News broke in the past 24-hours that two former Washington Nationals players are returning. Both Josh Bell and Trevor Williams have reportedly agreed to terms on salaries of $6 million and $7 million respectively. In the past two weeks with the signing of Michael Soroka and trading for Nathaniel Lowe, the Nats have added approximately $33 million in new payroll for the 2025 season to bring the CBT payroll up to $123 million.
As of now, the Nationals are still about $8 million under their 2024 Opening Day payroll, but that will most likely be eclipsed with some bullpen signings. But the hopes of blowing past that dollar level might not happen. The good news is that there are still over 40-days remaining in the offseason.
So far, the reality is that general manager Mike Rizzo has not signed one of those free agents with a qualifying offer (Q.O.) attached. Is this due to money or are there other factors such as players choosing to go elsewhere? Is Rizzo purposely avoiding a signing of a QO’d free agent? A QO’d free agent would cause the Nats to forfeit their second round draft pick at approximately pick No. 49, and also $500,000 would be reduced from the Nats’ bonus pool during the Jan. 2026 international signing period.
Here’s the debate, don’t worry about the money or forfeiting that second round draft pick and sign Alex Bregman to play third base to win now, or else find a good alternative. That’s the issue, Rizzo has tried the alternative.
It was officially reported that Gleyber Torres signed for $15 million for 1 year with the Tigers. He was not a QO’d player, and news broke that the Nationals were trying to sign him to play third base. It was encouraging that Rizzo was trying to sign him due to the size of the deal, but Torres also did not appear to be a great fit to play third base.
Some would say signing Bell to the roster was not a great fit since he was negative WAR last year — but mostly due to his defensive struggles. Also in small sample sizes, Bell finished strong in 2024 after he was traded to Arizona, and had positive WAR there.
In total, 13-players got qualifying offers this year — and one player accepted the $21.05 million Q.O. one-year deal to stay with his current team, leaving a dozen players to go to free agency. Of those players, six remain unsigned, and that includes two names attached to the Nats with Bregman and Anthony Santander. With the Bell signing, Santander would appear off the board. Bregman, would still fit well.
Analytically, the Nats might be fortunate that Torres went elsewhere given how poor the Nats left-side defense was the worst in the Majors. That is the triangle of shortstop, third base, and left field. CJ Abrams, at shortstop, ranked as the worst defender in baseball per OAA.
Two inexpensive third baseman still remain unsigned in free agency with Paul DeJong and Josh Rojas available. They both play excellent defense, but both have their offensive flaws. But as one-year deals, they would not block top prospect Brady House when he is ready for his promotion to MLB to play third base. Or, could Rizzo look at another trade piece in the expensive third baseman Ryan McMahon? He’s a good defender and actually hits better outside of Coors Field in Colorado. McMahon is under contract for three more years.
Today, your lineup and positional roster could look like this:
1. CJ Abrams SS LH
2. Dylan Crews RF RH
3. James Wood LF LH
4. Josh Bell DH SH
5. Nathaniel Lowe 1B LH
6. Luis Garcia Jr. 2B LH
7. Keibert Ruiz C SH
8. Jose Tena 3B LH –> Brady House 3B RH
9. Jacob Young CF RH
Bench: Riley Adams C RH, Alex Call OF RH, Nasim Nunez IF SH, Juan Yepez 1B RH -or- Andres Chaparro 1B RH
Your pitching rotation looks like three locks with MacKenzie Gore LHP, Jake Irvin RHP, DJ Herz LHP, and two of these three fighting for the remaining two spots: Michael Soroka RHP, Trevor Williams RHP, and Mitchell Parker LHP. Of course, Cade Cavalli would be rehabbing in Triple-A until he is ready.
Or what if you signed Bregman as your QO’d free agent? That was the discussion earlier today. That is how you get your team to a winning record in 2025.
1. CJ Abrams SS LH
2. Dylan Crews RF RH
3. James Wood LF LH
4. Alex Bregman 3B RH
5. Nathaniel Lowe 1B LH
6. Luis Garcia Jr. 2B LH
7. Josh Bell DH SH
8. Keibert Ruiz C SH
9. Jacob Young CF RH
Getting that extra bat is important to this lineup. We gave you what looks like the 2025 Opening Day lineup versus a lineup that could turn this team into a winning team. A team with a payroll near $160 million. A team that can contend for the future.
