With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training on the horizon, the excitement builds in Major League Baseball. Yesterday marked the start of the International Signing Period, a crucial time for teams to add promising young players from across the globe to their farm systems. We will get to the full story later in this morning's briefing. But First...

Good Thursday morning, Washington Nationals fans. Here are the latest headlines, news, analysis, and more around the Washington Nationals for  Thursday, January 16, 2025.

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Countdown Clock:

• Pitchers & Catchers (February 12) - 27 Days

• Official start of Spring Training (February 20) - 36 Days

• Nationals first Spring Training Game (February 22) - 37 Days

• OPENING DAY (Thursday, March 27, 2025) - 70 Days!

In the coming weeks, we will close our coverage of the 2024-2025 offseason and kick off our coverage of the start of Spring Training. Be sure to subscribe to the Nats Report to get the latest news, analysis and so much more as the Nationals kick off 2025 Spring Training.

We published close to and might be over 100 updates during the offseason ng the offseason, it's been such a great offseason here at the Nats Report, and we want to thank you, our readers, for all your support during the offseason!

📰 Driving the Day at the Nats ReportHere are some top stories we're tracking in the Nats Report Newsroom

🗺️ International Signing Period started Yesterday. The start of the International signing period drives the day here in the Nats Report Newsroom. However, before we get to the official signings, here is a quick recap of how the International signings work.

Each Major League Baseball organization has a designated "bonus pool" to sign international amateur free agents. Several factors, including team revenue, market size, and the signing of certain free agents, determine this pool's size. Teams can also trade bonus pool money in increments of $250,000.

However, exceeding the allotted pool money is strictly prohibited. While teams can trade away any portion of their bonus pool, they can only acquire a maximum of 60% of their original pool amount, limiting the potential for significant pool increases through trades. Signing players for bonuses of $10,000 or less does not impact a team's bonus pool, allowing them to sign multiple players at lower costs without affecting their ability to pursue high-profile prospects. The signing period primarily focuses on 16 and 17-year-old players. However, any international free agent under 25 can sign until December 15th of the current year.

Here is the full list of the Prospects that the Washington Nationals signed yesterday.

These new prospects will all train at the Nationals' Dominican Academy and are expected to compete in the Dominican Summer League this summer.

Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

• Ronny Bello - 2B

• Junior Castillo - C

• Marconi German- SS

• Juan Lopez - RHP

• Adrian Tusen - SS

• Brayan Cortesia - SS

• Esnaider Vargas - OF

Venezuela 🇻🇪

• Jesus Carrasco - RHP

• Brayan Cortesia - SS

• Edgardo Figueroa - C

• Joniberbis Garces - OF

• Daniel Hernandez - C

• Herman Mejia - LHP

• Manuel Ruiz - RHP

• Jhondel Salas - RHP

🤝 Another Minor League Signing? It was reported early evening yesterday that the Nationals and outfielder Franchy Cordero have agreed to a minor-league deal. Cordero, 30, has seen big league action in parts of seven seasons but spent last year with the Saitama Seibu Lions of NPB. Add another minor league signing to the National front office's growing list.

The big picture: While the Nationals front office has demonstrated a willingness to improve the roster this offseason, with shrewd acquisitions like Jorge López, Josh Bell, Amed Rosario, Trevor Williams, and Michael Soroka, and the trade for Nathaniel Lowe, the team's actions have fallen short of the "step on the gas" mentality promised by ownership and the front office.

✍️ Nats Report setting the agenda. In December, one of our newest writers, Johnny District, wrote an article asking if the Nationals should trade for Jordan Montgomery. From the article " I think trading for Montgomery could be savvy due to the fact that the Nationals probably won't have to give up much to acquire him since the Diamondbacks are already making concessions before any type of negotiation has even started."

Other media outlets, such as Sports Illustrated and others, are now asking that same question, and some rumors are floating around that the Nationals might be interested in Montgomery. This is why you need to subscribe to the Nats Report to stay ahead of everyone else!

🎙️ ICYMI: Washington Nationals and Costa Media extend Spanish-language radio partnership through the 2027 season. Earlier this week, the Washington Nationals and Costa Media extended their Spanish-language radio partnership through the 2027 season. From the press release: "The Washington Nationals today announced an agreement with Costa Media, extending the official Spanish-language radio broadcast partnership through the 2027 season. During the Nationals’ upcoming season, fans can tune in to DC 87.7 FM and La Pantera WFAX 100.7 FM/1220 AM for live Spanish-language broadcasts for both home and away games, with in-game play-by-play analysis, 15-minute pre-and postgame-shows-,-in-depth organizational reporting and player interviews." Read more here.

⏳ SPEED READSWhat we think the Washington Nationals front office is reading

📌 2025 ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Early-Season Schedule Unveiled (ESPN)

📌 How Roki Sasaki’s life, career, and outlook were shaped by disaster (The Athletic)

📌 3 finalists to sign Sasaki, but it's looking like a 2-team race for star pitcher (MLB)

📌 Notable International Signings (MLB Trade Rumors)

📌 A’s sign two-way teen Shotaro Morii — the potential next Shohei Ohtani — in record deal (New York Post)