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Nationals offseason review chat
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Mark P
11:51
Hi there everyone, let's talk Nationals! We'll wait a few minutes for the queue to crowd up, and then get the chat started.
GhostofSteveM
11:53
Do you think Mike Rizzo's second chance at a rebuild could include being proactive like the Braves have been with extending young potential star players and in particular Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams? Also on that, were you surprised to see Ruiz and Luis Garcia leave Boras for Octagon?
Mark P
11:54
The ownership situation might be a roadblock for any extensions.  If Rizzo doesn't have any clarity on how much he's allowed to spend down the road (or if he'll even be with the team beyond the season), working out extensions could be tricky.
11:55
In regards to agency changes, who knows, the players could've had any number of reasons to want different representation
TimothyFavasoli
11:55
Do you think Stephen Strasburg will pitch 50 innings this year?
Mark P
11:55
I will be optimistic and say yes, just because it is a real shame that his career has been sidetracked like this.
Brooks
11:56
Feels like 100 losses is inevitable
Mark P
11:57
It's tough since the Nats might get some improvements around the roster, yet still drop 100 games because their division is so tough.  Of course, straight wins and losses aren't the focus in 2023....it's all about development for the young players
Ro
11:57
Which Nats would benefit most from the shift ban?
Mark P
11:58
Dominic Smith immediately jumps to mind, since he was among the most heavily-shifted of all players in the majors last year.  The new defensive rules could be another reason (beyond "change of scenery" and more regular playing time) why Smith is such an intriguing player to watch this year
Nats Fan
11:59
Will Dave Martinez be the manager on opening day 2024?  Seems like he was dealt a bad hand, so I think he should get a little rope to work with.
Mark P
12:00
I could see another one-year extension for both Rizzo and Martinez, just as stopgap measures given the broader ownership questions.  It would be similar to the one-year deal that Phil Nevin got with the Angels, when it looked like the Angels were going to be sold.
Nick
12:01
While most of the prospect attention has been on the high-end guys like Wood, Hassell, and Green, are there any less-heralded or talked about prospects you could see eventually making an impact at the major league level for them?
Mark P
12:03
Jake Alu isn't exactly an unknown name for Nats fans, but he's hit really well in the minors and seems to have made himself part of the conversation for an Opening Day roster spot
Whether that makes him a true "impact" player in the majors might be reach, but getting even a utility type from a 24th-round pick is a nice return
Joey Meneses
12:04
If I hit well again this year, am I traded by the deadline?
Mark P
12:06
Meneses' age makes him an interesting trade chip, because in theory, the Nationals might consider him totally found money.  If they can get a good return on a player they obtained for nothing, they might consider it worthwhile.

But if Meneses is still posting a .900 OPS or something over the course of a full season, maybe the Nationals hang onto him for at least another year, if they believe he's a real hidden gem
Guest
12:06
A lot of the Nats fans think Rizzo is among the best in the business....and he would be scooped up immediately if the Nats don't extend him. Do you think that's correct or are we just fans trying to find something positive to say?
Mark P
12:07
I think he'd get significant interest from around the league, if perhaps not for a PBO/GM job right away.  He could probably have his pick of advisor or secondary front-office roles (a la James Click or Ben Cherington in Toronto), or maybe he'd take a year off to recharge the batteries.
But Rizzo is a well-regarded exec, and if there's another team who had a GM opening, I'd imagine he'd at least get an interview
Ryan
12:08
How closely should we be watching the March 14th court date for the MASN dispute? Will the case finally be resolved?
Mark P
12:08
I believe oral arguments begin on that date, and (pulls suspenders) since I'm no fancy big-city lawyer, I'm not sure exactly how quickly things will proceed with the appeal case, or when a verdict might be rendered.
12:09
Just given how long this case has dragged on, it really doesn't seem like a settlement will come before a court renders a final verdict, no matter how much the Nationals, Orioles, or MLB as a whole would like this thing over and done with.
12:10
Also, I'm not certain if the O's would be allowed to file another appeal after the fact, or what
Josh
12:11
When will a sale of the team happen?  Any idea who is in the conversation of purchasing the Nats?
Mark P
12:11
By all accounts Ted Leonsis was in the drivers' seat to buy the team, but everything seems to be in limbo right now.  Hypothetically, until there's clarity on the Orioles' appeal of the MASN case, a sale might not start being finalized until that point
Guest
12:12
is this the year that they start playing all teams and fewer in division? How many fewer games will the Nats play NY, PHI, ATL (and Marlins)? Do we pick up more games with comparatively weaker rosters?
Mark P
12:13
Yep, the Nationals now face their division rivals only 13 times per season, rather than 19.  

However, it's fair to wonder if this will actually provide much benefit, since there are a lot of good AL teams the Nats will now be facing instead
Ed
12:13
Speaking of Alu, theres really a lot of congestion at 3b blocking his ascent. Kieboom, Vargas, Candelario. Is anyone looking for a 3b right now around mlb?
Mark P
12:14
Vargas is more a utility type, and Kieboom's status is a little up in the air as he recovers from TJ surgery.  So I wouldn't say there's really "congestion" here, especially since Candelario and maybe Vargas could both by gone by the trade deadline
Chubias
12:16
Why didn't the Nats get a veteran starting pitcher?
Mark P
12:17
Trevor Williams technically counts?  The Nationals are in a bit of a catch-22 since while they clearly need starting help, they "technically" have enough starters already in Williams, Corbin, Gray, Cavalli, and Gore.  So if you're a veteran starter with options, you'd probably prefer to join a) a team that can guarantee you a starting role, and b) a contender.
Ro
12:17
Obviously Corbin is terrible but there were many times when he was a victim of bad defense. He improved a bit when the Nats defense improved. With a full season of cj Abrams at short, could he have a merely bad not terrible season (his FIP also indicated bad luck last season)?
Mark P
12:19
I should've perhaps made more note of this in the offseason review....Dickerson is a good defender, Canderlario is at least an average 3B, and the Abrams/Garcia tandem should be quite solid up the middle.  

Not that Corbin will suddenly snap back into his old form overnight, but the Nationals' defense should indeed be better in 2023, which is good news for their entire staff
Ed
12:20
What do you put the probability at of the Nats holding Rule 5 pick Ward on the roster. He is intriguing but still looked like he could use some minor league work to me, and the Nats have guys like Irvin who look ready to step up, too?
Mark P
12:21
Generally if a team takes a player first overall in the Rule 5, it means they're prepared to have him on the roster.  For a rebuilding team like the Nationals, there's no real harm in giving Ward a look over the course of the season.
Ryan
12:21
Who are the top trade chips for the nats at the deadline this year?
Mark P
12:23
They'll be open to moving everyone who's a pending free agent, or maybe even players like Williams or Smith with two years of control.  But, if Smith really does hit well, the Nats might wait until the offseason to explore trades, or maybe (if the ownership is settled by then), even look into an extension
GhostofSteveM
12:23
If Patrick Corbin is his 2020-2022 self in early 2023, do you totally cut bait, or put him in the bullpen, or keep him in the rotation because he's bought & paid for?
Mark P
12:24
It might depend on how the other pitchers are doing, since even if Corbin is struggling, the Nationals might as well keep him as rotation depth as long as they're paying him anyway
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