The path forward

[Slateman]

Deadline has come and gone. It's very clear we're not trying compete. Given that, I think the Nats need to make some changes.

CJ needs to move off shortstop. Frankly, I think he should move to OF because the fielding issues he has at shortstop (range, coming in on balls) will be just as much of a problem at 2B and maybe even 3B. They can try him there, but, frankly, we have Seaver King waiting in the wings and Nasim Nunez's greatest value would come at the SS position. I also think this enhances his trade value. If he shows he can play another position as not the worst defender in baseball, then his value goes up comparative to where it would be if they stuck him at SS.

Crews and House should play every day. Don't care if you DH them or play them in the field. My feelings on Crews are fairly well known, but we have to be sure. We have to make every attempt to see what they can do against RHP. House can play some 1B if they want, and maybe that gives CJ a chance to try 3B. But the point is, we have to have some data point for any signs of improvement, or if House and Crews are just LHP side platoon bats.

Stop playing Vivas and Tena every day. I get the need to play them a little. Actually, no, I don't. Tena brings nothing to the table. He apparently can't play the field and doesn't hit well enough to be a DH. You DFA him and he gets through waivers pretty easily. You can spot start Vivas until September, when King should be called up and that should end his playing time. But either way, these guys are getting way more playing time then they should.

DFA Mikolas and any other bullpen arm we just traded replacements for or have in the system. Guys like Varland, Lovelady, Schultz, and Palmquist serve no purpose. If they're not performing, DFA them, and call up someone to take their spot. I'd much rather see what Perales, Kent, Yean, and anyone else can do.

The 2027 season may not even happen and will probably be a shortened season. This actually plays well into our starting pitching, as guys like Herz, Sykora, Rosario, and Susana will be on pretty strict innings limits next year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

King is an interesting decision. Do you bring him up this year, start his time on the roster this year, and risk him being locked out during the work stoppage rather than getting minor league reps? If the answer is yes, then do you initiate the Slate plan, move CJ to CF, and go with King and Nunez as you MIs now?

Maybe a Wood oblique opens things up for the Slate plan (Crews to right, CJ to center, King to 2B, House to 3B). Young is the odd man out in this arrangement, or maybe he plays some OF and Lile, Crews, and  CJ rotate through DH. IF Wood is healthy, then you have 5 OFs for 4 spots. Lile, Young platoon?

I think they can go to CJ and say, "we didn't deal you, we are committed to making this work, but we need to find a way to upgrade the D while keeping your bat in the lineup."

Strange as it might seem, I kind of like the bullpen now. Too late, still have starter issues, but now you can afford to us Palmquist and Williams as openers and still have a ton of depth. I want to see Perales but think that may wait until we get an extra pitcher slot in September. I don't think we see Kent this year. Next starter change will be Early.

[imref]

King is rule-5 eligible after this season, so he's going to get added to the roster. I'd expect they bring him up before year's end and give him reps at both 2nd and SS.

[Slateman]

King is an interesting decision. Do you bring him up this year, start his time on the roster this year, and risk him being locked out during the work stoppage rather than getting minor league reps? If the answer is yes, then do you initiate the Slate plan, move CJ to CF, and go with King and Nunez as you MIs now?

Maybe a Wood oblique opens things up for the Slate plan (Crews to right, CJ to center, King to 2B, House to 3B). Young is the odd man out in this arrangement, or maybe he plays some OF and Lile, Crews, and  CJ rotate through DH. IF Wood is healthy, then you have 5 OFs for 4 spots. Lile, Young platoon?

I think they can go to CJ and say, "we didn't deal you, we are committed to making this work, but we need to find a way to upgrade the D while keeping your bat in the lineup."

Strange as it might seem, I kind of like the bullpen now. Too late, still have starter issues, but now you can afford to us Palmquist and Williams as openers and still have a ton of depth. I want to see Perales but think that may wait until we get an extra pitcher slot in September. I don't think we see Kent this year. Next starter change will be Early.

I could see leaving King down, but can't you just option him back down to the minors at the end of the year. Feel like a month of MLB at bats could be invaluable going into the offseason. You move CJ, regardless. You can play Nunez and Vivas as your middle infield if you want. Tena can be the "backup" infielder.

I don't see any reason to hang on to any reliever that won't be part of the future. If Gray or Herz get healthy, they should be thrown out of the pen this season. I don't want to use Williams as an opener. I want to use him as a bridge to Lord and Cruz. If we get a lead in the fifth inning, the plan needs to be Williams, Dion, Lord, Cruz. Beyond that, the bullpen should be considered fairly interchangeable. Palmquist can open or do mop up duty.

Also, while we're talking about openers and Palmquist, just do one inning with him. He seems a lot better in the first inning.

[Slateman]

King is rule-5 eligible after this season, so he's going to get added to the roster. I'd expect they bring him up before year's end and give him reps at both 2nd and SS.

Fangraphs has him as Rule 5 eligible in December of 2027. Morales is eligible this season.

Which reminds me, I want to see Morales.

[imref]

Fangraphs has him as Rule 5 eligible in December of 2027. Morales is eligible this season.

Which reminds me, I want to see Morales.

you are right, i was working through the rule-5 post and had King wrong.

[varoadking]

I don't see ANY real BIG name FA's on the roster any time soon...beyond 2027.  Just more dumpster reclamations...

If there is a work stoppage, 2027 is gonna be a bust for the Nats regardless, but I don't see rushing anyone to the Bigs. 

Look at what it did to Crews.  If he actually had any talent, which is debatable, they likely wasted it just by rushing him.

[varoadking]

So...don't recall any of the broadcast team mentioning Kolko's absence...and he's gone again tonight...ya figure he's been canned?

[spidernat]

Let’s hope it’s nothing bad.


I don’t recall if he was there for the Monday game

[varoadking]

Let’s hope it’s nothing bad.
I don’t recall if he was there for the Monday game

I think he was there Monday and Tuesday...I could be wrong though...

[spidernat]

I know he was not there Tuesday but wasn’t sure about Monday

[varoadking]

I know he was not there Tuesday but wasn’t sure about Monday

OK...then maybe they announced his absence on Monday...I thought he just disappeared yesterday...

[spidernat]

Actually I now recall that he was there Monday because he led with moving forward after the trade of Griffin. So he vanished beginning Tuesday

[blue911]

Toboni traded him for two low A analysts and a play-by-play guy currently working in Japan.

[tomterp]

Simple AI Google search:

As of August 2026, Washington Nationals play-by-play announcer Dan Kolko is out of the booth simply to take a scheduled few days off.  Veteran broadcaster Paul Severino stepped in to fill the play-by-play role alongside analyst Kevin Frandsen. While Severino mentioned on air that he would be covering for "Danny" for a few days, the broadcast team did not detail an exact reason for his absence, leading fans to conclude it is a standard mid-season vacation.

[Slateman]

Pickney should get to start every day until Wood is off the IL.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Toboni traded him for two low A analysts and a play-by-play guy currently working in Japan.

who doesn't speak English. They've assigned him to the DSL broadcasts to work his way towards the mainland radio booth. He has ears like Dave Jagelar, so they are figuring that when they lose Jags to Salt Lake City in the next round of expansion, they will have an internal replacement.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Pickney should get to start every day until Wood is off the IL.

Ahead of Tena against RHP. 4 OFs with one as DH.

I'd say let him get his feet wet against LHP for a week or two. Maybe PH against LHP relievers brought in to face Tena and don't swap him out if they go to righty. If he handles that, then push him more.

Pinckney I think fits in as roster flexibility going forward. Short side platoon outfielder if they deal a CF (Crews or Young) and open a 4th OF slot. Now that he's on the 40 man, if he shows anything over the last 2 months, then keep him and you can shuttle him up and down to Rochester  for 3 years at MLB minimum.