be a parody post.

His performance has been the parody...he's pretending to be an MLB player...

[varoadking]

Maybe.  But he’s cheap and controllable.  Plenty of time to see if he can do better with a real hitting coach.

Have to hope this new cat in the front office has more on the ball than Rizzo did...Crews was a lazy pick...

[Natsinpwc]

Have to hope this new cat in the front office has more on the ball than Rizzo did...Crews was a lazy pick...

He’s no Mickey Moniak.

[varoadking]

He’s no Mickey Moniak.

Talk about late bloomers! 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Challenge trade: Crews for Kristian Campbell. Who says no?

[Slateman]

Challenge trade: Crews for Kristian Campbell. Who says no?

The Lerners.  They don't want to be on the hook for 60 million

[nobleisthyname]

Young player that is a poor defender, coming off an improving second half at the plate being offered a contract extension? I've seen this once before . . .

Ruiz never hit this well before his extension (103 wRC+ 2022 second half). And improving outfield defense should be easier than improving catcher defense.

[Smithian]

Interesting comment on the FG Lile article. Slate's kicked around the idea of Lile-Crews-Wood outfield. Some commenters say the corner D might be brutal, especially if Abrams is at SS. Another commenter suggests CJ to center and one of Wood or Lile could be 1B or DH. I think getting CJ off SS and Crews in a corner in place of Wood/Lile may improve the overall D more than would be lost by the drop off Hassell / Young or Crews in CF.

Trade Abrams for a couple 24 year old AA relievers for all I care.

As far as the outfielders, all three of them have the athleticism to be minimum average to above average at their spots and they're in early 20's. I don't mind starting with that outfield next season and seeing if new organizational leadership with accountability can see them improve defensively. In the short term, having Jacob Young on the bench and occasionally rotating them through DH makes the fielding manageable to protect pitching. If they don't improve defensively but all are starting caliber hitters, then you probably have to consider Wood or Lile at 1B/DH.

[imref]

Last player to have at least 7 home runs and 9 triples in a month was Willy Mays in 1957.

Current rank among rookies:
OPS - 1st, .848
SLG - 1st, .502
AVG - 1st, .300

Gotta be in the running for ROY at this point?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Last player to have at least 7 home runs and 9 triples in a month was Willy Mays in 1957.

Current rank among rookies:
OPS - 1st, .848
SLG - 1st, .502
AVG - 1st, .300

Gotta be in the running for ROY at this point?

he'll get votes, but Cade Horton and Drake Baldwin have better cases. I think Lile has moved himself into the mix of the next tier, with Collins and Durbin, Shaw, and Marsee. I think playing time will hurt him and Marsee.  Very legit case for NL top 5. In the days when just offense mattered, he'd have a legit shot at top 3.

[imref]

a top-3 MVP finish would get us international pool money IIRC. Maybe he hits 4 HRs today and gets into that conversation?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

a top-3 MVP finish would get us international pool money IIRC. Maybe he hits 4 HRs today and gets into that conversation?

RoTY, not MVP.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I like Alex Call, and have some hope we got something worthwhile back in that deal, but to think Lile was splitting time with him and only up because Crews and Young were both hurt is a at this point. Also that they ran with Hassell rather than Lile for a week or so in June while Lile was briefly sent down. Definitely had to hit himself into the lineup.

[imref]

RoTY, not MVP.

According to this, the PPI bonus is triggered if a player wins ROY or places top-3 in MVP or Cy Young.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-promotion-incentive-faq

So i did a bit of digging and it doesn't look like Lile would get us a bonus because he wasn't a top 100 prospect going into the season. Our eligibles before the season were Crews, Susana, and Sykora. It also requires making the OD roster or being called up within 2 weeks of OD.

https://www.milb.com/app-firstpitch/durham/news/prospect-promotion-incentive-eligible-players-2025

[varoadking]

According to this, the PPI bonus is triggered if a player wins ROY or places top-3 in MVP or Cy Young.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-promotion-incentive-faq

So i did a bit of digging and it doesn't look like Lile would get us a bonus because he wasn't a top 100 prospect going into the season. Our eligibles before the season were Crews, Susana, and Sykora. It also requires making the OD roster or being called up within 2 weeks of OD.

https://www.milb.com/app-firstpitch/durham/news/prospect-promotion-incentive-eligible-players-2025

He's also not going to finish in the top 3 in MVP voting...

[zimm_da_kid]

Bummed he finished below .300

[Smithian]

92 ABs in September and Lile slashed .391/.440/.772 

I've been the least optimistic on Lile but 350 ABs is a not a small rookie sample and he finished with a fury. I'm a bit nervous to get too high on him, but results are results.

[imref]

National League Player of the Month. First Nat to win that award since Schwarber.

[imref]

Makes the BBA all-rookie team:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-baseball-america-mlb-all-rookie-team/

[imref]

Top 3 NL RoY finishers are out:
- Drake Baldwin .810 OPS / 3.3 WAR
- Cade Horton - 2.67 ERA / 1.085 WHIP in 22 starts / 23 games / 2.0 WAR
- Caleb Durban - .721 OPS / 2.9 WAR

Lile had a better OPS than the two hitters (.845), but only a 0.7 WAR. His fielding hurt his chances (-1.9 dWAR)

[Slateman]

Top 3 NL RoY finishers are out:
- Drake Baldwin .810 OPS / 3.3 WAR
- Cade Horton - 2.67 ERA / 1.085 WHIP in 22 starts / 23 games / 2.0 WAR
- Caleb Durban - .721 OPS / 2.9 WAR

Lile had a better OPS than the two hitters (.845), but only a 0.7 WAR. His fielding hurt his chances (-1.9 dWAR)

Did they also play more?