Nats still looking to check things off holiday wish list

It’s Christmas Eve in Washington and we are fewer than 100 days from Opening Day 2024. This offseason is progressing rapidly.

Before we check to see what Santa Claus left under our trees tomorrow morning and ring in the new year next week, let’s look at what remains on the Nationals’ offseason wish list, in hopes that some could be crossed off soon.

As expected, the Nationals have been relatively quiet this offseason, limiting spending and not dealing away prospects in hopes the budding stars can make an impact at the major league level next year and put the team in position to be spenders next offseason.

But they have made a couple of moves to fill some roster holes.

Before officially departing the Winter Meetings in Nashville, the Nats agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal, plus incentives, with former Reds utility man Nick Senzel to be their everyday third baseman.

When announcing the deal the following week, they also added the signing of veteran right-handed reliever Dylan Floro to one-year deal worth $2.25 million plus incentives.

Those moves crossed two things off this offseason’s wish list: a third baseman and a reliever to strengthen the back end of the bullpen.

So what’s left as we head into Christmas?

Despite having one more year of control, the Nats decided to designate first baseman Dominic Smith for assignment in November, making room on the 40-man roster for prospects who needed protection from the Rule 5 draft. While Smith did struggle at the plate all year long, club officials praised his defense at first base and how it helped the young infielders and pitching staff. But even though Smith projected to earn just $4 million in arbitration, the Nats cut ties with the 29-year-old and created a hole at first base.

Joey Meneses could be tapped to plug that hole - as manager Davey Martinez hinted during the Winter Meetings – but the Nationals would like to add another power bat to split time in the first baseman/designated hitter role. To help, they added 27-year-old Lewin Díaz on a minor league deal on Friday to start bringing in more first base competition.

Rhys Hoskins, who will be 31 on Opening Day after missing this season with a torn ACL, heads the first base free agent class. He would likely be the most costly of the bunch, leaving 32-year-old Garrett Cooper, soon-to-be 34-year-old C.J. Cron and 31-year-old Trey Mancini among the cheaper options.

The Nationals would also like to add a corner outfielder, preferably a left-handed-hitting one, as a placeholder until the likes of Dylan Crews, James Wood and Robert Hassell III are major league-ready.

They already have Lane Thomas in right and a combination of Victor Robles, Jacob Young and Alex Call in center, so a left fielder would be ideal as they wait for Stone Garrett to recover from his fractured left fibula.

Joc Pederson (left-handed), Tommy Pham and David Peralta (left-handed) are among the top left field free agents, though the latter two will be 36-year-olds on Opening Day. Some younger, cheaper options include Joey Gallo, Travis Jankowski, Jurickson Profar and Eddie Rosario, all of whom are left-handed hitters except Profar, who is a switch-hitter.

And the last big thing remaining on the Nationals’ wish list is another starting pitcher. While adding right-hander Spenser Watkins on a minor league deal improves depth, especially at the Triple-A level, the Nats would like to bring a major league veteran to camp to compete with Trevor Williams (and possibly Jackson Rutledge) for the fifth starter spot while they wait for Cade Cavalli to return from Tommy John surgery in June.

The list of free agent starting pitchers is long and they’re often expensive. For reference, former Nats first-round pick Erick Fedde signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox after pitching in the Korea Baseball Organization last year (as the league MVP, by the way) and with a career 0.3 WAR over six major league seasons.

Yes, the Nationals would like to add more starting pitching. As general manager Mike Rizzo always says, you can never have enough. That is especially true heading into 2024 as the Nats can’t count on being as fortunate as they were this year when they only used a total of eight starters all season. But they will likely wait until later in the offseason, bringing on pitchers who are just looking for a shot in spring training to create more competition in camp.

It is usually quiet on the Hot Stove front this time of year, although Shohei Ohtani’s mega contract with the Dodgers was the first major domino to fall a couple of weeks ago and we have seen an influx of acquisitions across the league since.

Of course, trades are always an avenue worth exploring. Remember the Nationals traded two minor league pitchers for Josh Bell on Christmas Eve 2020. But they likely don’t have the capital to make any major moves that way.

Though we did expect the Nats to be relatively quiet this offseason, there is still work to be done. And though this holiday season may pass with positions still on the wish list, that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually be checked off in the coming months before pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach.

Until then, have a wonderful holiday, a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!