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Lewin Diaz Lewin Diaz Lands NRI from Nationals
Fri, Dec 22, 2023, 12:17 PM
Diaz signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The Nationals look like they might be going the quantity over quality route in attempting to address first base, first adding Juan Yepez and now Diaz as non-roster invitees. Diaz posted an .804 OPS with 17 homers over 118 games for the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk but didn't see any time in the majors. He'll get a shot this spring to win an Opening Day roster spot. |
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Dermis Garcia Dermis Garcia Gets minors deal from Nationals
Thu, Dec 21, 2023, 10:09 AM
Garcia signed a minor-league contact with the Nationals on Dec. 13.
Analysis: Garcia, 25, put up an .891 OPS in 45 games with Triple-A Las Vegas in the Athletics organization last season before being released in June. He collected a .652 OPS during a 39-game stint with the A's in 2022. Garcia figures to begin the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Rochester. |
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Ty Tice Ty Tice Inks minors deal with Nats
Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 10:02 AM
Tice signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Monday.
Analysis: Tice struggled to a 6.37 ERA and 1.88 WHIP in 53.2 innings last season between Atlanta's Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, though he struck out 83 batters along the way. The 27-year-old right-hander will function as organizational relief depth for Washington in 2024. |
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Spenser Watkins Spenser Watkins Heading to Washington
Sun, Dec 17, 2023, 9:02 PM
Watkins agreed to terms with the Nationals on Sunday, per his agency, Gaeta Sports Management.
Analysis: Watkins was initially expected to sign with a KBO team for the 2024 season, but he'll remain in MLB as part of the Nationals. He's made 40 appearances (31 starts) between the Orioles and Athletics in the majors over the past three seasons, posting a 5.97 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 164.1 innings. |
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Nick Senzel Nick Senzel Will be everyday third baseman
Thu, Dec 14, 2023, 8:13 AM
Senzel is expected to serve as the Nationals' everyday third baseman in 2024, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Senzel bounced around all over the diamond in his last few seasons with the Reds, but third base is his natural position and it sounds like Washington plans to keep him there. Hopefully, sticking to one position will give Senzel a better chance of staying healthy, as injuries have been an ongoing issue for the 28-year-old. Senzel had massive splits in 2023, putting up a 1.008 OPS versus lefties and just a .497 OPS against righties. He'll have to greatly improve the latter number if he wants to keep an everyday job. |
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Victor Robles Victor Robles Cleared for winter ball
Wed, Dec 13, 2023, 12:01 PM
Robles (back) was recently cleared to play in the Dominican Winter League, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Working his way back from lumbar spine spasms, Robles was cleared for action early last week and has played four games with Toros del Este. It's the first game action for the 26-year-old since June, as he was limited to only 36 contests with the Nationals in 2023. Robles appears healthy now and should head into spring training as the favorite to be the club's Opening Day center fielder. |
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Dylan Floro Dylan Floro Joins Nats
Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 4:23 PM
Floro signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Nationals on Tuesday.
Analysis: Floro posted a 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with the Dodgers and Marlins between 2020-22, but his numbers declined sharply last season with a 4.76 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 56.2 frames. Hoping for a return to form from Floro, the Nationals will add him to their bullpen, and the 32-year-old righty will likely work in middle relief to begin the year. Jeter Downs was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. |
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Jeter Downs Jeter Downs Dropped from 40-man roster
Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 4:20 PM
Downs was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Tuesday.
Analysis: The Nats needed to clear out 40-man roster space in order to finalize their one-year agreements with both Nick Senzel and Dylan Floro. Downs ranked as a top-100 prospect a few years ago, but he's slashed just .182/.260/.273 in 50 career plate appearances at the major-league level and posted an underwhelming .236/.358/.379 batting line across 51 games last season with Triple-A Rochester. |
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Nick Senzel Nick Senzel Signs on with Nationals
Thu, Dec 7, 2023, 8:08 AM
Senzel signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: He'll have the opportunity to earn an additional $1 million in incentives and will still be under team control in 2025. Senzel was non-tendered by the Reds last month after they decided they were unwilling to pay him a raise in arbitration. The former top prospect hasn't had even a .700 OPS since his rookie season and has dealt with numerous injuries. However, Senzel should at least have a short-side platoon role after slashing .348/.389/.619 against left-handers in 2023. |
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Juan Yepez Juan Yepez Gets minors deal from Nationals
Wed, Dec 6, 2023, 2:04 PM
Yepez signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Presumably, Yepez will be given an invitation to the major league side of spring training as part of the contract. The 25-year-old was non-tendered by the Cardinals last month following a disappointing 2023 season, but Yepez slugged 28 homers between the majors and minors in 2022. He will compete for the Nationals' first base job. |
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Luis Garcia Jr. Luis Garcia Not guaranteed second base job
Mon, Dec 4, 2023, 4:40 PM
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Garcia is not guaranteed the second base job going into next season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Garcia battled through a disappointing 2023 campaign, slashing just .266/.304/.385 while spending some time back in the minors. The 23-year-old remains talented and would seem to be the odds-on favorite to man second base on Opening Day for the Nationals, but the gig won't be handed to him. Jake Alu, Ildemaro Vargas and Jeter Downs represent potential alternatives to Garcia at the keystone. |
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Joey Meneses Joey Meneses Played through knee injury
Mon, Dec 4, 2023, 4:34 PM
Nationals manager Dave Martinez revealed Monday that Meneses played through a knee injury this season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: It's not clear when Meneses' knee began bothering him, but Martinez indicated it's a big reason why the 31-year-old was basically a full-time designated hitter. With Dominic Smith no longer around, Martinez would like to use Meneses some at first base in 2024 and possibly even some in the outfield. As for how Meneses is progressing in his recovery from the knee problem, Martinez said the right-handed hitter is "doing a lot of agility stuff" this offseason and "looks good so far." |
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Victor Robles Victor Robles Not yet fully healthy
Mon, Dec 4, 2023, 3:08 PM
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Robles (back) hasn't yet been cleared to participate in games during the Dominican Winter League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Robles didn't play after June 20 this past season while dealing with lumbar spine spasms, an injury that proved to be more significant than the Nationals initially anticipated. The outfielder was expected to make up for the three-plus months of lost action by playing regularly in his native Dominican Republic this offseason, but he apparently has yet to fully move past the back issue. Though he's still just 26 years old, Robles' prospect star has long since faded, and he no longer appears to be viewed as a key part of the Nationals' long-term plans after he had his $3.3 million club option for 2024 declined earlier this winter. Robles is still on the books for the upcoming season after renegotiating a new one-year deal with Washington at a lower salary, but he'll probably need to overcome the back injury and turn in solid production in what's left of winter ball to enter spring training as the clear frontrunner for the starting job in center field. |
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Joe La Sorsa Joe La Sorsa Sent outright to Triple-A
Fri, Dec 1, 2023, 4:13 PM
The Nationals outrighted La Sorsa to Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: La Sorsa posted a 4.41 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over 32.2 innings of relief this past year between the Rays and Nats. He is now off the 40-man roster in Washington. |
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Stone Garrett Stone Garrett Resumes running
Mon, Nov 20, 2023, 2:29 PM
Garrett (fibula) said that he's no longer wearing a boot on his left foot and was able to resume running on a treadmill Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Garret underwent surgery in late August to address a fractured fibula and also had a procedure on his ankle, resulting in him behind slightly behind schedule as he begins his offseason training program. The 28-year-old said he's still aiming to be ready to go for spring training, and the fact that he's already running three months before position players report to camp is a positive sign. Garrett served primarily as a short-side platoon option at left field and designated hitter in 2023, batting .269 with nine home runs, three stolen bases, 40 RBI and 40 runs over 89 games. |
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Victor Robles Victor Robles Staying in Washington
Tue, Nov 14, 2023, 2:25 PM
Robles agreed to a one-year contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: The Nationals declined a $3.3 million club option to keep Robles for 2024, but the two sides negotiated a smaller contract to keep him on the active roster. Given Washington's lack of quality internal options, Robles may play a decent amount early on in his age-26/27 season despite being worth 0.6 fWAR in 275 games over the past three seasons. Robles should hit at the bottom of the order when he plays. He has stolen at least eight bases in each of the last three campaigns and stole eight in 36 games last year while battling back spasms. |
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Tanner Rainey Tanner Rainey Avoids arbitration
Tue, Nov 14, 2023, 2:20 PM
Rainey agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: The 30-year-old righty missed almost all of 2023 on the road back from Tommy John surgery, but he tossed a scoreless inning against Atlanta on Sept. 30 and averaged 96.3 mph with his fastball. He should work in a setup role for Washington in 2024. |
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Cory Abbott Cory Abbott Loses 40-man roster spot
Tue, Nov 14, 2023, 12:46 PM
The Nationals designated Abbott for assignment Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: The Nats needed to free up some space on the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 protection deadline and Abbott is one of the casualties. Abbott posted a 6.64 ERA across 22 relief appearances with the big club in 2023 and seems likely to pass through waivers unclaimed. |
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Dominic Smith Dominic Smith Designated for assignment
Tue, Nov 14, 2023, 12:41 PM
The Nationals designated Smith for assignment Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Smith is due a bit of a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility and the Nationals evidently weren't willing to give him a salary bump. The 28-year-old made $2 million in 2023 while slashing just .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs over 153 games. Smith is still just 28, but with a .666 OPS since the start of the 2021 season, it might be difficult for him to find regular at-bats in 2024. |
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Matt Cronin Matt Cronin Sent outright to Triple-A
Fri, Nov 10, 2023, 2:44 PM
Cronin (back) was sent outright Friday to Triple-A Rochester, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Cronin passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment by the Nationals on Monday. The 26-year-old left-hander battled back problems in 2023 and struggled to a 5.02 ERA and 13:14 K:BB in 14.1 innings with Triple-A Rochester. He underwent surgery in August to repair a herniated disc. |
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