The Morning Briefing: Free Agency starts this Week

The Nationals have widespread roster adjustments coming when free agency starts at 9 a.m. after the World Series ends.

by Richard Wachtel

Updated October 27, 2020

Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans.

Today is Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Here is what everyone is talking about today in Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals.

Washington Nationals Headlines

Free Agency Starts this Week

Believe it or not, free agency could start as early as tomorrow morning or as late as Thursday of this week. So buckle up, Nationals fans, because here we go.

Yesterday, NBC Sports Washington reporter Todd Dybas did a great job of breaking down the needs for the Washington Nationals. From the article: "The Nationals are full of positions which need tending to. Not by big players, either. They need a fresh batch of starter-level players to lengthen their lineup, aid their pitching, and recover their standing as a contender in the National League. The Nationals have up to 16 free agents departing this offseason end quote. [Read the full article]

Featured right now on the Nats Report website, we take a look at one free agent that will become available: Trevor Bauer. From our article: "The Washington Nationals are looking to fill the fourth spot in the pitching rotation that could be open with Anibal Sanchez leaving in free agency. Having a more low key role with the Nationals, Bauer would be pitching behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. This could create a less stressful situation for Bauer which could lead to another great year. If Bauer wants a one year contract, it could work in the Nationals favor. With a one year contract, Bauer could become a bridge to the future Washington Nationals pitching prospects that are playing in the minor leagues right now. A one year deal in the upwards of 40 million dollars might be a lot for a year of service. A multi year deal might be the route that many teams go with a total price tag of 250 million dollars." [Read the full article]

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The Economics of Baseball

TalkNats.com put together another must read the article. This article is for those who love the economics of Baseball. It's a must-read. From the article: "Expanding salaries will not be happening in 2021 for a variety of reasons that include COVID uncertainty on 2021 revenues, but mostly because the quality of players starts with Trevor Bauer and drops off significantly after him to Marcel Ozuna, George Springer, J.T. Realmuto and then the next tier after them. Overall, it is one of the weakest free agent markets in years. Many players will jump for a one-year pillow deal with the hopes that salaries will rebound the following year. Others will find themselves in a cruel numbers game of musical chairs and will find the unemployment line like Yasiel Puig last year... When cash is king, the smart general managers will try to structure deferred salary deals to free up cash for 2021 and 2022. That could help some players get signed if they are amenable to structuring their contract as such." [Read the full article].

Other Washington Nationals Headlines

Matt LeCroy had new role with Washington Nationals put on hold in 2020.. via Federal Baseball.
On Juan Soto's 22nd Birthday A Look Back On His 2019 Playoff Run via District on Deck.
Stevenson threw himself into 2021 mix with torrid finish via MASN Washington.
Gerardo Parra finally got his Washington Nationals' championship ring via Russian Machine Never Breaks.
No designated hitter in 2021? That's great news for the Nationals via NBC Sports Washington.

Around the Horn: Major League Baseball

History can be made Tonight

One win away from their first World Series Championship with the L.A. Dodgers since 1988; an L.A. Dodger has already made history in this series: Clayton Kershaw.

On Sunday night, with the strikeout of Kevin Kiermaier in the fifth inning, Clayton Kershaw passed Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander for the most strikeouts in Major League Baseball history. As of Sunday night, Kershaw has 206 career postseason strikeouts. His record of most career postseason strikeouts will add another line to his already impressive baseball resume.

Another exciting fact if the Dodgers win tonight. According to MLB.com, the last time the Dodgers won a World Series at home, the only title they ever clinched at Dodger Stadium was way back in 1963.

[We will have more about the World Series in today's edition of GameNotes, so make sure that you subscribe today!]

MLB is dealing with Historic Debt.

From small businesses to the travel industry, everyone has been affected economically somehow from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, according to a report, Major League Baseball can be added to that list. The league lost $3.1 billion during the shortened season, according to a report by Evan Dreflich of the Athletic. Additionally, the 30 teams combined lost $8.3 billion overall, according to an interview given by commissioner Rob Manfred to Sportico's Barry M. Bloom yesterday. From the Sportico article: "We are going to be at historic high levels of debt... And it's going to be difficult for the industry to weather another year where we don't have fans in the ballpark and have other limitations on how much we can't play and how we can play."