Moving On from the 2023 MLB Season
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Moving On from the 2023 MLB Season
Welcome to the official start of the MLB Offseason.
Although the Texas Rangers clinched the World Series weeks ago, today marks the official commencement of the MLB offseason.
The Washington Nationals might not be as active as we hope, but all I desire is to witness the team taking significant strides forward in the upcoming 2024 season.
Starting tomorrow, GMs and team executives will convene in the beautiful setting of Scottsdale, Arizona. The agenda is anticipated to cover a range of topics, including reviewing rule changes from the 2023 season, discussing the postseason format, and addressing various other issues within the game.
Free agency officially begins
Free agency officially begins today, signaling the start of the Hot Stove season. GMs and team executives will virtually meet with numerous agents in Scottsdale, engaging in crucial dialogues with clubs across the league to gauge interest in their players.
Moreover, tonight at 5 p.m. ET marks the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers to their free agents, enabling them to receive Draft-pick compensation if the player signs with another club.
As per reports and logical assumptions, several of the league's top free agents, including Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, and Josh Hader, are likely to receive a qualifying offer valued at $20.325 million this season.
The view from South Capitol Street
The Washington Nationals aren’t projected to make significant moves in the free-agent market this offseason, despite the hopes of many Nationals fans. The team has been actively restructuring its front office with key appointments.
Recently, the Nationals announced the promotion of Eddie Longosz to Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Player Development and Administration. Longosz, who has served as Washington's director of scouting operations for the past eight years, was elevated from his assistant director position after the 2015 season. In his role, Longosz assisted Mike Rizzo in all facets of Washington's amateur, professional, and international scouting operations.
The Nationals have also revamped their scouting department by recruiting three new personnel: Danny Haas as Vice President of Amateur Scouting, Brad Ciolek as Senior Director of Amateur Scouting, and Reed Dunn as Assistant Director and National Crosschecker in Amateur Scouting.
Additionally, the Nationals have already declined Victor Robles's club option. With this decision, the Nationals must now choose between not offering him a contract for 2024 or potentially proposing an amount higher than the $2.325 million he earned this season through arbitration.
It's worth noting that despite the Nationals' 40-man roster currently projecting 41 players once the individuals on the 60-day injured list are activated, Robles won't immediately become a free agent due to his remaining year of arbitration eligibility.
If the Texas Rangers could transform from over a hundred losses to champions within two years, the Nationals could likewise be on the path to reclaiming the World Champions title in the near future.
The Nationals can and must perform better. The fans eagerly await. How many days until the Pitchers and Catchers report? We can't wait!
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