Nats make first significant signing of this offseason

The Washington Nationals made their first significant agreement of this offseason with the official signing of right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka on a one-year contract. The deal is reportedly for $9 million per multiple reports. Reporter Robert Murray adds that Soroka was signed as a starting pitcher.

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The process to the No. 1 Pick in the Draft has no name at this point!

Right after the draft lottery, we sent out a congratulatory message to Matt Adams who was the Washington Nationals representative at the MLB Draft Lottery when the Nats won the first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The Nats had just 10.2 percent odds of winning the first pick in the lottery.

We also messaged some of our sources in the Washington Nationals organization about the draft. One bit of advice we got back was basically a “pump the brakes” message to all of the quotes and social media posts that might have implied that Ethan Holliday was a lock for the first pick. Our source’s message went on to say, “it could be him,” but nothing will be decided for a while. That seems prudent. The MLB Draft will be held on July 13, 2025.

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Dylan Crews talked about recently becoming a baseball card collector

A few days ago we learned that baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Dylan Crews, has become a baseball card collector. In the offseason, Crews owns a home in Baton Rouge which is close to the LSU campus where he became a collegiate star. Up the street is the Cards And Culture store where Crews has been ripping packs of baseball cards for his own collection. Like so many of us, Crews is hooked on card collecting.

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A look back to how quick things changed from 2 years ago!

James Wood playing in Single-A in 2022.
James Wood scores from second base on an infield single; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

How quickly things change in sports and life. Just two years ago to now — how things have changed. Baseball rosters change often. You never etch anything in stone as Yankees fans just learned. In Washington D.C., we are just debating players as acquisition targets.

We take a look back in time to two years ago. Let’s start with the prospect rankings at Baseball America and MLB Pipeline (graphic below). This was before Dylan Crews, Yohandy Morales, and Travis Sykora were drafted in July 2023, and before Jeimer Candelario was traded for DJ Herz and Kevin Made in July 2023. This was before Seaver King, Caleb Lomavita, and Luke Dickerson were drafted in July 2024. This was before international free agent signings that got the Nats prospects like Victor Hurtado and Angel Feliz in January 2024. This was before trading for Alex Clemmey, Cayden Wallace and Tyler Stuart in July 2024. This is your current rankings on this link, and below you can see what the rankings looked like just two years ago beyond that Top-11 and certainly at №3.

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A crystal ball look into 2028 that will be impacted by one decision on July 13, 2025

When the lottery ball bounced the way of the Washington Nationals to win the grand prize of the first draft pick in the July 2025 MLB Draft, the Nationals future changed in that instant.

The Nats draft group, led by Danny Haas and general manager Mike Rizzo, will have their pick of any player who they foresee as the best player in the draft when they announce their choice on July 13, 2025. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the Nationals had drafted both Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper at 1-of-1. Rizzo also greenlighted the drafting of Anthony Rendon at №6, and Dylan Crews at №2 overall. Before Rizzo’s time, Ryan Zimmerman was picked at №4 overall in 2005. You could say that the Nats have a very good track record at choosing Top-6 in the draft with the exception of 2022.

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What Position Players to Sign, That is the Question – Point CounterPoint 1 of 2

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?

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FOUR BAGS AND COUNTING

The grand slam home run hit is one of the most exhilarating moments in baseball. It is a feat of power, timing, and circumstance, a singular event that can electrify a crowd and shift the momentum of a game. The history of the grand slam is a tale of legendary sluggers, dramatic moments, and the evolution of baseball itself.

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What will Mike Rizzo wish for on this birthday?

First of all, a happy 64th birthday to Mike Rizzo, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager of the Washington Nationals. Yes, we are about 15 hours early in Washington, D.C. for Riz’s birthday wishes, and right on time for the people in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. You have to wonder what Mike’s wish is on this birthday? He already has the №1 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, so if that wish were to be used for a new player acquisition, who would he wish for?

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A very slow Winter Meetings heads into the final evening

Tick tock goes the clock as we head into the final evening of this year’s Winter Meetings. There have been some notable players on the move, from Juan Soto to Max Fried to the Garrett Crochet trade — but in all, there are still over 30 free agents unsigned in the Top-50 rankings.

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Winter Meetings final full day with the Rule-5 draft and quotes from Riz and Davey

The Winter Meetings usually wrap-up after the Rule-5 draft, but this event actually runs through tomorrow in Dallas, Texas. The Washington Nationals were the surprise lottery winners in the MLB Draft after the ball bounced their way for the first pick in the MLB Draft in July. Today, eyes are on the Rule-5 draft, and unlike the prior two years, the Nationals were not attached to any rumors from their spot at being able to select a Rule-5 eligible minor leaguer at pick No. 6. With RHP Evan Reifert available, the Nats selected him. He will turn 26 in May and has pitch up to the Double-A level. The Nats will give him a chance in the bullpen.

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