Progress report: Washington Nationals
Progress report: Washington Nationals
Sports activities E-newsletter
Jeff SandersFeb. 28, 2024
WASHINGTON NATIONALS 2023 end: 71-91 (fifth in NL East) Supervisor: Dave Martinez (seventh season, 392-478) Main the entrance workplace: Mike Rizzo, normal supervisor and president of baseball operations (sixteenth season)DOLLARS AND SENSE Largest luxurious tax hit: RHP Stephen Strasburg ($35 million) High returning place participant: OF Lane Thomas (2.7 WAR in 2023, per fangraphs.com) High returning beginning pitcher: RHP Josiah Grey (1.6 WAR) High returning reliever: RHP Hunter Harvey (1.3 WAR)ROSTER WATCH Key additions: 1B Joey Gallo (free agent), 3B Nick Senzel (free agent), RHP Dylan Floro (free agent), OF Jesse Winker (minors), RHP Zach Davies (minors), RHP Luis Perdomo (minors), RHP Robert Gsellman (minors), RHP Derek Regulation (minors), RHP Matt Barnes (minors). Key losses: RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (free agent), RHP 1B Dominic Smith (free agent), RHP Cory Abbott (free agent). Baseball America top-100 prospect(s): OF Dylan Crews (6), OF James Wooden (11), 3B Brady Home (55).KEEP AN EYE ON Two names from the Juan Soto commerce spent all of 2023 within the majors, with shortstop CJ Abrams pairing 18 homers and 47 steals with a .712 OPS and left-hander MacKenzie Gore profitable seven of his 27 begins (4.42 ERA). The subsequent wave of prospects outfielders Dylan Crews, James Wooden and Robert Hassell III and infielder Brady Home shall be knocking on the door quickly because the Nationals look to return to competition within the subsequent couple of seasons. Within the meantime, the Nationals have develop into a touchdown spot for veterans trying to recapture former glory. Joey Gallo, as an illustration, has 40 homers and a .684 OPS in two years since his final All-Star season (38 HRs, .808 OPS) and Jesse Winker has 15 homers and a .656 OPS in two years since his final All-Star season (24 HRs, .949 OPS). Proper-hander Josiah Grey, the primary return of the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner commerce, was an All-Star final yr whereas posting a career-best 3.91 ERA. His stroll charge, nevertheless, ticked as much as 4.5 per 9 innings and his strikeout charge (8.1 per 9) was the worst of his profession, so there stays room to develop because the 26-year-old establishes himself because the ace of a workers that is misplaced Stephen Strasburg to retirement on account of accidents.
PECOTA projection: 58.1 wins
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