Nats’ boss says he is laying the groundwork for potential deals at next month’s Winter Meetings.
Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo emphasized on Wednesday afternoon that he doesn’t finalize trades or signings during the Major League Baseball general managers meetings, but he does set the stage for them.
The focus for Rizzo and his team has been on laying the groundwork for future moves. After two consecutive 71-win seasons and five years of losing records, the big question is how active the Nationals will be this offseason.
With the rebuild starting to show positive results, as top prospects make their way to the majors, the question arises: should Rizzo and his staff make a bold signing to add a veteran player, or should they pursue a trade to acquire high-caliber talent that could help the team contend again?
“Ownership understands where we are in our process,” Rizzo said. “If there’s a free agent signing that makes sense for us, I believe we’ll be allowed to pursue it. Ultimately, that’s something we discuss when we meet with ownership, and we have a plan in place.”
The Nationals now have the advantage of no longer being tied down by any long-term payroll commitments. The six-year, $140 million contract of left-hander Patrick Corbin has come off the books.
After the 2023 season, the Nationals were hesitant to make major investments because they weren’t just a few pieces away from competing. However, the breakout performances of several young players, including top prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews, might have shifted that perspective. Now, there’s a stronger case for spending to complement the young talent with experienced veterans.
“When you’re competing against teams like Atlanta, Philly, and the Mets, it’s tough to rely on seven or eight rookies and still contend for the World Series,” Rizzo said. “We’re always mindful of adding solid veteran players who can support the core, take some of the pressure off them, and show them the ropes of how to succeed at this level.”
Rizzo mentioned that he hasn’t yet had detailed discussions with ownership about the expected payroll for the Nationals, but those talks are expected to take place before next month’s winter meetings. He did note, however, that the team is in a position to add to their roster.
When asked about the team’s most pressing needs, Rizzo pointed to the need for impactful bats in the heart of the lineup and, as always, starting pitching. Specifically, the Nationals have struggled with consistent production from their corner infield spots and could use a seasoned first baseman and designated hitter.
This may sound familiar, and that’s because it is. In recent offseasons, the Nationals have made incremental additions, occasionally trading veterans for prospects, but they haven’t made any big free-agent splashes as they’ve worked through the rebuild.
The Nationals now have room on their 40-man roster to make additions, thanks to several procedural moves earlier this week. On Sunday, they declined their mutual option on slugger Joey Gallo. The following day, they designated infielders Joey Meneses and Ildemaro Vargas, along with pitcher Michael Rucker, for assignment. All three cleared waivers. The Nationals also lost right-hander Thaddeus Ward, their 2022 Rule 5 draft pick, when he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.
These moves left the Nationals with 36 players on their 40-man roster, creating space to add new players as they also evaluate who to protect from next month’s Rule 5 draft.
“These meetings help guide me in discussions with ownership,” Rizzo said. “Who’s available? Who might be interested in joining us? Who do we want to bring on board? Then, we sit down with ownership and piece together a plan to make the roster as strong as possible.”
