We are now inside of two weeks until pitchers and catchers report, so the offseason is nearly finished.
And what an offseason it’s been for the Nationals, who have … acquired a total of four major league players, not even totaling $10 million spent on those players.
OK, so it’s been an awfully quiet winter on South Capitol Street. There’s still time for Mike Rizzo and Co. to make more moves, though. And given the swath of still-unsigned free agents out there, we may see teams continue to add significant players after spring training has already commenced.
But since we’re getting close to the finish line now, it’s probably a good time to take an updated look at the state of the Nationals’ organization depth chart. We did this way back on Nov. 8, at the outset of the offseason. How does it look today compared to then?
(Note: Players listed below are on the 40-man roster, except for those with an asterisk next to their names.)
CATCHER
Keibert Ruiz
Riley Adams
Drew Millas
Israel Pineda*
Brady Lindsly*
Comment: Not a whole lot of change here, aside from Pineda being dropped from the 40-man roster last week but remaining in the organization after he cleared waivers. Ruiz is the clear No. 1 catcher, but Adams showed enough last season to warrant additional playing time (whether behind the plate or as designated hitter). Millas also showed enough to warrant his September promotion to the majors, and a chance to make his case to stick around in the future.
FIRST BASE
Joey Meneses
Joey Gallo
Lewin Diaz*
Juan Yepez*
Comment: Dominic Smith is gone (though he still hasn’t signed anywhere yet), so it looks like it’ll be the Joeys Show at first base this season. Meneses figures to get the bulk of the starts, hoping regular playing time in the field leads to more offensive production. Gallo is going to start in left field most of the time but is very comfortable moving to first base when needed. The Nats also signed a pair of veterans to minor league contracts in Diaz and Yepez, offering some depth at the position in case any is needed.
SECOND BASE
Luis García Jr.
Jake Alu
Ildemaro Vargas
Nasim Nuñez
Darren Baker*
Trey Lipscomb*
Comment: The Nationals have not yet brought in anybody experienced to push García for playing time, but it’s still possible there’s a move to come in that regard. Alu and Vargas are bench players who can take over the position in a pinch but probably not long-term. Nuñez, selected in the Rule 5 Draft, is a supremely gifted defensive middle infielder who probably isn’t ready to hit major league pitching. Baker and Lipscomb each received invitations to big league camp and will get an opportunity to show how close to big league ready each is.
SHORTSTOP
CJ Abrams
Ildemaro Vargas
Nasim Nuñez
Comment: Abrams won’t face any competition for the starting job this spring, nor should he. He’s one of the brightest young faces of the organization now. If he needs a day off, Vargas and Nuñez should have no trouble providing quality defense in his stead. But don’t expect too much offense out of either of them.
THIRD BASE
Nick Senzel
Ildemaro Vargas
Carter Kieboom
Jake Alu
Brady House*
Trey Lipscomb*
Comment: The Nationals signed Senzel for $2 million in December with the intention of making him the starting third baseman. It’ll be up to the former No. 2 overall pick to prove he deserves to retain that job. Vargas and Alu remain decent bench options. House and Lipscomb, who both received spring training invitations, are the future. Where does that leave Kieboom? It’s difficult to see where there will be any playing time for the 2016 first-round pick, who remains on the 40-man roster but could be facing a difficult conversation sometime in the near future.
LEFT FIELD
Joey Gallo
Stone Garrett
Alex Call
Jake Alu
Ildemaro Vargas
James Wood*
Robert Hassell III*
Travis Blankenhorn*
Comment: Gallo’s signing last week solidified the biggest remaining hole on the Nationals roster. It also frees up Garrett to ease his way back from a broken leg, perhaps initially as DH. Call will be fighting for a spot on the Opening Day bench but will face stiff competition there. Alu and Vargas are natural infielders but showed last year they can play left field if needed. Wood and Hassell will get a good look this spring as non-roster invitees, making a case for making their major league debuts sometime later this season. Blankenhorn returns on a minor league deal but faces long odds.
CENTER FIELD
Victor Robles
Jacob Young
Alex Call
Lane Thomas
Dylan Crews*
James Wood*
Robert Hassell III*
Comment: The Nationals made no changes here, giving Robles one final opportunity to be the player he’s always supposed to be. If that doesn’t work, Young could get the first chance to hold down center field until one of the kids is ready. The timing of the eventual promotions of Crews, Wood and Hassell will determine who plays what position, but the sense is that Crews ultimately is the center fielder with Wood in left field.
RIGHT FIELD
Lane Thomas
Stone Garrett
James Wood*
Robert Hassell III*
Travis Blankenhorn*
Comment: Thomas is the unquestioned starter in right field, no matter what anyone else does. But it’ll be interesting to see how the kids look at that spot if given the opportunity this spring.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Stone Garrett
Joey Meneses
Joey Gallo
Keibert Ruiz
Riley Adams
Alex Call
Jake Alu
Ildemaro Vargas
Comment: This is the one spot that feels like it could still be upgraded before Opening Day. Meneses, Gallo and Ruiz are going to be in the field most days. That leaves Garrett (if healthy and productive) and bench players to fill the DH role. That doesn’t feel like enough. Don’t be surprised if the Nats add a more proven hitter at some point, even if they don’t spend a ton for him.
STARTING PITCHERS
Josiah Gray
MacKenzie Gore
Patrick Corbin
Jake Irvin
Trevor Williams
Cade Cavalli (injured)
Jackson Rutledge
Joan Adon
Thaddeus Ward
DJ Herz
Mitchell Parker
Cole Henry
Stephen Strasburg (injured)
Comment: Maybe Rizzo still intends to add another starter to the mix, but for now the five guys who filled the rotation most of 2023 remain in position to fill the rotation to begin 2024. By June, Cavalli should be ready to return from Tommy John surgery and bump somebody else from a starter’s role. Rutledge and Adon are the likeliest first options to take a spot if anything goes wrong early in the season. Herz, Parker and Henry all were added to the 40-man roster this winter and could be summoned sometime later in the year. And then there’s Strasburg, still officially on the roster.
RELIEF PITCHERS
Kyle Finnegan
Hunter Harvey
Dylan Floro
Tanner Rainey
Jordan Weems
Robert Garcia
Jose A. Ferrer
Mason Thompson
Amos Willingham
Zach Brzykcy (injured)
Richard Bleier*
Joe La Sorsa*
Robert Gsellman*
Comment: This legitimately looks like a deep group on paper, with four established late-inning arms, some promising middle-relief options and more intriguing lefties than they’ve had in a while. It’s the bullpen, so you never really know what you’re going to get year-to-year. But there seem to be enough quality options to overcome the potential regression or injury of one or two relievers from the group.