Nats Chat

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Veteran 3B Option Added + Talking $$$ Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Grapefruit League play has yet to start, but the Nats have been down in West Palm Beach for over a week. Mark (Live from Florida) & Al begin with the recent signing of veteran infielder Paul DeJong, who might end up being the team's Opening Day 3B. DeJong hit 24 homers last season while playing for both the White Sox & Royals.

(14:00) Washington added right-handed relief pitcher Lucas Sims, who is coming off a down season. Sims did however have a solid 2023 season for the Reds that saw his ERA finish at 3.10. Will he part of the "A Bullpen"?

(19:40) Kyle Finnegan surprisingly remains a Free Agent after being non-tended from the Nationals at the end of last season. If he stays unsigned this Spring, might he return to old his team?

****(23:20) Reaction to Mark Lerner's comments to the Washington Post, that includes explanation on the team's recent spending approach and the family's long-term plans with the franchise.

(42:00) Speculating on who might be the Opening Day Starting Pitcher. MacKenzie Gore or Jake Irvin?

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Pitchers, Catchers, and CJ Abrams Report to Camp Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

The Nationals opened up camp this week in Florida as Davey Martinez begins his 8th season at the helm. Mark (Live from West Palm) & Al open with how 2025 might have elevated pressure for Martinez compared to recent seasons.

(05:40) CJ Abrams reported early to camp after his 2024 ended on a very sour note. Abrams was demoted to AAA the final week of the season after being out late at a Chicago casino just a few hours before an afternoon game. Abrams made the All-Star Game last summer and led the team in WAR (3.4).

(13:15) Travis Sykora is out until May due to recent hip surgery. He is the organization's top ranked pitcher and last season pitched in Low-A Fredericksburg.

(16:00) An update on Cade Cavalli who only made three minor league appearances last season as he aims to return from "Tommy John" surgery. Cavalli last pitched in Washington in August 2022.

(18:30) GM Mike Rizzo spoke with reporters and addressed the limited spending this past off-season. We run through all the transactions made the past few months and what they will mean for this season. Will the team add a bullpen arm or two this Spring Training?

(34:40) More than five guys have been slated as "Starters" and the hosts sort through the current hierarchy within the rotation.

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Josh Bell's Return Among the Recent Moves Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Al & Mark convene during the early January snow storm to discuss the roster moves that were made in late December. The Nationals recently acquired 1B Nathaniel Lowe from Texas in exchange for Robert Garcia and also signed Josh Bell. Will there be more moves to address offense for the 2025 season? Bell was previously with Washington and was part of the Juan Soto trade to San Diego in 2022.

(14:50) The Nats inked a pair of pitchers in Trevor Williams & Mike Soroka. Williams returns for his 3rd season with the team and Soroka is a veteran who has battled many injuries over his career. What does it mean for DJ Herz's spot in the starting rotation?

(22:00) Where does Cade Cavalli fit into this season's plans?

(23:30) An update on the bullpen as there are still roster spots to be filled.

(31:00) Corbin Burnes recently signed a $210M six-year deal with Arizona and many expected the total to be higher. Burnes pitched last season in Baltimore and was considered the top available free agent starting pitcher. What does it say about the starting pitching market compared to previous years?

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Nats Win the #1 Overall Pick During A Quiet Winter Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

The MLB Winter Meetings just wrapped up in Texas and the Nationals have not yet made an offseason splash. Mark & Al begin with the pleasant surprise that Washington won the lottery and will have the top pick in next summer's Draft.

(05:30) Mike Rizzo said on TV that it is time "hit the gas" despite the team not signing anyone thus far. Is it too early to panic and think it will be another quiet winter?

(09:00) Juan Soto signed a massive contract with the Mets, but it seems like the Nationals were nowhere in the hunt. The Winter Meetings began on Sunday night with the shock that Soto and the Mets reportedly agreed to a 15 year/ $765 Million contract.

(26:10) Given how Soto's value ballooned on the Free Agent market, should the Nats consider signing James Wood to a long term extension now?

(31:45) Max Fried and the Yankees agreed to an 8 year deal this week and other pitcher's deals have exceeded initial expectations of what the market was expected to be. How does this affect Rizzo's approach?

(37:20) Kyle Finnegan will not return to the team in 2025 and it was a very curious move. Why did they not tender Finnegan considering they didn't trade him before the summer's deadline?

(44:00) Washington acquired Evan Reifert in the Rule 5 Draft. Reifert is a RHP that comes from the Tampa Bay organization and now will likely be on the team's Opening Day roster.

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Juan Soto is Now a Free Agent Nov 02, 2024

Show notes

The World Series is now behind us and Juan Soto's Free Agency has arrived. Mark & Al begin with a nod to Nationals October legend Daniel Hudson, who announced his retirement shortly after the Dodgers won the title, Hudson was warming up in the bullpen when Walker Buehler closed out Game 5.

(05:00) Will the Nats be active on the Free Agency market for the first time in awhile? Will it be a Buyer's Market for the non elite players?

(14:10) We give an early handicap of the Soto Sweepstakes now that the Yankees season is over.

(28:20) Comparing Soto's Free Agency situation to the scene six years ago when Bryce Harper & Manny Machado's signings took longer than anticipated.

(33:45) Corbin Burnes is the top pitcher on the market. Will the Nats be in the chase for the righty?

(40:15)Trevor Williams and Jacob Barnes are Free Agents? Will they return to Washington?

(45:00) November will likely be a bit sleepy and the Winter Meetings are scheduled for December 9th-12th in Dallas.

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Season Ends With a Loss Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

The Nats lost 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to the Phillies to finish the season at 71-91 overall. Mark & Al bridge the end of 2024 to the outlook of the 2025 season.

(16:10) Dylan Crews closed out his season on a high note with a triple, two singles, and a stolen base. Crews ended up with 119 Big League at-bats after getting called up in late August.

(19:30) Luis Garcia Jr. homered on Sunday to fittingly wrap-up his best season so far. Al points out that he was Washington's best 2B this year since peak Daniel Murphy.

(26:00) Jake Irvin had a rough outing as he allowed six runs in less than five innings of work. His ERA finishes at 4.41, which is much higher than where he was at at the end of June (3.03).

(32:15) A look ahead at what moves might need to be made to improve the pitching staff and at 1B.

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Gore & Wood Lead the Way Over Philly Sep 29, 2024

Show notes

The Nats topped the Phillies 6-3 on Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd for their 71st victory; tying last year's total. Mark & Al recap MacKenzie Gore's stellar final outing of the season where he tossed six shutout frames. Gore's season ends with a 3.90 ERA, a stark improvement from where he began September (4.45). It is the best end of season ERA for a Nats starter with 20+ starts since... 2019.

(16:45) James Wood had a big day as he tripled and homered in the win. Wood has nine homers on the season and already has four career triples.

(22:10) The top of the 8th concluded with benches clearing following Bryce Harper's at-bat vs. Jose A. Ferrer. Keibert Ruiz was involved in the mix and Mark gives his observations from how everything unfolded. Harper continues to get booed by fans in Washington even though he is now in his 6th season in Philadelphia.

(33:00) Derek Law is close throwing 90 IP this season and is roughly three frames away from setting a franchise record for usage by a reliever.

(38:00) Jackson Rutledge was recently called up after DJ Herz ended his season. Will he pitch on Sunday in the season finale?

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Stone Garrett Immediately Homers in Easy Win Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

The Nats clubbed the Phillies 9-1 on Friday night to end their four game skid. Mark & Al recap Stone Garrett's "too good to be true" evening as he fell a triple shy of the cycle in his first Big League game since August of last season. Garrett broke his leg last year and spent the bulk of this season with AAA-Rochester.

(13:30) Trevor Williams tossed five shutout innings in his 2nd start since returning from the IL. The hosts look at what the chances are that he is back in the team's rotation next season. His ERA after 13 starts is 2.03, the lowest of his career.

(21:00) Mike Rizzo spoke with the media prior to the game and among the topics addressed were CJ Abrams, offseason spending, and more.

(27:00) Luis Garcia Jr. won the Nationals Player of the Year Award as voted on by the media. Garcia led the team in OPS and was 2nd in homers with 17. What would have happened if the vote had gone to Abrams instead?

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Corbin's Final Start Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

The Nats were swept on Thursday afternoon by the Royals in a 7-4 loss. Al hosts solo to send off Patrick Corbin after his final start in a Washington uniform. Corbin gave up four runs, but did retire the final 10 batters he faced before Davey Martinez lifted him in the top of the 6th. The crowd applauded and Corbin tipped his cap back as a way to wrap up his six year tenure in D.C.

(16:00) Kyle Finnegan took the loss after allowing three runs in the top of the 9th. Al looks back at the recent decision to not trade Finnegan ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline.

(21:10) The scoreless inning streak immediately ended from a Juan Yepez RBI in the bottom of the 1st inning. The other batch of offense came off Luis Garcia Jr.'s 17th homer of the season, a 3-run shot.

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Shutout for the 18th Time Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

For the third straight game the Nationals couldn't plate a run in their 3-0 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday night. Mark & Al dive into the continuing offensive ineptitude as the team is now 8-14 in September.

(07:00) The lack of runs leads to re-visiting the conversation about the decision in August to bring back the entire coaching staff in 2025.

(14:10) DJ Herz only allowed one run in his start of the season. Herz was called up in early June to replace the injured Trevor Williams and ended the year with an ERA of 4.16

(22:45) Cade Cavalli was at the stadium on Wednesday and Mark gives an update after the right hander met with the media. How much was this missed season due a to "dead arm"?

(31:00) Thursday afternoon will be Patrick Corbin's final start in a Washington uniform and it will be interesting to see how the home crowd receives him when he exits the game.

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