Deadline day could see prospects added to 40-man roster

It’s a deadline day across Major League Baseball, with a host of prospects about to be added to their organization’s 40-man roster.

Officially, this is the deadline for teams to protect players from being lost in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. That draft, if you’ve forgotten, gives clubs the opportunity to snatch prospects away from other clubs for the low, low price of $100,000, provided they’re willing and able to keep those prospects on their 26-man major league roster (or injured list) the entire season.

The Nationals, who completely sat out the Rule 5 Draft from 2011-21, jumped back into the fray the last two winters, taking right-hander Thaddeus Ward in December 2022 and infielder Nasim Nuñez in December 2023. Both players made it through a full season in the majors, but Ward is now a member of the Orioles after getting placed on waivers following a rough season at Triple-A Rochester. Nuñez, meanwhile, barely played in Washington this year but did impress with his eye-popping glovework and blazing speed on the bases when he did get a chance to take the field.

Which players are eligible for this year’s Rule 5 Draft? In the most simplistic terms, it’s anyone who was drafted out of high school or signed internationally in 2020 or earlier, plus anyone drafted out of college in 2021 or earlier, who isn’t on his club’s 40-man roster.

Last year, the Nationals opted to protect four prospects from being lost, all pitchers: DJ Herz, Mitchell Parker, Zach Brzykcy and Cole Henry. The first three all reached the big leagues, with Herz and Parker becoming mainstays in the rotation and Brzykcy pitching out of the bullpen in September. Henry, whose career has been beset by injuries, totaled only 16 1/3 innings for Double-A Harrisburg and Single-A Wilmington.

The list of potential protectees this year doesn’t appear to be as deep, but there’s one obvious name who seems certain to be added to the 40-man roster today: Robert Hassell III. The 23-year-old outfielder, one of the five prospects acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto blockbuster, has been overtaken within the organization by fellow young outfielders James Wood, Dylan Crews and Jacob Young. But he finally reached Triple-A this season, and he hit well over the last month in the Arizona Fall League, trying to remind everyone not to forget about his potential.

Hassell may or may not make it to South Capitol Street in 2025, but the Nats are probably concerned enough he could make it with some other major league club to grant him one of those precious 40-man roster spots.

There aren’t really any other eligible position players of significant note, but for the record the list includes catcher Brady Lindsly, first basemen Roismar Quintana and Branden Boissiere, plus infielders Kevin Made and Jackson Cluff.

There are some more notable pitchers who could be added today, including left-hander Andrew Alvarez (the organization’s 2023 Pitcher of the Year) and right-handers Andry Lara (who is only 21 but had a 3.34 ERA, a 1.158 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 134 2/3 innings in Harrisburg and Wilmington) and Chase Solesky (who had 20 strikeouts and only one walk in the Arizona Fall League).

A year ago, the Nationals had to clear three spots on their 40-man roster to make room for prospects, and that cost Dominic Smith, Cory Abbott and Andres Machado their jobs. This time around, there are only 36 players on the current 40-man roster, so the club can add four prospects without having to drop anyone.

But with the non-tender deadline coming up Friday, and with the organization ultimately wanting available roster spots for free agents or trade acquisitions, the Nats could still look to drop a few players today who don’t figure into their 2025 plans.