Toward 2023 MLB trade deadline Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told reporters in Chicago, Illinois. Ordacy/106.7 DC Sports Junkie Fanthis week on the club’s approach to three seasons of rebuilding the franchise.
[ed. note – “Yes, we’re apparently officially calling it a ‘rebuild’ now. They have been for quite a while now, really, but Rebuild, Reboot, Reset, Whatever.”]
What is the main message from Lizzo this week?
Any cautious baseball move by this year’s deadline (August 1) would mean the Nationals are “open for business.”
“I never thought it would make sense to hide it from the fanbase about what we were doing,” said Rizzo of the possibility of another expiring contract trade, which has seen the past two seasons.
“I think the fanbase will be better accepted by being open and honest about what we’re trying to do,” Lizzo explained of her approach to keeping fans appreciating the club’s motivation.
“And I think in the last few years they’ve taken it pretty well. They knew our plans and they weren’t keeping it a secret.”
Speaking to reporters in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, the Nats lost two of their three games there. cubshe is willing to trade again if there is a suitable trade this time.
“We are going to make a deal that makes sense for us,” Rizzo reiterated. “We have a plan and we have a blueprint for this rebuild. We will always be open-minded and always aggressive.
The key word there, Rizzo told the junkies, is “a deal that makes sense for us.”
“We are always open to it, whatever our performance is, and this year is no exception,” he added, also taking the opportunity to acknowledge the obvious fact that he has already spoken and heard with other clubs in the league, even for preliminary discussions.
“A lot of the first few calls are like, ‘What do you want to do?’ And then ‘What’s the overall plan?'” he explained. And if there is a match, I will contact them. Be more specific and ask, “Hey, as the right-handed pinch hitter you guys are thinking of, is ‘Joe Smith’* a good fit for you guys?” We are looking for matches from other teams, and other teams are looking for our matches. And when the terms that work well are found, the negotiations for the actual concrete deals begin. ”
[ed. note – “He’s using a generic name, not talking about the generically named former big league reliever. But you knew that, we know.”]
As with each of the last two trade deadlines, out-of-contract players are prime candidates for deals. [ed. note – “See: Candelario, Jeimer.”]
“Everyone who has expired [contracts] — those decisions are pretty straightforward,” Rizzo said when speaking in Chicago this week. Quoted by MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato.
“That was the decision Max and we made.” [Scherzer]. That’s the factor. Lane Thomas has a good All-Star player, and they’ll be using him for two more seasons. Indeed, it makes trading much more difficult. It’s a jargon that means ‘you need to get enough in return’. ”
Thomas has a +2.0 fWAR this season, the second-best on the team so far behind Candelario, batting .289/.337/.482 with 15 home runs.Two seconds away from his career high of 146 games in 2022). Should the Nationals consider upselling the former Cardinals outfielder acquired from St. Louis by the 2021 deadline?Straight to Jon Lester)?
As Lizzo said, when it comes to players like Thomas, (With two years left in control, he will play on a relatively affordable $2.2 million deal this year), other teams often see him in the same light that the Nationals see him.
“The hard part is getting back the value you want them to have. I see Lane Thomas being an All-Star in the first half of the season.
“If other teams only see him as a part-time or bench player, we won’t sign a deal.
Conversations and deals the Nationals have had over the past two years (Especially the deal between Juan Soto and Josh Bell last summer) has taken the rebuilding process significantly forward, injecting talent that is making waves throughout the organization, Rizzo claimed.
“I think we’ve made a big impact on the franchise,” Rizzo said.
“I think we’ve over-strengthened the rebuilding process, and I think we’re further along than we would have been if those two trade deadlines hadn’t passed.”