PROSPECT REVIEW: CAYDEN WALLACE
Age on opening day 2025: 22
How acquired: Traded with Competitive Balance A pick (Caleb Lomavita) from Royals for Hunter Harvey in July 2024; originally drafted in second round by Royals in 2022 from Arkansas
Ranking: No. 11 per MLB Pipeline, No. 10 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
PROSPECT REVIEW: CALEB LOMAVITA
Age on opening day 2025: 22
How acquired: Drafted in Competitive Balance A round in 2024 from University of California, Berkeley; pick acquired via trade along with Cayden Wallace from Royals for Hunter Harvey in July 2024
Ranking: No. 10 per MLB Pipeline, No. 9 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2027
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
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 20th 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 20th 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.
PROSPECT REVIEW: LUKE DICKERSON
Age on opening day 2025: 19
How acquired: Drafted in second round in 2024 from Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, N.J.
Ranking: No. 7 per MLB Pipeline, No. 16 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2028
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
PROSPECT REVIEW: SEAVER KING
Age on opening day 2025: 21
How acquired: Drafted No. 10 overall in 2024 from Wake Forest
Ranking: No. 5 per MLB Pipeline, No. 8 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2027
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
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.”
PROSPECT REVIEW: ANDREW PINCKNEY
Age on opening day 2025: 24
How acquired: Drafted in fourth round in 2023 from University of Alabama
Ranking: No. 28 per MLB Pipeline, No. 21 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2026
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
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.
PROSPECT REVIEW: CRISTHIAN VAQUERO
Age on opening day 2025: 20
How acquired: Signed as international free agent, January 2022
Ranking: No. 23 per MLB Pipeline, No. 12 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2027
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
PROSPECT REVIEW: YOHANDY MORALES
Age on opening day 2025: 23
How acquired: Drafted in second round in 2023 from the University of Miami (Fla.)
Ranking: No. 9 per MLB Pipeline, No. 7 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
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.
PROSPECT REVIEW: DAYLEN LILE
Age on opening day 2025: 22
How acquired: Drafted in second round in 2021 from Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky.
Ranking: No. 12 per MLB Pipeline, No. 17 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
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.
PROSPECT REVIEW: ELIJAH GREEN
Age on opening day 2025: 21
How acquired: Drafted No. 5 overall in 2022 from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Ranking: No. 21 per MLB Pipeline, No. 19 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2026
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
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 ...
PROSPECT REVIEW: ROBERT HASSELL III
Age on opening day 2025: 23
How acquired: Traded with MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, James Wood, Jarlin Susana and Luke Voit from Padres for Juan Soto and Josh Bell in August 2022; originally drafted No. 8 overall by Padres in 2020 from Independence High School in Thompson’s Station, Tenn.
Ranking: No. 13 per MLB Pipeline, No. 14 per Baseball America
MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline
