The World Series ended five days ago. That means, for all intents and purposes, the offseason begins today.

While there have been a few newsworthy developments up to this point, today marks the more official start of the Hot Stove League. Free agents may begin to sign contracts. Teams must set their 40-man rosters. Decisions of real consequence will start being made.

What might this offseason have in store for the Nationals? Here’s a primer to get you in the right frame of mind for what comes next …

* SETTING THE 40-MAN ROSTER
The first order of business is setting the organization’s 40-man roster, which for the last seven months has included more than 40 players. That’s because anyone on the 60-day injured list didn’t count against the total.

But there is no IL during the offseason. Healthy or not, everyone must be included on the 40-man roster or else be placed on waivers, made available to other teams or just flat-out released altogether.

The Nationals decided to promote from within when selecting a new farm director. The club today named Eddie Longosz as vice president and assistant general manager of player development and administration, giving a longtime front office member the opportunity to now oversee the entire minor league operation.

Longosz, 37, has worked for the Nationals since 2010 and spent the last eight seasons as director of scouting operations. In that role, he assisted general manager Mike Rizzo on all aspects of the club’s amateur, professional and international scouting operations.

This promotion moves Longosz into a new area, one the organization has been trying to improve for some time. When longtime farm director Doug Harris was forced to leave baseball in 2020 while fighting an ongoing battle with cancer, his longtime assistant Mark Scialabba formally took over a role he essentially had already held for several years. Two years later, the team made veteran scout De Jon Watson director of player development, tasked with overhauling a farm system that was undergoing massive change following the trades of Juan Soto, Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and others for prospects.

The Nats parted ways with Watson shortly after this season ended, though, making him one of a number of experienced baseball operations staffers who either were let go, resigned or retired. Now they turn to Longosz to take over a critical job for a franchise counting on several top prospects to make their major league debuts in the next few years.

“Eddie Longosz has been integral to our organization’s success over the past 14 years,” Rizzo said in the team’s statement announcing the promotion. “He is a tireless worker with extensive knowledge of our minor league players, coaches and system as a whole. He developed strong relationships with many of our current players during the draft process and has earned not only their trust, but the trust of those around them.

The Washington Nationals announced the promotion of Eddie Longosz to Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Player Development and Administration on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Longosz, 37, was promoted to this role after spending the last eight years as Washington’s director of scouting operations. He was promoted from assistant director following the 2015 season. In his role, Longosz assisted Mike Rizzo on all aspects of Washington’s amateur, professional and international scouting operations.

“Eddie Longosz has been integral to our organization’s success over the past 14 years,” said President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo. “He is a tireless worker with extensive knowledge of our Minor League players, coaches and system as a whole. He developed strong relationships with many of our current players during the draft process and has earned not only their trust, but the trust of those around them. Beyond his support of our draft operations, his expertise in emerging technology and analytics will enhance our process and make us more efficient. Eddie is very well respected around the league, and I could not be happier to have him leading our player development system.” 

Longosz is in his 14th year with the Nationals after joining the organization in 2010. He became a full-time scouting assistant in 2011, a role he held for four seasons before being promoted to assistant director of scouting operations in 2015.

A Washington, D.C. native, Longosz graduated from St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. He attended the University of Richmond (VA) and graduated in 2009 with a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. He is currently pursuing his Master’s of Business Administration from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business Executive Program.

PLAYER REVIEW: MASON THOMPSON

Age on Opening Day 2024: 26

How acquired: Traded with Jordy Barley from Padres for Daniel Hudson, July 2021

MLB service time: 2 years, 42 days

2023 salary: $724,400

The Nationals have declined their 2024 club option on Victor Robles, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an end to the outfielder’s time with the organization.

In choosing not to pick up their $3.3 million option for Robles, the Nats still retain control of the player, who has accrued only five years and 33 days of big league service time. That makes him eligible for arbitration once again this winter before he can finally become a free agent.

The Nationals and Robles could negotiate and agree to terms on a 2024 salary, one that most likely would be worth more than the $2.325 million he made this year but less than the $3.3 million option they agreed last offseason. If they can’t come to terms by January, they could file competing figures for arbitration and await the ruling of a three-judge panel.

Or, the Nats still could decide to cut ties with Robles and not tender him a contract before the league-wide Nov. 17 deadline, making him a free agent now.

It’s not entirely clear which direction the team will go after another disappointing season from Robles, though this time for different reasons from the past.

PLAYER REVIEW: ANDRES MACHADO

Age on Opening Day 2024: 30

How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, February 2021

MLB service time: 2 years, 23 days

2023 salary: $720,000

The Orioles added to their outfield depth this afternoon by claiming Sam Hilliard off waivers from the Braves.

Reliever Joey Krehbiel was designated for assignment to make room for Hilliard on the 40-man roster.

Hilliard, 29, was the Rockies’ 15^th-round pick in the 2015 draft out of Wichita State University. He spent parts of four seasons with Colorado and appeared in 40 games with the Braves this summer, batting .236/.295/.431 in 78 plate appearances for the National League East champions.

The Braves acquired Hilliard from the Rockies on Nov. 6, 2022 for minor league pitcher Dylan Spain. He broke camp with them this spring but didn't play after July 18.

Hilliard, who bats from the left side, is a career .215/.294/.424 hitter in 254 major league games, and he’s stolen 19 bases in 20 attempts. He appeared in a career-high 81 games with the Rockies in 2021 and had seven doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 34 RBIs in 238 plate appearances.

PLAYER REVIEW: JORDAN WEEMS

Age on Opening Day 2024: 31

How acquired: Signed as minor-league free agent, March 2022

MLB service time: 2 years, 55 days

2023 salary: $720,000

In reshaping their coaching staff, the Nationals appear to be looking inward for help.

The Nats are promoting Ricky Gutierrez to third base coach and Gerardo Parra to first base coach, a source familiar with the decisions confirmed, filling two of the four vacant jobs on Davey Martinez’s big league staff with a couple of former big league players who already worked for the organization.

Gutierrez, who replaces Gary DiSarcina, spent this season as the Nationals run prevention coordinator, essentially an extra infield coach on the major league staff who traveled with the team and was in the dugout during games. He received praise for his work with CJ Abrams, who developed into a much better defensive shortstop over the course of the season.

The 53-year-old former infielder for the Padres, Astros, Cubs, Indians, Mets and Red Sox will be coaching third base in the majors for the first time. He does have some experience at that position, though, as manager of the Reds’ Double-A affiliate in 2021.

DiSarcina had far more big league coaching experience, including the last two years with the Nationals, but the club did not renew his contract after the season ended, signaling a desire for better performance at that position.

PLAYER REVIEW: HUNTER HARVEY

Age on Opening Day 2024: 29

How acquired: Claimed off waivers from Giants, March 2022

MLB service time: 4 years, 47 days

2023 salary: $870,000

Frank Howard, the hulking slugger who won over a generation of Washington baseball fans with his towering home runs and genteel personality, has died at 87, the Nationals announced this afternoon.

Affectionately known to fans as “Hondo,” “The Capitol Punisher” and “The Washington Monument,” Howard played 16 seasons in four major league cites and spent another two decades coaching and managing for six other organizations. But his legacy was defined by the seven seasons he spent with the Washington Senators from 1965-71, blasting homers into the upper deck at RFK Stadium and becoming every local baseball fan’s favorite player for life, including one young D.C. native who would eventually own the city’s next big league club.

“Growing up a baseball fan in Washington, D.C., Frank Howard was my hero,” Nationals managing principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement released by the team. “The towering home runs he hit into the stands at RFK Stadium gave him the nickname ‘Capital Punisher,’ but I’ll always remember him as a kind and gentle man. The entire Lerner family would like to offer our thoughts and condolences to Frank’s family during this difficult time. The world of baseball has truly lost a giant.”

Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 255 pounds, Howard would’ve been a physically imposing hitter in today’s game. In the 1960s and ’70s, he was a jaw-dropping presence in a sport not known for producing many players of that stature.

Signed by the Dodgers out of Ohio State in March 1958, Howard made his major league debut that September. The outfielder became a full-time big leaguer in 1960 and won National League Rookie of the Year honors, then finished ninth in the MVP race two seasons later.

PLAYER REVIEW: KYLE FINNEGAN

Age on Opening Day 2024: 32

How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2019

MLB service time: 4 years

2023 salary: $2.325 million

PLAYER REVIEW: THADDEUS WARD

Age on Opening Day 2024: 27

How acquired: Selected in Rule 5 draft, December 2022

MLB service time: 1 year

2023 salary: $720,000

PLAYER REVIEW: JACKSON RUTLEDGE

Age on Opening Day 2024: 24

How acquired: First-round pick, 2019 Draft

MLB service time: 19 days

2023 salary: $720,000

The Baltimore Orioles today announced the following promotions within the scouting departments in Baseball Operations: MATT BLOOD has been promoted from Director, Player Development to Vice President, Player Development and Domestic Scouting; KOBY PEREZ has been promoted from Senior Director, International Scouting to Vice President, International Scouting and Operations; MIKE SNYDER has been promoted from Director, Pro Scouting to Senior Director, Pro Scouting; GERARDO CABRERA has been promoted from Latin American Supervisor to Director, Latin American Scouting; KEVIN CARTER has been promoted from Senior Analyst, Pro Scouting to Manager, Pro Scouting; HENDRIK HERZ has been promoted from Senior Analyst, Scouting to Manager, Domestic Scouting Analysis; CHAD TATUM has been promoted from Senior Analyst, Scouting to Manager, Domestic Scouting; WILL ROBERTSON has been promoted from Senior Analyst, Pro Scouting to Special Assignment Scout; ALEX TARANDEK has been promoted from Analyst, Scouting to Senior Analyst, Scouting; MICHAEL WEIS has been named Senior Data Scientist, Draft Evaluation, and MARIA ARELLANO has been named Senior Manager, International Operations and Baseball Administration.

“We are very proud to announce this wave of promotions for a group of exceptionally talented and hard-working people,” said MIKE ELIAS, Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Each has played a vital role in the recent success of the franchise, including the numerous accolades for our top-ranked farm system, the expansion of our international scouting presence, and of course bringing the AL East championship back to Baltimore with a historic 101-win season. I would like to congratulate each of these individuals on their well-deserved promotions and thank John Angelos and the entire partnership group for their steadfast support and investment in Orioles baseball.”

Blood will be responsible for overseeing the Orioles’ player development and domestic scouting operations, including staff recruitment and development, implementation of player development strategies and programs throughout the entire minor league system, and First-Year Player Draft operations. He will continue to report to Elias. Blood joined the Orioles organization as the Director of Player Development in September of 2019. During his tenure, the Orioles have ascended organizational farm system rankings, now rated as the top system in all of baseball by Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline. He has 12 years of Major League experience and has spent 18 years in professional and amateur baseball. Prior to joining the Orioles, Blood served as the Director of Player Development for the Texas Rangers for the 2019 season. He also worked for the St. Louis Cardinals as an area scout from 2009-15 and served as the Team Director for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team from 2016-18. Blood graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2007 with a degree in economics. He resides in Baltimore with his wife, Allison, and their two children, Henry and Ben.

PLAYER REVIEW: JAKE IRVIN

Age on Opening Day 2024: 27

How acquired: Fourth-round pick, 2018 Draft

MLB service time: 152 days

2023 salary: $720,000

Part of the ripple effect from the Orioles’ wave of promotions today within the scouting department is a change in roles for Anthony Villa.

Villa is replacing Matt Blood as director of player development, according to an industry source. Blood has been promoted to vice president of player development and domestic scouting.

Villa was put in charge this year of overseeing the entire system as minor league hitting coordinator after working at the lower levels. He played in the White Sox system from 2016-18 and came to the organization prior to 2020 as hitting coach at Aberdeen before the pandemic forced the cancellation of the minor league season.

Among the announced promotions is the following:

Koby Perez is vice president of international scouting and operations. Mike Snyder is senior director of pro scouting. Gerardo Cabrera is director of Latin American scouting. Kevin Carter is manager of pro scouting. Hendrik Herz is manager of domestic scouting analysis. Chad Tatum is manager of domestic scouting. Will Robertson is special assignment scout. Alex Tarandek is a senior analyst in scouting. Michael Weis is a senior data scientist of draft evaluation. And Maria Arellano is senior manager of international operations and baseball administration.

PLAYER REVIEW: TREVOR WILLIAMS

Age on Opening Day 2024: 31

How acquired: Signed as free agent, December 2022

MLB service time: 7 years, 27 days

2023 salary: $6 million

The Orioles are making changes to the pitching side of their major league coaching staff.

According to a source, Chris Holt won’t serve as pitching coach in 2024 but maintains his duties as director of pitching, a title pinned to him prior to the pandemic 2020 season.

Assistant pitching coach Darren Holmes is leaving the organization, per the source, creating a second opening on the staff.

Holt was hired in 2019 as minor league pitching coordinator, following executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and vice president and assistant general manager Sig Mejdal from the Astros organization, where he was assistant pitching coordinator. The Orioles promoted Holt to pitching coach in 2021 as Doug Brocail’s replacement.

The latest switch enables Holt to concentrate fully on supervising the rest of the organization in the quest to develop more pitching, leveraging his skill set and experience. He retains access to and authority over the minor league pitchers while also able to work directly with the major league staff.

The Washington Nationals announced the hiring of three members in their scouting department on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

• Danny Haas – Vice President, Amateur Scouting
• Brad Ciolek – Senior Director, Amateur Scouting
• Reed Dunn – Assistant Director & National Crosschecker, Amateur Scouting

Haas, 47, joins the Nationals after spending the previous five seasons (2019-23) as a special assignment scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Prior to his time with Arizona, Haas worked for the Baltimore Orioles from 2012-18, first as a national crosschecker (2012-14) before being promoted to special assistant to the executive vice president of baseball operations (2015-18). He worked for the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2011, spending the final six seasons (2006-11) as a regional crosschecker, and in 2004, was named Boston’s Scout of the Year. He joined the scouting ranks with the Red Sox in 2002 after a five-year professional career from 1997 to 2001. A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Haas played college baseball at both the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. He was selected by the Red Sox the 18^th round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft out of Louisville where he earned a degree in criminal justice. 

Ciolek, 37, spent last 12 years as a member of the Baltimore Orioles scouting department, most recently as their director of draft operations (2022-23). Prior to that role, he served as their supervisor of domestic scouting operations (2019-22), assistant director of scouting (2017-19) and scouting administrator (2013-16). He joined the Orioles in 2011 as a player development intern at their complex in Sarasota, Florida. Prior to joining Baltimore, he spent four seasons (2007-10) with the New York Mets and one year (2012) as an analyst for Bloomberg Sports. Ciolek graduated from Seton Hall University in 2009 with a degree business administration and earned his Master of Business Administration in computer information systems from Colorado State University in 2017.

Dunn, 39, returns to the Nationals after working in the Atlanta Braves amateur scouting department from 2014-2023, most recently as their East Coast crosschecker. Dunn’s regional scouting coverage included the drafting of players such as Michael Harris II, Austin Riley, Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright, among others. Dunn began his career in baseball with the Washington Nationals in 2007 as a scouting assistant, a role he held until 2009, until he was promoted to scouting coordinator. He was promoted to area scout in 2010 and spent the next four years covering amateur players in Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. Dunn graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2007 with a degree in sports management.