Good morning, Nationals fans. For those of you who weren’t up late Sunday night and missed the news … Juan Soto is going to be a New York Met. For a very long time. For more money than any professional North American athlete has ever received.

Hours before the Winter Meetings officially commenced in Dallas, Soto and the Mets agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract, per every prominent national baseball reporter on the planet. Yes, that’s 15 years and $765 million. That’s $51 million per year, on average, until he turns 41. It exceeds Shohei Ohtani’s previous record-setting $700 million deal with the Dodgers from last winter by a healthy margin.

And it brings Soto back to the National League East, making him the latest in a long line of former Nats greats to sign a massive new contract with a division rival.

Soto’s signing was going to sting for Nationals fans, no matter where he wound up. But it probably would have stung less had he chosen to stay with the Yankees, or instead bolted for another American League East franchise like the Red Sox or Blue Jays. The Mets, though? That’s a tough pill to swallow for many.

In the end, Steve Cohen proved once again he’s the major league owner more desperate to win a World Series than any other in the sport. The Mets haven’t hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy since 1986. Only seven franchises are mired in longer championship droughts. Desperation (and tens of billions of dollars made in hedge fund management) is a powerful tool this time of year. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it drives an owner to dole out more than three-quarters of a billion dollars to one player in a sport where one player traditionally isn’t the difference between winning and losing.

The Nationals recently announced plans for their 20th anniversary celebration in 2025, with a number of special events and giveaways promised, not to mention a ranking of the 20 greatest moments in club history.

We here were already planning our own 20th anniversary celebration, and why wait until 2025 to get started with that? The Nats already have completed 20 full seasons in D.C., so this is as good a time as any to get the ball rolling with a weekly series that will run every Sunday through the rest of December: The 20 Greatest Players in Nationals History.

What constitutes “greatness?” For these purposes, we’re considering a combination of quantity and quality, plus impact on and off the field. Some of these guys played many years here and had lots of time to make names for themselves. Some of them weren’t here very long but still made a difference with specific acts of greatness.

We only considered a player’s contributions for the Nationals at the major league level. It doesn’t matter what they did before or after they were in Washington. No one singular stat was deemed more important than any other. Postseason performance wasn’t required, but it certainly elevated some players’ cases for inclusion on this list. This is, to be clear, a subjective exercise. There’s no right answer. And that means there will surely be some healthy debate about the choices, which is how these things are supposed to be.

We’ll unveil five names each week, culminating with the top five on Dec. 29. And with that, we begin today with No. 16-20 …

The Orioles found their right-handed hitting outfielder.

The club is signing Tyler O’Neill to a three-year contract worth $49.5 million, according to a source. The deal, which becomes official after he passes a physical, includes an opt-out after 2025.

This is the first multi-year free-agent contract since Mike Elias joined the front office, though it could become a one-year deal with the opt-out. The Orioles hired Elias as executive vice president/general manager in November 2018.

O’Neill’s deal also signals that the club is moving on from Anthony Santander, a free agent who hit 44 home runs this summer.

Power isn’t sacrificed with O’Neill in the fold. He hit 33 homers in 113 games with the Red Sox and posted a .336 on-base percentage in 473 plate appearances. Santander owns a career .307 OBP.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• RHP Thaddeus Ward has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 37 players.

It's been a slow offseason to date, to say the least. The World Series ended more than a month ago, and the Nationals have yet to acquire a major league player, whether via free agency or trade.

The good news: There are still more than two months to go before pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach, Fla. And there are tons of available unsigned players looking for jobs, including most of the top free agents on the market. So there's plenty of time for the Nats to get to work. And with the Winter Meetings set to begin Monday in Dallas, you'd like to think we're about to start seeing some action at last.

In the meantime, though, we'll take this opportunity to hold another Q&A with your trusty beat writer. If you've got something you'd like to ask, please do so in the comments section below. Then check back throughout the morning for my responses ...

A lot can happen in 20 years. Two decades ago, the Nationals were scrambling to get RFK Stadium renovated and ready for the park’s first full-time baseball club in 33 years. A roster made up mostly of former Expos players was bolstered with a few affordable free agents. The general manager only had the job on an interim basis. The manager was a legitimate baseball legend finishing out his Hall of Fame career in a manner he never could have foreseen.

The Nationals of 2025 will look nothing like the Nationals of 2005. That’s true of the uniforms they now wear, the ballpark they now play in, the people in charge of the organization and the men who take the field for them. Only a couple of employees who embarked on this adventure from the outset remain.

The franchise was down for several years, then was up for several more, then was on top of the baseball world for a brief time, then came back down to earth and now hopes to climb that mountain again.

There’s a surprising amount of history packed into these 20 years of existence, enough to spur the organization to make the 2025 season a celebration of its history.

The Nationals announced plans this morning for a season-long anniversary celebration, dubbed “NATS20.” It will include a significant prize giveaway, planned appearances by team alumni and a revisiting of the most memorable moments of the last two decades.

NATS20 Celebration Highlights Include:

Cheers to 20 Years Sweepstakes
Fan Favorite Moments
NATS20 Promotional Items
NATS20 Tuesdays

The Washington Nationals today announced the launch of NATS20, a season-long 20^th Anniversary celebration, thanking fans for two decades of #NATITUDE. Highlighted by the Cheers to 20 Years Sweepstakes, the campaign features in-park giveaways, special alumni appearances and the chance for fans to relive their favorite memories from the first 20 years of Nationals baseball. Details of the sweepstakes – the biggest in Club history – will be unveiled next week when single-game tickets go on sale.

“From our first game at RFK, to Ryan Zimmerman’s walk-off to open Nationals Park and of course 2019 World Series, the last 20 years have been filled with so many amazing and memorable moments,” said Mark D. Lerner, Managing Principal Owner of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club. “And while the players, the ballpark and even the logo have changed, our fans have remained constant, which is why we’re so excited to put them at the forefront of our 20^th Anniversary celebration. We look forward to hearing their stories and to making many more with the next generation of our players and fans.”

The Nationals 2025 promotional calendar, including exclusive NATS20 giveaways, will be unveiled next week when single-game tickets go on sale, alongside details of the Cheers to 20 Years Sweepstakes.

The predominant headline two weeks ago at the non-tender deadline was the Nationals’ decision not to retain Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey. Drawing less attention at the time was their decision to retain six other arbitration-eligible players: Luis Garcia Jr., MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, Derek Law, Riley Adams and Mason Thompson.

Perhaps the most surprising name on that list was Adams, who after a difficult season that twice saw him optioned to Triple-A Rochester seemed like a potential non-tender candidate. Instead, the Nats opted to keep the 28-year-old catcher, creating a potential tricky situation come March.

With 3 years, 5 days of big league service time, Adams qualifies for arbitration this winter for the first time in his career. He made $750,900 this season and is on track for a modest raise in 2025, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting a salary of $1.1 million.

That’s not a huge difference, of course, but that’s not the tricky part of the situation for the Nationals. If Adams and the team are able to agree to a 2025 salary without going to an arbitration hearing, that salary will be guaranteed in full.

This is a little-known change to the current collective bargaining agreement, which went into effect after the 2022 season. Previously, if a club released an arbitration-eligible player during spring training, it was only responsible for 30 or 45 days’ worth of termination pay, depending on the exact date the transaction was made. We saw the Nationals take advantage of that rule several times in the past, most notably releasing right-hander John Patterson (their 2007 Opening Day starter) in March 2008.

The Washington Nationals have been named the recipient of the 2024 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in recognition of a decade of community impact through the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday. The Academy, the signature program of Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the Club’s charitable arm, uses baseball and softball as vehicles to foster positive character development, academic achievement and improved health among youth living in underserved communities.

Established in 2014, the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy embodies the broader mission of Nationals Philanthropies in fueling access and opportunities for all of D.C.’s children, families and communities to thrive. In the decade since, the Academy has served more than 6,000 children ages 5 to 18 through a continuum of holistic youth development programs. Six classes have matriculated from third through eighth grade in the core after-school and summer program, going on to excel on and off the field at some of the region’s most competitive high schools and, more recently, enrolling in colleges across the country.

“Throughout its first 10 years, the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy has grown into a community pillar, helping children, families and communities thrive through year-round programs,” said Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, founding chair and board member of Washington Nationals Philanthropies and president of The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation. “We are extremely honored that the Nationals Academy, the signature program of Nationals Philanthropies, has been selected by Major League Baseball and its fans as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence. We are proud of the decade of impact the Academy has made thus far, and we remain committed to serving our neighbors across the District with continued resources and programming for years to come.”

“The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is a terrific example of how our Clubs are making a difference in the lives of young people with opportunities on and off the field,” said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “I congratulate the Lerner family, the Washington Nationals organization, Nationals Philanthropies, and the entire staff at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy for this well-earned recognition. We are proud to celebrate their efforts and we look forward to their continued impact throughout the Greater D.C. region.”

The Academy provides a range of free youth development and baseball/softball programs, from fun, free clinics for beginners to structured programming that includes training, tournament play, participation in MLB events and more. Academy offerings have evolved over the last decade in response to community need and the growth of youth participants. 

When the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy opened in 2014, the franchise that bears its name hoped the brand new facility would help make a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged children in Southeast Washington.

Ten years later, the academy has made a difference for more than 6,000 local kids and has established itself as one of the premier youth facilities run by any professional sports organization. So much so that Major League Baseball is now bestowing a significant honor on it to commemorate its 10th anniversary.

MLB announced today the Nationals have won the 2024 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence, one of the sport’s highest honors, for its decade of service through the youth academy.

The Selig Award, named for former commissioner Bud Selig, was created in 2010 to recognize the charitable and philanthropic efforts of major league clubs. The Nationals become the 12th franchise to win the honor.

“The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is a terrific example of how our clubs are making a difference in the lives of young people with opportunities on and off the field,” commissioner Robert Manfred said. “I congratulate the Lerner family, the Washington Nationals organization, Nationals Philanthropies and the entire staff at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy for this well-earned recognition. We are proud to celebrate their efforts, and we look forward to their continued impact throughout the Greater D.C. region.”

Thanksgiving has come and gone, the calendar has flipped to December and every other commercial on TV right now is Christmas-themed. We’ve entered a new phase of the year, and that should include the official firing up of the Hot Stove at last.

Though there’s always some baseball news in November, it’s usually the quietest month of the offseason, certainly from an acquisition standpoint. Only a handful of prominent free agents has signed at this point, but that should change in short order as teams finally get serious about making moves of consequence.

The annual Winter Meetings open one week from today in Dallas, and that’s always good for injecting some life into the offseason. And if we look back at recent history, the flipping of the calendar to the 12th month also has spurred the Nationals to get involved.

One year ago, general manager Mike Rizzo signed three eventual major leaguers from Dec. 6-12. He inked Juan Yepez to a minor league deal on Dec. 6, with Yepez becoming a mainstay in the lineup over the final three months of the season. He signed Nick Senzel on Dec. 7, a transaction that did not work out so well in the long run. And he signed Dylan Floro on Dec. 12, a solid addition to the bullpen that was later flipped at the trade deadline for Andres Chaparro.

Go back one year prior, and Rizzo got to work a few days earlier, signing Jeimer Candelario and Stone Garrett on Nov. 29, then Trevor Williams on Dec. 9, then Erasmo Ramirez on Dec. 15.

The so-called utility man has always been thought of in somewhat negative terms. If someone plays multiple positions, it’s probably because he’s not good enough to play every day at one position.

While that line of thinking has mostly held true throughout baseball history, there have been some more recent examples of teams treasuring a good player’s versatility. Utility men don’t have to come off the bench. Sometimes they hold regular spots in the lineup, just not at the same position in the field on a day-to-day basis.

And the best of them can be handsomely rewarded for those rare skills. Ben Zobrist made nearly $87 million in career earnings while playing four different positions (shortstop, second base, left field, right field) at least 200 times in the majors, plus occasional work at three other positions (center field, first base, third base).

And now Tommy Edman is the latest utility man to cash in, signing a five-year, $74 million extension with the Dodgers on Friday. Edman, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cardinals, was traded to Los Angeles this summer and became a key contributor to a World Series title, winning National League Championship Series MVP honors while starting games at both shortstop and in center field.

Not every team values versatility as much as the Dodgers, but Nationals manager Davey Martinez has always spoken highly of players who can be used all over the field and when possible has preferred to keep at least one on his roster.

OK, maybe this hasn’t been as great a year as many probably hoped it would be. There’s still plenty to be thankful for today, though, right?

Of course there is. Even as it pertains to baseball, which may not be back to the level we’d all prefer but undoubtedly is trending in the right direction at last, with the ultimate payoff perhaps not as far off as you’d think.

So before you put the turkey in the oven and sit down to watch what on paper looks like three pretty blah football games, let’s run through everything the Nationals are thankful for on this day …

KEIBERT RUIZ
The opportunity to bounce back from a poor season that in some circumstances could have cost him his job, but won’t here because of the contract extension he signed in 2023.

LUIS GARCIA JR.
Just enough of a display of faith from his manager and general manager to get one last shot to realize his potential this year, which he most definitely did.

The Baltimore Orioles today announced the return of the weekly “Orioles Hot Stove Show” on WBAL NewsRadio, the flagship station of the Orioles Radio Network. Beginning Thursday, December 5, fans can tune into AM 1090/FM 101.5 and WBAL.com each Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. ET as Orioles broadcasters GEOFF ARNOLD and BRETT HOLLANDER provide Orioles news, analysis, exclusive interviews, and more.

Arnold and Hollander will host the Hot Stove Show every Thursday from December 5, until the team reports to Spring Training in mid-February, with some exceptions. For more information, including updates on live show dates and locations, visit Orioles.com/HotStove.

This Thanksgiving, the Baltimore Orioles continued their long-standing commitment to the community, partnering with key organizations to support families and individuals in need across Birdland. Through food donations, volunteer efforts, and community outreach, the Orioles made a tangible impact in the lives of those who needed it most during this season of giving.

“As we gather with our loved ones this Thanksgiving, the Orioles remain committed to supporting the Baltimore and Sarasota communities, especially those who need it most,” said KERRY R. WATSON, JR., Orioles Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. “Whether it’s providing meals, volunteering our time, or partnering with local organizations like Giant Food, Wegmans, and CareFirst, we are proud to make a positive impact and help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the holiday season.”

Gift Cards and Food Donation to Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women
In collaboration with Giant Food, the Orioles made a special Thanksgiving donation to the students and families of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. The team contributed 25 gift cards and 50 pies, ensuring these families could enjoy a festive holiday meal together. Additionally, Orioles employees rallied to collect more than 1,100 canned goods and other non-perishable items, further supporting the school's efforts to provide for those in need.

Volunteering at The Food Project
On Tuesday, November 19, the Orioles Corporate Partnerships team, alongside employees from CareFirst, volunteered at The Food Project, a local nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity. Volunteers assisted in preparing meals in the kitchen, distributing food, and packing toiletry bags for those in need. Following their work, volunteers joined students and staff across the street for a meal, prepared by the talented chefs and students at The Food Project.

Providing Thanksgiving Meals for Families at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School
In partnership with Wegmans, the Orioles helped to provide full Thanksgiving meals to 50 families at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School (HPEMS) as part of their Adopt-A-School campaign. Wegmans worked alongside the Orioles to create a Thanksgiving shopping experience for families as well as providing holiday activities for students.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Agreed to terms on 2025 minor league contracts with LHP Raul Alcantara, OF Franklin Barreto, and INF Jeremiah Jackson.

We don't typically associate Thanksgiving with baseball. That other national pastime tends to get all the attention this time of year. But baseball has been somewhat on the mind in recent days, especially with the Nationals' notable decision Friday night to non-tender Kyle Finnegan, leaving themselves without a closer.

There's still so much offseason to come, and there's no way to know what else is in store between now and the day pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach. The outlook could look completely different then than it does right now.

So, before basting that turkey or mashing those potatoes, let's answer some questions. As always, you can submit your queries in the comments section below, then check back throughout the morning for my responses ...

The Orioles today announced their 2025 major league coaching staff, led by 2023 American League Manager of the Year BRANDON HYDE in his seventh season. The club has named CODY ASCHE as the hitting coach, ROBINSON CHIRINOS as the bench coach, TOMMY JOSEPH as the assistant hitting coach, SHERMAN JOHNSON as the assistant hitting coach/upper level hitting coordinator, and BUCK BRITTON as a major league coach. The other coaches are remaining in their same positions: GRANT ANDERS as major league development coach (2^nd season), TIM COSSINS as major league field coordinator/catching instructor (7^th), DREW FRENCH as pitching coach (2^nd), RYAN KLIMEK as pitching strategy coach (3^rd), TONY MANSOLINO as third base coach (5^th), MITCH PLASSMEYER as assistant pitching coach (2^nd), and ANTHONY SANDERS as first base coach (6^th).

Asche, 34, spent the last two years as the offensive strategy coach. He served as the organization’s upper-level hitting coordinator in 2022. He played five years in the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies (2013-16) and Chicago White Sox (2017) and finished his professional playing career in 2020 following the cancellation of the minor league season. His coaching career started in 2021 with the Phillies as the hitting coach for Single-A Clearwater. In 2023, Asche helped the Orioles rank among MLB teams in home runs (2^nd, 235), slugging percentage (3^rd, .435), total bases (3^rd, 2,424), OPS (4^th, .750), runs scored (4^th, 786), and triples (T-4^th, 33).

Chirinos, 40, joins the Orioles after an 11-year MLB career that began in 2011 with Tampa Bay and ended in 2022 with Baltimore. He batted .226/.319/.419 (480-for-2124) with 114 doubles, five triples, 95 home runs, 275 runs scored, 306 RBI, 231 walks, 69 hit-by-pitches, and five stolen bases in 714 career games between the Tampa Bay Rays (2011), Texas Rangers (2013-18, 20), Houston Astros (2019), New York Mets (2020), Chicago Cubs (2021), and Orioles (2022). From 2013-19, he was the sixth-most valuable primary MLB catcher with a 13.0 bWAR. This will be his first professional coaching position.

Joseph, 33, completed his first season as an MLB coach in 2024 as the assistant hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners. He joined the Mariners after three seasons as a minor league hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants with High-A Eugene in 2023 and with the New York Mets for Double-A Binghamton in 2022 and Single-A St. Lucie in 2021. Joseph appeared in 249 MLB games with the Phillies from 2016-17 and slashed .247/.297/.460 (200-for-810) with 42 doubles, one triple, 43 home runs, 98 runs scored, 116 RBI, 55 walks, six hit-by-pitches, and two stolen bases. He participated in the 2012 Futures Game as a member of the Giants before being acquired by Philadelphia at the trade deadline along with two players in exchange for Hunter Pence on July 31, 2012. Joseph also appeared in the Rangers and Red Sox organizations, as well as one season with the LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization, and with Team Texas of the Independent Constellation Energy League as part of an 11-year professional playing career from 2010-20.

Britton, 38, joins Baltimore’s big league staff after spending the last three seasons as the manager at Triple-A Norfolk, his sixth overall managing in the O’s minor league system along with 2019-21 (Double-A Bowie) and 2018 (Single-A Delmarva). He started his coaching career as the hitting coach for Delmarva in 2017 after a nine-year minor league playing career with the Orioles (2008-14), Los Angeles Dodgers (2015), and Minnesota Twins (2016). Britton guided the Tides to the Triple-A National Championship and International League Championship in 2023 and earned International League Manager of the Year for his efforts. He also earned Eastern League Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading the Baysox to their second league Championship Series in franchise history. Britton was named the 2021 and 2023 recipient of the Orioles' Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award, given annually to a minor league staff member who exemplifies Ripken’s qualities as an instructor. He is the just the third multi-time winner since the award’s inception in 2003. This will be Britton’s first coaching position at the MLB level. He is the older brother of former Orioles pitcher, two-time All-Star, and 12-year MLB veteran ZACK BRITTON.

As the dust settled from Friday night’s decision by the Nationals not to tender contracts to Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey, a few follow-up thoughts came to mind.

One, they barely have any veterans on the roster anymore, with 24-year-old Luis Garcia Jr. (who debuted in August 2020) suddenly the most tenured player on the team.

Two, they have several holes to fill in their bullpen now, most importantly identifying a new closer.

Three, they’ve trimmed their financial commitments for 2025 and beyond down to an absolute minimum at this point.

Not that Finnegan had some kind of exorbitant contract, but the salary he would’ve commanded through the arbitration process this winter (likely between $8 million and $9 million) would’ve made him the highest paid player on the current roster.

Twenty-four hours ago, the Nationals’ most pressing roster needs appeared obvious. They needed a power-hitting first baseman. They needed a veteran starting pitcher. They needed an experienced reliever or two for a setup role. And maybe they needed another productive offensive player who could either hold or share the DH role with someone else.

And then just like that, they added another pressing need to the list: a closer.

Friday night’s unexpected decision not to tender a contract to Kyle Finnegan – fellow reliever Tanner Rainey also was non-tendered – created a major void in the Nats bullpen. Maybe Finnegan wasn’t an elite lockdown closer, but he ranked second in the National League in saves this season and over his five seasons in D.C. totaled 88 saves and 291 appearances, third-most in club history in each category.

Manager Davey Martinez’s remaining relief options boast nothing close to that kind of resume.

Derek Law, who was tendered a contract before Friday’s deadline, is a durable and reliable reliever, to be sure. But the 34-year-old has notched only 13 big league saves across parts of eight seasons with six different clubs. His value lies in his ability to take the ball as often as his manager needs him, which led to a whopping 75 appearances and 90 innings pitched this season. He actually pitches more regularly than a typical closer does.