The conclusion of Day Two at the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings really picked up steam towards the end of the day.

Let’s dive right into it…

Guardians to pick No. 1 for 1st time; Nationals pick at Ten

It shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise that the Nationals wouldn’t be getting the first pick in the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft after the rules were changed; thanks to the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, that script has changed. The non-playoff teams are in a lottery for the top six picks in the Draft. The lottery will take place at the Winter Meetings.

The Cleveland Guardians had the ninth-best odds at winning the first pick in the draw at just 2%, and equally as shocking was the Cincinnati Reds, who finished 82-80, are now going to pick at number two.

The Guardinas first pick marks the first time in franchise history that the Cleveland Guardians (a team that has existed since 1901 in some form or another) will make the first pick in the draft.

Now, on to the Nationals…

As expected, the Washington Nationals will now get the number ten overall pick in the 2024 MLB Amauter draft, despite finishing with the league a fifth-worst record at 71-91. However, after the Nationals pick in the first round, they will pick in their appropriate number 5th position for the remaining rounds.

This year, the Nationals will have the tenth pick for the first time since 2009, when they received a compensatory pick after failing to sign 2008 first-rounder RHP Aaron Crow. They used that pick to draft closer Drew Storen. We hope that this time, the Nationals can select a better player.

There are many excellent college prospects that the Nationals could choose from. I recommend checking out [Baseball America’s list of the top 100 prospects].

At the Nats Report, we will examine some of these prospects in more detail in the coming months and predict which ones might be available when the Nationals pick at number ten.

The 2024 MLB Draft will occur on July 14 in Arlington, Texas, two days before the All-Star Game hosted by the Rangers.

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2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft Order & Results

The 2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft begins today at 2:00 p.m. EDT which is held to mark the “end” of the MLB Winter Meettings. Currently, the Nationals will pick at number five.

Which players are eligible for the Rule Five draft? Any player who has not been added to a team’s 40-man roster is eligible if they meet the following criteria:

1. They signed at 18 years or younger and have played five professional seasons
2. They signed at 19 years or younger and have played four professional seasons

Here is the top ten draft order:

1. Oakland A’s
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Washington Nationals
6. St. Louis Cardinals
7. Los Angeles Angels
8. New York Mets
9. Pittsburgh Pirates
10. Cleveland Guardians

Be sure to follow us on social media throughout the day for the latest headlines and who the Nationals pick today at 2:00 p.m.

Davey Martinez & Mike Rizzo Meet the Press Part II

Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo have done multiple interviews during this year’s Winter Meetings; it’s been hard to keep up with all the great quotes and news from those interviews.

GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo did an interview with MLB Network and mentioned that he was looking and will be aggressive when or if an opportunity arises for the Nationals to sign a player. However, it seems from both Rizzo and Martinez that they are going to continue to be focused on developing the prospects that they have already within the team.

During the interview on MLB Network, Rizzo stated: “We’re not going to block any prospects from playing and developing at the Big League level, but we’re certainly going to try and infuse some talent into the roster to compete at a higher level [in 2024].”

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been following the team's direction over the past few years. What surprised me was that I think Rizzo has publicly stated this philosophy for the first time.

The other big Nationals news coming out of the Winter Meetings so far was Davey Martinez’s comment about the future of Luis Garica. According to an interview that Martinez gave, Garica isn’t a lock at starting at second base for the Nationals in 2024.

Talk Nats gives an interesting perspective on some options for the Nationals at second base:

But there does not seem to be a competitor to go up against Garcia unless Carter Kieboom or Ildemaro Vargas move to second base. Who knows, maybe House who was drafted as a shortstop goes to second base. Obviously Martinez and Rizzo have a plan, right?

Only time will tell what happens.

Former Washington Nationals Player News

Erick Feede

The biggest news coming out of this year’s Winter Meetings seems to be the signing of RHP Erick Feede to the White Sox for two years and $15 million.

After improving during this year’s 2023 KBO season, where he won the MVP, Feede used that to leverage his way back into the Majors. Congrats to him!

Soto to the Yankees?

According to multiple reports Juan Soto to the New York Yankees trade is picking up steam. It’s kind of an interesting move for the Yankees if the rumors are true. The Yankees might be trading away some top prospects for a one-year rental or will this trade be leverage for them to land the former Washington National outfielder for the remainder of his career. Either way, the Nationals' trade back in 2022 looks better.

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