First Full Squad Workout: The Morning Briefing

Here are your Tuesday Morning headlines, analysis, and more for February 18, 2025.

Author

Richard Wachtel
February 18, 2025 • Reading Time: 7 minutes

Good Morning, Happy Tuesday Morning.

Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

It will be a high of 34 degrees outside the Nats Report Newsroom, with another snowstorm expected to hit the DMV later this week. Meanwhile, it will be a high of 72 and partly cloudy down in West Palm Beach, FL.

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Driving the day at the Nats Report
Here are some top stories we're tracking in the Nats Report Newsroom

SPRING TRAINING 2025 COVERAGE
First Full-Squad Workout

Leading this morning’s briefing is the official first full-squad workout that will be happening at Nationals Spring Training down in West Palm Beach today. Even though the team has been down and working out, today will mark the official start and opening of Nationals Spring Training. The sounds of balls hitting bats, the thrill of seeing double play drills, batting practice, and so much more. Yes, we made it. Ah, baseball is officially back!

What can we expect from the Nationals this season? We want to hear from YOU. Head over to our Spring Training Q&A and leave your thoughts.

Don’t forget to visit our live Spring Training blog as we provide live updates from West Palm Beach, analysis, and so much more throughout the day.

SPRING TRAINING 2025 COVERAGE
Nationals name LHP MacKenzie Gore as Spring Training Opening Day Starter.

In a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone, it looks like LHP MacKenzie Gore will get the nod for the Spring Training opening game against the Houston Astros this Saturday, according to Nationals Manager Davey Martinez.

Since Josiah Gray is sidelined from having Tommy John surgery, the obvious next choice to have the Nationals kick off Spring Training action is MacKenzie Gore. While we are also weeks away, it will not surprise anyone that Gore will get the nod and be the Opening Day starter when the Nationals kick off the season against Divisional Rivals the Philadelphia Phillies on March 27th. The other pitcher who might get the opening-day start could be Jake Irvin, but our money is on Gore.

SPRING TRAINING 2025 COVERAGE (RUMOR)
Washington Nationals interested in reliever Lucas Sims

According to Chris Cotillo, Red Sox beat writer for Mass Live.com, the Washington Nationals are nearing a deal with right-handed reliever Lucas Sims.

Turning 31 in May, Sims spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Boston Red Sox at last year's deadline. The trade proved unfavorable for Boston, who gave up promising prospect Ovis Portes. Sims struggled after the trade, posting a 6.43 ERA in 15 appearances, which were interrupted by a three-week absence due to a lat strain.

Stay tuned to our social media channels and our live Spring Training blog throughout the day for the latest news about the signing.

Speed Reads
What we think the Washington Nationals front office is reading

📌 The new Moneyball: Analytics showed that you can improve all pitching by upgrading defense for less money than signing aces! (Talk Nats)

📌 Joe Buck to call Yankees-Brewers Opening Day game, his first MLB broadcast since 2021 (The Athletic)

📌 MLB 26-and-under power rankings: Taking stock of the young talent in each MLB organization, starting with the Phillies at No. 30 (Yahoo! Sports)

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