Thanks to everyone who submitted questions yesterday for our Nats Q&A with a twist. Instead of answering live yesterday morning, I waited to compile all of the questions and answer them in whole this morning.
Here’s my best attempt at responding to almost all of your submissions. Apologies to those I couldn’t answer …
Good morning, Mark. How long does Crews have to prove he’s a real baseball player? The team needs him to be more than replacement level moving forward. – Katey2
For the record, Dylan Crews was more than replacement level this season. Not by a lot, but he was: 0.3 WAR in 85 games, which would work out to nearly 0.6 had he been healthy the entire year. That’s not me trying to suggest he was good, because he wasn’t. It was a disappointing first full MLB season for the former No. 2 overall pick. Some of that (the oblique injury) was out of his control. Some of it (the actual performance when healthy) was in his control. I think the important thing to keep in mind right now is that we’re still talking about a 23-year-old who has taken only 454 major league plate appearances. And, maybe more importantly, only took 652 plate appearances in the minors. That’s not much at all. Point is, he deserves more leash. Yes, partly because of his reputation as the No. 2 overall pick. But even more because of his extremely limited experience and haphazard rookie season that included not only a major injury but the firing of his manager and general manager in early July. You have to give him the entire 2026 season before making any hard judgments.
Hi, Mark. I’ll go for the brass ring: What minimal changes would it take to make the Nats a .500 team this year? I think they need to show progress this year in order to build fan interest in the team (as momentum toward even better success in the future). For example, I thought they had a potentially league-average batting squad last year, but they under-performed (House, Crews, Lowe, others). I still think defense and pitching are the keys to 2026 success. Where could we see the greatest return on investment? – cgire
To get to .500, the Nationals need some help from outside, I believe. They need a proven, middle-of-the-order bat. They need a proven, front-of-the-rotation arm. They need several proven relievers. They need a deeper bench. But they also need legitimate improvement from within. Their catchers have to be better (or they need to acquire another one to step in). James Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore need to be good-to-great for six months, not three. Dylan Crews and Brady House need to play like former first round picks should play. Cade Cavalli needs to be the real deal (and stay healthy). Those are the big things that will get them closer to 81 wins. There are plenty of small things, too, that can make a difference. They have to play cleaner defense, no question about it. They have to run the bases more effectively, no question about it.
I feel like the Nats need to make a bold move to acquire an impact free agent (and have some advancement because of such a move) to demonstrate their intent to compete and to prime the free agent pipeline toward them. Is there a particular free agent, either this winter or next, that you might like to see the team pursue for this cause even if it means they have to overpay to get him? – Oh-fer
This is basically the line of thinking that prompted the Nationals to sign Jayson Werth way back in December 2010. And a lot of people – myself included) – have been wondering the last two winters if they were ready to make that kind of move again. They not only have not made that move again, there are zero indications they were even trying to make that move. That’s troubling in a lot of ways. Is Paul Toboni the type of GM who will try to pull off something dramatic like that in his first winter on the job? We don’t know yet. We also don’t know if he’ll be given the resources to do it yet. But if Toboni wants to and has the ability to go big, my recommendation would be to sign a veteran position player who not only can provide a jolt to the lineup but also provide some desperately needed leadership in a ridiculously young clubhouse. The two current free agents that scream “production plus leadership” to me are Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman. The problem: Both are in high-demand, and both are probably more motivated to play for a win-now franchise than a rebuilding one. The Nats managed to convince Werth to come here on the heels of a 93-loss season by offering him two more years on his contract than anyone else offered. Are they prepared to do something like that now? I have my doubts, but we’ll see.
Zuke, hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving lasagna. Here’s what I’d like to know: Rank your three all-time favorite baseball-themed movies and why. Everyone else, chime in with your one favorite and why. And is there anyone else who cries every time you watch Ray play catch with his dad? I do. Certain era I suppose, I’m 72. And lastly … my calendar says 73 days until pitchers and catchers report! – TheWerthWhisperer
For the record, there was neither lasagna nor chocolate cake on my Thanksgiving table this year. Maybe next year. … As for my favorite baseball movies, the top three (in no particular order) have to be “Field of Dreams,” “The Natural” and “A League of Their Own.” As a little kid, it didn’t get any better to me than Roy Hobbs shattering the light standards to win the pennant. As a young adult, “Hey, Dad, you wanna have a catch?” packed an emotional punch. (And it’s only gotten stronger as I’ve gotten older and have a son of my own.) And while I enjoyed the adventures of the Rockford Peaches when that movie first came out, I think I’ve really begun to appreciate it even more over the decades. It’s really a fantastic movie in every way. And the fact it’s based on a true story makes it even better.
Alex Call has one more World Series ring than Bryce Harper. In your opinion, what two offseason moves should the Phillies make to get Harper his bling before their window closes? Would either of your two moves/trades possibly benefit D.C.? – Swooned By June
I guess the move Dave Dombrowski really needs to make is to trade for Alex Call! I’m joking, of course. But there’s also a bit of truth behind that joke, because in my opinion what has really plagued the Phillies the last few postseasons has been a lack of quality at-bats by their star players. They’ve got some of the most feared sluggers in baseball, but they’re mostly all-or-nothing guys. When they’re hot, they’re dangerous. When they’re cold, they’re awful. The addition of one or two guys who can just grind out quality at-bats on a regular basis, even if they don’t hit many homers, seems to me just what that team needs. I’d also argue they need a more reliable bullpen, which has probably been Dombrowski’s Achilles heel throughout his career in multiple cities.
Do we need to truly retool the rebuild or ramp it up? Lots of folks wanting to trade some of our young talent for more prospects, but I don’t recall that being a strategy pre-2012. Opening up that wallet and extending early a couple of those we are so fearful of losing, and signing some veteran leadership would seem to really push this team to respectability faster than retooling. Personally, I’d love to see the team sign players like Bregman, Realmuto, Alonso, a top rotation SP, and a couple of late inning BP pieces. This team can afford it, and these are the types of players who could really help these young kids and push this team over the top. NatsTown has been patient enough. Time to push forward in my opinion. – dcNatz
One of my top questions when Toboni took over was: Do you believe this team already has pieces in place to win, or do you believe you need to start over? He didn’t give a real definitive answer to that, and I understand why he didn’t want to reveal his true feelings. But reading between the lines, I sensed that he’s more focused on long-term roster-building than short-term. Which could lead to the trades of guys like Gore and Abrams who might be free agents before this team is ready to contend again. Why not try to lock them up, so they can be part of a future winner? Sure, but as always it takes two to tango. Gore is represented by Scott Boras, and we know how that typically goes. Abrams is repped by Roc Nation, so there’s perhaps a better chance of convincing him to re-sign. But let’s acknowledge he also needs to prove he can play at an All-Star level for an entire season. Are you ready to commit nine figures to him before he does that?
Good morning, Mark. First time posting. When do you think the Nats will compete for the playoffs again? 2026? No. 2027? Should be. 2028? Better be. – Natsfanforever
This kind of ties in with the previous question, and really gets to the heart of what the new front office is attempting to do. While I don’t think Toboni and Co. are punting on 2026, my best guess is they still view that as a stepping-stone season to try to get better but probably not get over the hump yet. You would like to think they could do it in 2027, but the big question there is whether they will be aggressive in trying to build a potential contender if there’s a lockout next winter. Hopefully, they will, but it’s impossible to know yet. Now, if they aren’t “going for it” by 2028, we’ve got a major problem on our hands.
What is the status of the Nats coaching staff? When will the Nats announce their entire coaching staff? – swnat
They’ve hired about one-half of the major league staff so far: Michael Johns (bench coach), Simon Mathews (pitching coach), Bobby Wilson (catching coach), Sean Doolittle (title TBA) and Andrew Aydt (assistant hitting coach). They still need a lead hitting coach, a third base coach, a first base coach, possibly a bullpen coach (unless that’s where Doolittle will be stationed) and maybe one or two other people in to-be-determined roles. I’d like to think those will be filled and announced before the Winter Meetings begin Dec. 8, but don’t hold me to that.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred removed the lifetime ban of Pete “Gamblin’” Rose, as Rose was no longer alive. Do you think he will be elected, at some point, to the Hall of Fame, in light of the recent gambling scandals involving the MLB and NBA? – SenatorsDC
Let’s first explain how this process works. Rose never did – and never will now, because too much time has passed – appear on the BBWAA ballot. The writers were never given the option of voting for or against him. At this point, he can only appear on the “Classic Baseball Era” committee ballot, which is next scheduled for December 2027. Rose will probably be on that ballot along with others whose playing careers mostly came prior to 1980. Then it will be up to the 16 voters (a collection of actual Hall of Famers, baseball executives, historians and a few writers) who participate in that process to decide his fate. At least 12 of them need to vote yes for induction. My hunch is that it’s not going to happen. Too many people around the sport continue to believe what Rose did disqualified him from Cooperstown, even if Rob Manfred (under political pressure) reinstated him posthumously. But the wild card to all this is the actual makeup of that 16-person panel, which changes each go around. If there are enough Rose supporters (like former Reds players or executives with ties to the organization), it’s possible he could garner enough votes.
Any indication that the Nats will at least try to be active in Asian markets? – SimAlex2000
I very much want to ask Paul Toboni about this, and just haven’t had the right opportunity to do it yet. Hopefully at the Winter Meetings. When he signed Shinosuke Ogasawara last winter – a move that didn’t exactly work out – Mike Rizzo explained it wasn’t just about the left-hander but trying to establish some presence in Japan. Maybe there would be bigger signings to come. Problem is, Rizzo is no longer running the organization. I have no idea what Toboni thinks about the Asian market. You would think he’s interested in becoming active there, but it also takes an investment in time and money. Does he have more pressing areas that require both right now?
IIRC, money is still owed to Stephen Strasburg in 2026 (right/wrong?). Is that remaining outlay still a drag on this winter’s signing activity, or is that water way under the bridge for accounting purposes? – Oh-fer
We are finally about to enter the seventh and final year of Stephen Strasburg’s $245 million contract, which was signed way back in December 2019. Now, obviously Strasburg hasn’t pitched since 2022. And he officially retired in 2024. We never learned the exact financial details of his agreement with the team, but the important thing to remember is that he still counts about $35 million towards the Nationals’ 2026 payroll for luxury tax purposes (whether he’s actually being paid that amount in 2026 or not). My sense is that it still plays some role in the club’s decision-making, though if we’re being honest, they’re paying so little to everyone else (about $60 million) on the current roster, it shouldn’t matter and there should be plenty of resources still to pursue free agents this winter. But, yes, in theory they’ll finally be free of that albatross next winter and can spend even more on other players.
Besides the press box, in your opinion, where are the best seats at Nats Park to watch a game? – LetsGoNats
So, I really don’t attend many games at Nationals Park that I’m not covering from the press box. At most, one per year, if I decide to go with my family on a day off. But I’ve been all around the park enough to have a sense of the best seats. I really think it boils down to personal preference. I would personally always rather sit somewhat behind home plate than down the lines, even if the seat is higher up. But I know people who would rather sit low down the lines. And I know people who love to sit in the outfield and try to catch home runs. If you can afford it, I think both the Diamond Club (Sec. 119-126) and the Champions Club (Sec. 206-221) offer the best views from behind the plate or slightly off-center. If that’s too pricey, the 300 level right above them is probably the best bang-for-your-buck choice. I know a lot of season ticket holders sit in those sections.