Spring Training camp officially opens in 60-days. This is a good time to talk about that one impactful signing that Washington Nationals fans are hoping for at this time of year. This makes the perfect time for another Point-CounterPoint debate and discussion. But first, what do each of the participants want to see in 2025 and beyond?
Don: I want to see improvement in 2025. Getting to .500 and being in the mix for the postseason in late August and September would be great. But I will be content with well-played and smart baseball.
Steve: I am going to be greedy here as I want more than a .500 record. I want a winning record with real talk about contending for a Wild Card spot. I know that is lofty, but you have to shoot high. For me 82-80 is my minimal hope. Fangraphs has the Nats at 74-88. That means +8 wins to get to a winning record. That is a tall order.
Andrew: That is +11 wins from the 2024 season. A huge step forward. I will feel better if the Nats sign some impact players to the roster. Yes, players. Plural.
Position Players
Don: I was an early skeptic on Christian Walker. I thought he would accept the QO and if he didn’t I thought the Diamondbacks would take advantage of the time and negotiate an extension. Niether happened. So he is my first choice for a 2 or 3 year deal.
Steve: Defense Matters. The Nats have to sign one of the top first basemen. Walker, Carlos Santana or trade for Nathaniel Lowe.
Andrew: The Nationals are in a good spot you would think with the large pool of first basemen as you can add Pete Alonso and Paul Goldschmidt to the list.
Don: If Walker wants a 4 year deal that runs through his age 37 season, I pass on that. I switch to offering Alex Bregman the extra year (a 7 year deal). Rationale is simple, with Bregman it also runs through his age 37 season, but I also get his age 31-34 years.
Brady House and Yohandy Morales become trade chips or spend more time proving themselves in the minors at both first and third.
I can also move him to 2B if Luis Garcia Jr. leaves once he is a FA.
Steve: Bregman is my No. 1 choice. Every time I read about how Houston fans love him just adds to the stats which combines his leadership, winning attitude, defense and offense. Kind of a Jayson Werth.
Andrew: You have Bregman’s D.C. connection and his mentorship of Dylan Crews and Mitchell Parker when they were younger. That only adds to it. Is Nolan Arenado a second choice? He looks like a salary dump.
Don: My preference is for Santana over Lowe. Does not cost prospects. Plus Lowe has only two years of control. So not sure the extra year of control is worth prospects over someone like Santana.
Steve: I don’t think Lowe would cost the Nats any Top-15 prospects. The projected offensive output is more with the much younger Lowe in the lead there — but I get what you’re saying.
Andrew: Bottomline, the Nats need one very good signing that can energize the fanbase, lengthen the lineup, add intangibles like leadership, and add wins to the total.
Steve: That sums it up nicely. The goal here is giving fans hope and renewed excitement with a legitimate player who can add wins to the total. I keep going back to Werth and his immediate impact on all of those aspects of what a good signing can do in the near-term.
What Pitchers to Sign, That is the Question – Point CounterPoint 2 of 2 is planned for a future article.
