2020 Washington Nationals: Re-sign, Reload, Repeat??...

JimRiceHOFer

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Jul 6, 2007
797
Fairfax, VA
Updated roster/moves for the 2020 Nationals:

Starting Lineup:
C - Kurt Suzuki
1B - Eric Thames
2B - Howie Kendrick
SS - Trea Turner
3B - Asbrubal Cabrera
LF - Juan Soto
CF - Victor Robles
RF - Adam Eaton

Bench: Michael Taylor, Yan Gomes, Starlin Castro, Wilmer Difo, Ryan Zimmerman

Starters:
SP - Max Scherzer
SP - Stephen Strasburg
SP - Patrick Corbin
SP - Anibel Sanchez
SP - Joe Ross

Closer - Sean Doolittle

Bullpen - Daniel Hudson, Will Harris, Tanner Rainey, Wander Suero, Hunter Strickland, Roenis Elias, Ryne Harper

Coaching Staff:
Dave Martinez - Manager
Paul Menhart - Pitching Coach
Tim Bogar - 1st Base Coach
Bob Henley - 3rd Base Coach
Chip Hale - Bench Coach
Kevin Long - Hitting Coach
Henry Blanco - Bullpen Coach

Minors Shuttle/Backups/DL:
P - Kyle McGowin, Ben Braymer, James Bourque, Kyle Finnegan, Austin Voth, Mario Sanchez, Aaron Barrett, Erick Fedde, Austen Williams, Fernando Abad, Kevin Quackenbush, Javy Guerra
OF - Mac Williamson, Carlos Tocci, Andrew Stevenson
IF - Carter Kieboom, Jake Noll, Adrian Sanchez, Emilio Bonifacio
C - Wellington Castillo, Raudy Read, Tres Barrera

Free Agents:
Stephen Strasburg - Resigned with Nationals
Howie Kendrick - Resigned with Nationals
Yan Gomes - Resigned with Nationals
Asdrubal Cabrera - Resigned with Nationals
Daniel Hudson - Resigned with Nationals
Ryan Zimmerman - Resigned with Nationals
Javy Guerra - Resigned with Nationals
Brian Dozier - free agent
Fernando Rodney - free agent
Jeremy Hellickson - free agent
Tony Sipp - free agent
Spencer Kieboom - free agent

Spring Training Non-Roster Invitees:
Wellington Castillo

Departures:
Anthony Rendon - signed with Angels
Matt Adams - signed with Mets
Greg Holland - signed with Royals
Gerardo Parra - signed in Japan
Koda Glover - retired

Arrivals:
Mario Sanchez - signed to a Minor League contract
Fernando Abad - signed to a Minor League contract
Starlin Castro - signed to a MLB contract
Wellington Castillo - signed to a MInor League Contract
Eric Thames - signed to a MLB Contract
Mac Williamson - signed to a Minor League contract
Carlos Tocci - signed to a Minor League contract
Emilio Bonifacio - signed to a Minor League contract
Kevin Quackenbush - signed to a Minor League contract
Ryne Harper - trade with Minnesota Twins
 
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mikeot

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Dec 22, 2006
8,147
Updated roster/moves for the 2020 Nationals:

Starting Lineup:
C - Kurt Suzuki
1B - Jake Noll
2B - Carter Kieboom
SS - Trea Turner
3B - Wilmer Difo
LF - Juan Soto
CF - Victor Robles
RF - Adam Eaton

Bench: Michael Taylor, Yan Gomes, Adrian Sanchez, Andrew Stevenson

Starters:
SP - Max Scherzer
SP - Patrick Corbin
SP - Anibel Sanchez
SP - Joe Ross
SP - Austin Voth/Erick Fedde

Closer - Sean Doolittle

Bullpen - Tanner Rainey, Wander Suero, Javy Guerra, Austen Williams, Hunter Strickland, Aaron Barrett

Coaching Staff:
Dave Martinez - Manager
Paul Menhart - Pitching Coach
Tim Bogar - 1st Base Coach
Bob Henley - 3rd Base Coach
Chip Hale - Bench Coach
Kevin Long - Hitting Coach
Henry Blanco - Bullpen Coach

Minors Shuttle/Backups/DL:
P - Kyle McGowin, Roenis Elias, Ben Braymer, James Bourque
OF -
IF -
C - Raudy Read, Tres Barrera, Spencer Kieboom

Free Agents:
Anthony Rendon - free agent
Stephen Strasburg - free agent
Howie Kendrick - free agent
Yan Gomes - Resigned with Nationals
Matt Adams - free agent
Brian Dozier - free agent
Asdrubal Cabrera - free agent
Fernando Rodney - free agent
Daniel Hudson - free agent
Jeremy Hellickson - free agent
Johnny Venters - free agent
Greg Holland - free agent
Tony Sipp - free agent

Spring Training Non-Roster Invitees:

Departures:

Gerardo Parra - signed in Japan
Koda Glover - retired

Arrivals:
Mario Sanchez (RHP) signed to a MiLB contract
Adam Zimmerman?
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

critical thinker
SoSH Member
Dec 19, 2009
9,386
I didn't realize Parra signed in Japan... what a weird move for a guy who was kind of the center of their whole Baby Shark rally cry thing.
 

Plympton91

bubble burster
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Oct 19, 2008
12,408
On your list I don’t think Elias has any options left, and he’d be ahead of Williams and Barrett on the bullpen depth chart.

Also, Kendrick is reportedly back as of this morning.
 

jose melendez

Earl of Acie
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The champs sign Starlin Castro for two years 12 million per. Not exactly a Rendon replacement, and Castro’s had a very up and down career, but a good low risk signing, I think.
 

mikeot

Member
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Dec 22, 2006
8,147
Nats sign Reliever Will Harris, who as an Astro gave up go-ahead solo homer to Howie Kendrick in WS Game Seven.
 

Plympton91

bubble burster
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2008
12,408
Asdrubal Cabrera is now back as well. They don’t have a lot of upper minors depth, so I guess all these mid-tier FA make sense.

I do hope that Castro and Cabrera doesn’t mean they’re out on Donaldson now.

Or maybe it means Kieboom is headed out in a trade.

There’s a lot of regression candidates in that lineup already, with Suzuki, Kendrick, Eaton, and no Rendon. And only Robles is a breakout candidate. They could sure use another impact bat.
 

JimRiceHOFer

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797
Fairfax, VA
I think Carter Kieboom will go back to the Minors now.

If the Nats sign Donaldson, they are probably not going to trade anyone. If they miss on Donaldson, you might see a trade for a 3B.
They may also resign Daniel Hudson, or add another quality arm to the bullpen.
 

Plympton91

bubble burster
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2008
12,408
I think Carter Kieboom will go back to the Minors now.

If the Nats sign Donaldson, they are probably not going to trade anyone. If they miss on Donaldson, you might see a trade for a 3B.
They may also resign Daniel Hudson, or add another quality arm to the bullpen.
I agree they should still be looking to add some depth to the bullpen. Bringing back Hudson is risky, given his injury history and how hard they rode him in September and October. I’d like to see them go after Shawn Kelley, Ryan Buchter, and/or David Phelps.
 

JimRiceHOFer

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JimRiceHOFer

Member
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797
Fairfax, VA
Nats to sign Wellington Castillo

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/nationals-nearing-deal-with-welington-castillo.html
Castillo will join a catching mix that already includes two MLB fixtures in Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes, both of whom are playing on guaranteed contracts. The former has dealt with some health issues, but all indications are that the pairing will be available at the outset of the season.

Accordingly, Castillo will have a hard time cracking the Nats’ 26-man roster unless an injury arises or the club decides to carry three backstops. It’s certainly possible he could look to catch on elsewhere if he turns in a solid spring but can’t get a look in D.C. Alternatively, Castillo could end up as depth at Triple-A.
 

JimRiceHOFer

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Nats Add Emilio Bonifacio

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/emilio-bonifacio-signs-minors-deal-with-nationals
A former member of the Nationals is returning to the team. Emilio Bonifácio, who played for the club in 2008, signed a Minor League deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The 11-year veteran will earn $1 million if he makes the team. The club has not confirmed the deal.

The addition of Bonifácio gives the Nats defensive versatility. Over his Major League career, he has played second base, third base and shortstop, as well as all three outfield positions.
 

Petey Bienel

New Member
Feb 8, 2020
47
Arlington, VA
Looking at the projected 26 man line up - Davey and Rizzo have both talked about 13 pitchers and 13 position players, with 8 in the bullpen. Among Ross, Voth, and Fedde, Fedde is the only one with options so he is the likely candidate to shuttle. Voth did not appear in the majors until 2018, but was added to the 40 man roster in November 2016 to not expose him to the rule 5 draft, so he has burned options in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He and Ross are probably competing for that 5th starter and 8th bullpen slot. While Fedde has been optioned 3 times too, apparently there's a rule that if you are under a certain age or so many seasons from your draft class, you can get an extra option, which is his situation. As for position players, I like Stevenson, but I suspect he's 5th OF and held in the minors. Finally, in terms of depth, Spencer Kieboom was waived in October and elected free agency rather than accept assignment.
 

Petey Bienel

New Member
Feb 8, 2020
47
Arlington, VA
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/14/nationals-release-veteran-reliever-hunter-strickland/
This move saves the Nats about $1.25MM in competitive balance tax threshold space. It also opens up a roster spot to allow the team to shuttle guys with options on and off the roster. Without this move, the bottom of the bullpen would have been all guys without options, I think (I think Elias doesn't have an option, and I figure Austin Voth). They also have very few positions players on the bench with options (Difo and Sanchez are out of options, I think Taylor by now must be, and Kendrick and Zimmerman are out).
 

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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In partnership with 106.7 The Fan — the official radio partner and flagship home of your Washington Nationals — we have ensured that, while the 2020 season is delayed, we're doing what we can to bring baseball to those that need it most.

106.7 The Fan will be re-airing the radio broadcast of select Postseason games played by your World Series Champion Washington Nationals.

The broadcasts will begin at 6:30 PM ET on weekdays, starting with the National League Wild Card Game tonight, March 18, 2020.
 

Petey Bienel

New Member
Feb 8, 2020
47
Arlington, VA
Past few days have had an extreme amount of roster activity. Their 2 bullpen lefties, Sean Doolittle and Sam Freeman, were both sent to the DL. Doolittle's velocity has been way off this year, around 90 when even last year he was around 93-94. The diagnosis is "right knee fatigue." Not good for a closer in his walk year. Freeman had looked good but is now out for the year with a flexor mass strain. Friday afternoon, completing the game v the Orioles that had the most incredible Natinals moment in years, a tarp fail, Starlin Castro broke his right wrist in the field. And at night, some guy named Strasburg had to be pulled after 3 batters and placed on the DL for what is diagnosed as carpal tunnel neuritis. Davey Martinez expects he will be out a while.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/08/15/stephen-strasburg-injured-list/
Lots of MLB debuts resulting from this. Luis Garcia is the latest 20 year old from the DR and Johnny DiPuglia's development tree to debut in place of Castro. Looks like he's their regular 2d baseman until Castro is back. Was their #2 prospect after Carter Kieboom. Garcia bit stocky, but hit surprisingly well in the spring. Bats lefty. Defense is his strength and supposed to be good enough to play either middle infield spot. Single and a double, 2 runs scored.

A career minor leaguer, 28 year old Dakota Bacus, debuted in mop up for 2 innings at the end of the first game. He's best known as "The Whitewall Ninja" for camouflaging himself and blending into walls when playing in Beliot. https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-52469546 He was acquired back in 2013 for Kurt Suzuki.

In terms of prospect pedigree, the Nats also brought up 2017 1st round pick Seth Romero Thursday when Doolittle was DL'd. He's a head case who has been sent home during spring training in 2018, then needed Tommy John surgery later in the year after 25 inings in low A, but seems to have decided he likes baseball and needs to work at it since the TJ. Replacing Strasburg on the roster, Rynne Harper is back with the Nats after pitching himself off the roster earlier in the week.

As for the 5th starter we discussed above, Joe Ross opted out of the restart, so Voth got the first shot and has looked good in 2 out of his 3 starts. Eric Fedde has been the long reliever/ spot starter when Strasburg missed the start of the season, and he was very effective last night after Strasburg left.

At this point, the Nats record after 17 games is their worst since 2006-2009 at 7 - 10. Soto has been Soto, Asdrubel Cabrera has hit, and Turner has been off to good start as well despite 0-3 on steal attempts. Kendrick had some hard luck early but has been hitting well and is pretty much a full time DH. Martinez has yet to commit to Carter Kieboom at 3d, mostly playing him against lefties and sitting Thames (Cabrera moving from 3d to 1st). Weakest link in the rotation so far is Anibal Sanchez, who looks cooked. They seem to have developed 2 righty relievers, Tanner Rainey who takes the fireman mid-inning, high leverage appearances lately (will Harris had been on the DL but was recently activated). The other reliever who has looked good is Kyle Finnegan, who the Nats signed to a major league contract after he was waived over the winter by the as. Return favor for Luzardo? Ha.

For a team that won the World Series with the oldest roster in MLB, the Nats will be starting a 20 year old (Garcia), a 21 year old (Soto), and two 22 year olds (Robles and Kieboom) a good bit of the time.
 
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