Rizzo addresses payroll, closer role, Lowe arbitration and Sykora surgery

JUPITER, Fla. – Despite what looked like a modest offseason, in terms of spending on free agents, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo believes the moves he did make will help boost a talented young roster into a more successful record this year.

“The (salaries) of the players on the field is about the same, if not a little less, than it was last year,” Rizzo said. “But I think that we have a better team than we had last year.”

Speaking at Major League Baseball’s Spring Training Media Day for the five clubs that train on Florida’s East Coast, Rizzo acknowledged the Nationals did not increase payroll from 2024 but stressed the importance of the additions he did make to address some obvious roster needs.

The Nats acquired seven major league players this offseason, six via free agency (Michael Soroka, Trevor Williams, Josh Bell, Jorge López, Amed Rosario, Shinnosuke Ogasawara) and one via trade (Nathaniel Lowe). Those seven players are set to make slightly less than $40 million this season, with Lowe, Williams and Ogasawara all under club control for another season and likely to make a combined $24 million or so in 2026.

Those additions, plus the salary increases of returning players, put the Nationals’ projected Opening Day payroll at $94 million, according to Spotrac. (More than $25 million of that is going to Stephen Strasburg, who has retired, and Joey Gallo, who received a $2.5 million buyout.) Last year’s total payroll, per Spotrac, was nearly $104 million.

“I think we filled in a bunch of spots that we needed to fill without expanding the budget too much and blocking prospects too much,” Rizzo said. “And I think we’ve improved the club. I think we’ll go from a competitive team last year to a real tough team to play this year.”

The offseason began with significant chatter the Nats were prepared to start pursuing a higher caliber of free agent than in recent years as the organization’s rebuild was still in its early stages. They didn’t ultimately dive into that market as much as some hoped, but Rizzo insists he wasn’t hindered in his attempt to improve the roster.

“We had a plan of what we were trying to do, and our blueprint was … we didn’t want to block any prospects that we feel are going to be our future players,” he said. “And we didn’t want to give up any draft picks or any international money, which is important to us at this stage.”

One area that still appears in need of improvement is a relief corps lacking in a proven closer, and manager Davey Martinez admitted Tuesday the team is “definitely looking for somebody that can pitch in the back end of the bullpen.”

Rizzo wouldn’t go that far, acknowledging only that he’s always looking for more pitching. Asked about the closer’s role, he said from the current options he would be comfortable with López, Jose A. Ferrer or Derek Law.

The Nationals find themselves in this position after non-tendering Kyle Finnegan, who made the All-Star team last summer but struggled in the second half and finished with a 3.68 ERA, 1.335 WHIP and 38 saves in 43 opportunities. Finnegan, who was due to make about $8 million to $9 million through arbitration, has yet to sign with anybody.

Asked if the team is still in contact with the 33-year-old, Rizzo said: “We’ve been talking to Finnegan throughout the offseason.”

What would it take to bring him back at this point? “It takes two to tango.”

The Nationals added two veteran everyday players in Lowe (first base) and Bell (designated hitter) but did not address third base. Rizzo mentioned José Tena as a strong candidate to start the season at the hot corner, with three prospects (Brady House, Cayden Wallace, Yohandy Morales) knocking on the door.

“We like where we’re at in that position,” he said. “We’ve got three players that we think have a chance to be our everyday third baseman in the future. So we certainly feel good in the long term. In the short term, we couldn’t land the player that was a huge upgrade to the ones that we think we have in camp right now.”

* Lowe is set to make his camp debut in the coming days, but there’s a more pressing matter to deal with first. Rizzo said the club’s arbitration hearing with the first baseman is scheduled for Friday.

Lowe, who was acquired from the Rangers in December for reliever Robert Garcia, couldn’t agree to terms with the Nationals on his 2025 salary before the January deadline to do so. He filed for arbitration, seeking $11.3 million, with the team countering at $10.5 million. A three-judge panel will decide which side wins, unless Lowe and the Nats can settle on a last-minute deal before the hearing begins.

* Rizzo revealed pitching prospect Travis Sykora’s season debut will be delayed due to offseason hip surgery.

Sykora, the 2023 third-round pick who delivered a 2.33 ERA, 0.906 WHIP and 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 20 starts for Single-A Fredericksburg, had “minor labrum surgery” in his hip, according to Rizzo. The right-hander is expected to be ready to pitch in minor league games sometime in May.