PLAYER REVIEW: ILDEMARO VARGAS
Age on Opening Day 2025: 33
How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, May 2022
MLB service time: 5 years, 7 days
2024 salary: $1.1 million
Contract status: Arbitration-eligible, free agent in 2026
2024 stats: 95 G, 303 PA, 272 AB, 21 R, 67 H, 16 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 9 SB, 4 CS, 19 BB, 31 SO, .246 AVG, .295 OBP, .316 SLG, .611 OPS, 75 OPS+, -3 DRS, 1 OAA, -0.5 bWAR, 0.0 fWAR
Quotable: “No matter what your day’s like, you look at him and he makes you laugh, he makes you smile. He’s been incredible. He’s a great teammate, loves to play the game. … He gives me everything he has every time he’s out there. And even when he doesn’t play, he’s the one guy in the dygout that you can hear constantly chirping … and rooting for his teammates. I really feel blessed that he’s with us, that he’s on this team, and I hope we get a chance to bring him back.” – Davey Martinez
2024 analysis: How valuable did the Nationals consider Ildemaro Vargas? Despite the fact he was under club control and could’ve gone through the arbitration process just like others last winter, they decided to lock him up for 2024 before the 2023 season even ended, agreeing on a one-year, $1.1 million deal in late September. The message was clear: He was viewed as an integral part of the roster, even if he wasn’t an everyday player.
The plan entering the season was for Vargas to back up all the infield positions, maybe even play a little outfield just in case. And he did well in that role, especially in the early going. His March/April slash line: .320/.404/.420. But the struggles of others – most notably Nick Senzel and Trey Lipscomb at third base – pushed Vargas into more regular playing time than the Nats probably envisioned on Opening Day. And his production may have suffered in part for it.
Vargas’ offensive numbers during the 41 games he played third base, for whatever reason, weren’t good: .198/.252/.243. Those numbers were much better during the 61 games he played second base, shortstop and left field: .276/.327/.342. And though it was a limited sample (11 plate appearances), he excelled as a pinch-hitter, batting .333 with a double, his only home run of the season and seven RBIs.
Oh, he also pitched twice, making the fourth and fifth pitching appearances of his career. With an assortment of eephus pitches that didn’t even crack 40 mph, he retired five of the nine batters he faced. Alas, he’s still seeking his first major league strikeout.
2025 outlook: There was no late-September contract signing for Vargas this time, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the organization has soured on him. He’s still eligible for arbitration one more time, and he should continue to make a modest salary (perhaps $1.5 million), which is hardly exorbitant for a utilityman.
The real question is how the Nationals believe Vargas fits in on a team that expects to be better next year. Clearly, they value his clubhouse leadership and the example he sets for younger players on the field. But at some point, that also has to come with production, right?
Defensively, Vargas has value. He plays an excellent third base, a solid second base and holds his own at shortstop. He probably shouldn’t be playing the outfield unless it’s an emergency. At the plate, he seems to do best when getting favorable matchups, especially against left-handers. But he seems to perform best when he’s not playing too much. Give him one start a week against a lefty, then bring him off the bench either for defense or to pinch-hit the rest of the time, and you’ll probably get the most out of him.