Washington Nationals news & notes: Rumors of interest in 1B & 3B + more Hot Stove talk…

Washington’s manager announced in late September of this year that the Nationals are in a restart/rebuild big enough that they can justify spending some money in free agency to supplement the talent they’ve amassed over the past few years through trades, contracts, and the draft. Asked if he thought he was doing enough, Washington’s manager said Davey Martinez has followed company policy to some extent, but offered his opinion on the current state of the club.

“I say this all the time,” Martinez explained during the final weekend of the 2024 campaign. “…We really have a lot of conversations as the year ends. For me, that’s something [GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo] and [the Nats’] determining ownership. Yeah, we’d love to get some veteran players, but give us 26 players and we’ll do our best.

“I tell our coaching staff every day, ‘No matter what, we’ve got to make these guys play hard every day,’ and we’re doing that.

“But I will say this: I believe we’re really close. We really are. And there were some pieces out there that were going to be really good.”

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers wrote last week: “There are growing rumors within the industry that Washington will be active this offseason, and… [Rizzo] I don’t shy away from talking about things like that. ”

Rodgers wrote that the Nationals are “starting to see the fruits of their mini-reform.” The shake-up began in 2021 and began in earnest in 2022 when the club traded Juan Soto to San Diego and acquired a top player from the Nationals. The Padres’ system, its number (CJ Abrams, Mackenzie Gore, James Wood) has already made it to the majors and is already contributing.

“I think it’s important to complement that group of good young players and surround yourself with talented players,” Rizzo told ESPN if the club is going to compete in a tough division.

“We think our time has come. It’s getting closer. This thing is cyclical. There was a time when they were looking up to us, and now we are looking up to them. I feel like the time is coming when I can play on the edge of the pool.”

If you’re one of those hoping for Soto to return to DC in free agency, Rizzo didn’t rule out that possibility. Rogers writes: Lizzo has “admitted…that she spoke to Scott Boras about former Nat Soto (and other Boras clients).”

As for offseason plans, Rizzo said the direction will be more clear after the GM meeting held last week.

“After these meetings, once we have a sense of where we are, we will meet with those in charge and come up with a plan.”

Bob Nightengale of USA Today On Friday, I wrote about the Nationals’ rumored interest in free agent first baseman Christian Walker, 33. Walker spent the past eight seasons with Arizona, averaging 31 doubles and 29 home runs in 162 games. Walker finished the 2024 season with a batting average of .251/.335/.468 with 26 doubles and 26 home runs in 130 games and 552 at-bats, with an fWAR of 3.0.

Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images

“There are at least six teams that plan to actively pursue Walker,” Nightengale wrote. new york yankees to diamondbacks I believe you can come to the Washington Nationals for less than half the price. [Pete] Alonso. ”

ESPN’s Kylie McDaniel wrote: He recently noted the Nationals’ interest in Alex Bregman, noting that the Nationals are a “very widely rumored landing spot” for the third baseman. Bergman aims to hit .260/.315/.453 with 30 doubles and 26 home runs in 2024. houston astros A total of 145 games and 634 PAs were played in the 4.1 fWAR campaign.

If the Nationals were to re-enter the high-end free agent market, where do you think they would go? Will they be able to find the bat they are reportedly targeting this winter? What about their pitching needs?

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