At the beginning of the offseason, there were many holes that Mike Rizzo needed to address. Starting rotation, bullpen, infield, outfield, backup catcher, power bat, the Nationals needed to address deficiencies at all of these spots. Rizzo did a great job in addressing the team's MANY needs, all the while not going over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold that many owners do not like, especially the Lerners.

As we inch even closer to when pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, we thought we'd hand out grades for the Washington Nationals' off-season moves. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Player: INF Josh Bell

Date: December 24, 2020

Contract Details: Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-handed pitcher Wil Crowe and right-handed pitching prospect Eddy Yean. $6.35 million for the 2021 season.

Grade: B+

Statistics:

In 2020, Bell hit .226 with three doubles, eight home runs, 22 RBI and 22 walks in 57 games. He finished the season strong, going 19-for-66 (.288) with a double, four homers, eight RBI, nine walks, and nine runs scored in 21 games from September 6 through September 27.

Bell finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017 after leading National League rookies in hits (140), doubles (26), and walks (66). He ranked second in home runs (26), RBI (90), runs (75), triples (6), and total bases (256). His 26 home runs were the most by a switch-hitting rookie in National League history.

Before the pandemic shortened season, Bell posted numerous career bests in 2019, including 37 doubles, 37 home runs, 116 RBI and a .936 OPS.

Reason:

The only real reason why I didn't give the Josh Bell acquisition a higher grade is his poor 2020 season. If the Washington Nationals get the 2019 all-star version of Josh Bell this season, we will look back at this trade as another great find for Rizzo. Bell gives the team a legitimate power bat that can hit behind Soto and Turner and a good first baseman under team control for two full seasons; what else could you have wanted?

Download and Subscribe to In the Clubhouse with The Nats Report

Player: OF Kyle Schwarber

Date: January 9, 2021

Contract Details: One-year for $10 million

Grade: B+

Statistics:

In 2020, Schwarber led the Cubs and ranked sixth among Major League left-handed hitters (15th in all of MLB) in exit velocity (92.8), according to MLB Statcast. He tied for the team lead with 30 walks, while his 11 home runs were tied for second on the club. Schwarber appeared in 59 of the 60 games, making 48 starts in left field and nine as Chicago's designated hitter. He did not commit an error in 73 total chances in left field. While he doesn't have the reputation as a great defensive outfielder, Schwarber ranks among the best left fielders in the National League for throwing out runners, finishing in the top four in outfield assists in four straight seasons.

In 551 Major League games spanning six seasons, Schwarber has hit just .230, but produced a solid .336 on-base percentage and a .480 slugging percentage. He clubbed 71 doubles and 121 home runs, drove in 279 runs, drew 274 walks, and scored 295 runs along the way.

Reason:

The single reason why I didn't give this signing a higher grade is that I don't believe that Schwarber is truly a defensive upgrade in the corner outfield spots, which the Nationals needed to improve on this offseason. If Schwarber had a higher defensive rating, then this would have been an A+ signing (If the National League uses the designated hitter this season, it still could be!).

I liked the signing because Schwarber is another power bat in the middle of the order that will draw some walks and protect batters who hit ahead of him in the National's lineup. A big plus is that he wants to play in Washington, D.C, at least from Schwarber's public comments. Teams want a player who wants to be with a team rather than a hired gun that only signs because they showed them the money.

Player: LHP Jon Lester

Date: January 18, 2021

Contract Details: One-year deal for $2 million in 2021, then a deferred $3 million signing bonus to be paid in 2023, for a $5 million guarantee to pitch in Washington come spring.

Grade: B+

Statistics:

In 2020, Lester went 3-3 and pitched in 12 games with a high ERA of 5.16. However, in 2019, the last full season of play, Lester did have a winning record of 13-10 and an ERA of 4.46 in 31 games. In his career, the veteran southpaw has a 3.64 ERA in the regular season, which dips to 2.51 in 26 career playoff games, including three World Series Championships. Long story short, Lester is a battle-tested veteran, who knows how to pitch in big games.

Reason:

It has taken me a bit to come along with this signing. At first, I was a bit disappointed, but this signing makes sense after more time has passed. With Jon Lester, the Washington Nationals now have a solid 1, 2, 3, and fourth starters and do not have to take a gamble on having Austin Voth, Erick Fedde, or Joe Ross step into that role, when none of them have seized the opportunity to be the team's fifth starter.

Additionally, IF one of the Nationals' top three pitchers misses time for injury, Lester can easily be one of those reliable inning eaters, who will likely give Washington a chance to win every time he starts.

Player: INF Ryan Zimmerman

Date: January 23, 2021

Grade: B

Contract Details: One Year for $1 Million

Statistics:

Zimmerman, 36, has spent his entire 15-year Major League career with the Washington Nationals. Entering the 2021 season, he stands as the all-time Nationals (2005-pres.) leader in nearly every offensive category. In 1,689 career games, he's hit .279 with 401 doubles, 270 home runs, 1,015 RBI, 630 walks, and 936 runs scored. His 270 career home runs are the most in Washington D.C. baseball history.

Zimmerman safely hit in 10 of Washington's 17 Postseason games en route to becoming 2019 World Series Champions. He homered in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and homered in Game 1 of the World Series off Gerrit Cole — the first World Series home run in Nationals history. In 2019, Zimmerman hit .257 with nine doubles, six homers, 27 RBI, 17 walks, and 20 runs scored in 52 games. He battled plantar fasciitis in his right foot, leading to two stints on the Injured List that season, and opted out of pandemic-shortened 2020 season due to family health concerns.

Reason:

Since 2005, Zimmerman has been a staple with the Washington Nationals. It would have been strange to see the Nationals play a full season without him wearing a curly W. Zimmerman will serve primarily as a pinch hitter and backup to Josh Bell at first base. "Mr. National" will also likely start against left-handed pitchers, who he has dominated with a .311/.390/.527 career slash line. Even in a limited role, we are glad that he is going to be back.

Player: Reliever/Closer Brad Hand

Date: January 24, 2021

Grade: A

Contract Details: One year deal - $10.5 million

Statistics: In the abbreviated 2020 season, Hand led the league with 16 saves and 21 games finished while producing a career-best 2.05 ERA and 0.77 WHIP. According to the Pitchf/X system, the 30-year-old southpaw relied mostly on his slider and a four-seam fastball that topped out in the low 90s during the season.

Reasoning:

Besides signing Jon Lester, signing Brad Hand to a contract was one of Rizzo's best moves off this offseason for multiple reasons. First off, the fact that the Nationals were able to keep him from signing with the division rival New York Mets, really makes this signing a great one off the bat. It has been widely reported that Hand had many offers, but wanted to come to Washington D.C. and, reportedly, close out games for the Nationals. That is a player that you want to have on your team.

Secondly, I think for the first time in a long while, the Washington Nationals have a very solid bullpen and proven late-inning pitchers/closers. Hand will join Daniel Hudson and Will Harris in the back end of the bullpen and allows Dave Martinez to focus on matchups instead of holding his breath for dear life every time a game is close in the late innings.

Player: Catcher Alex Avila

Date: January 28, 2021
Grade: C
Contract Details: One year, $1.5 million
Statistics: In 2020, Avila had 49 at-bats and played in 23 games for the Detroit Tigers. He hit .184 and has a career batting average of .235. However, in his 12-year career behind the plate, Avila has a fielding percentage of .995, with only 37 errors.

Reason:

Out of all the signings this offseason, I would have to say that this was the most disappointing signing Rizzo made. I think that some other great catchers were available. However, Rizzo turned to an older catcher and one that doesn't have a lot of power at the plate. Alternatively, they could have traded for Willson Contreras or even consider signing a veteran free agent with better track records like Wilson Ramos or Tyler Flowers.

If it was a cost saving move, another option would have been to give prospects Tres Barrera and Raudy Read or non-roster invitee Wellington Castillo a chance to win the back-up catcher job in Spring Training. Any of those three would likely put up similar offensive numbers to Avila, although the prospects might lack the defensive experience a veteran catcher can provide.

Conclusion:

Rizzo had to keep Washington's payroll beneath the Competitive Balance Tax threshold while trying to fill a lot of holes in the roster. He also had to leave enough room in the Nationals' budget for any in-season acquisitions that could be needed to help with a run in the playoffs.

I believe that Rizzo did a great job overall. I would have liked to see Washington make a bigger splash with a top free agent signing or at least give longer contracts for the ones they did sign.

But as long as the Learners are saving up and are going to make Soto and Turner offers that they can't refuse, I am okay with the short-term deals. Who knows, maybe Mike Rizzo will surprise everyone with a big move before Opening Day. No matter what, I can't wait for baseball season! It's going to be a lot of fun.

Edited by: Jonathan Mailloux