Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, February 16, 2024.

Welcome to the Morning Briefing! Haden here, let’s talk some baseball.

Leading this Morning’s Briefing: Manfred is Gone

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that he will not seek another term as commissioner, ending his reign over the sport in 2029. Under Manfred we have seen the juiced ball era, the A’s relocation debacle, expanded playoffs, and the recent rule changes.

Unfortunately, the role of the MLB commissioner is a figure who acts in the interest of the owners, so it is unlikely that his replacement is a massive improvement. With that in mind, it is not a shock that the people with financial control over the sport do not have the best interests of growth of the game as their primary interest, which is instead getting as much money as possible.

The news rules committee gives MLB and the owners a majority voice over the players and used that power to further shorten games. The new jerseys that are produced by Fanatics look as if they are $20 knockoffs. MLB and owners want to create a signing window that will eliminate any leverage that players have which would suppress salaries.

Maybe I am too doom and gloom, but it is hard to be optimistic about the future of this sport with the recent changes, and Manfred has been the face of them.

Stephen Strasburg yet to report to camp

The 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg has not reported to the spring training facility yet. Strasburg has $105M left on his deal that he signed after the 2019 season, but because of complications with his health stemming from his Thoracic Outlet Syndrome he will never pitch again. Both sides know that he will not pitch in 2024, but the team wants Strasburg there to impart his wisdom upon the young pitchers in camp.

Rizzo in a press conference yesterday said that he expects Strasburg to report to the facility by the 24th. If he does not report, the relationship between one of the key players in franchise history and the franchise will fall to a new level.

All of this comes after Strasburg was set to medically retire last season, but that was canceled without any reason (although The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli reported the team tried to change terms after the initial press conference was scheduled, and Jim Bowden in a now deleted tweet suggested it was MLB who did not want the precedent of paying players in full set).

Personally, those two explanations are the only ones that make much sense. It’s understandable that Strasburg wouldn’t want his guaranteed contract to have its terms changed, even if that is just spreading out the money further, as he has already “lost” money by taking on deferrals. And if he took the changing of terms as disrespect after everything he has done for this organization, then that is additionally understandable on why he would not want to appear at camp. But the lack of information coming out from both sides makes it difficult to get a clear picture of the situation.

But who cares what I think, we want to know what you think, so go vote on our poll over on Twitter!

Catch up on Spring Training News

There is a constant flow of news coming out of Spring Training and Richard has you covered with his Reporter’s Notebook series, where he breaks down each days news during Spring Training (and the week’s biggest headlines during the season).

You can read Day 1’s notebook here.

And Day 2’s notebook here.

Click here for the latest off-season headlines, rumors, trades, and more.

ICYMI: Latest articles on the Nats Report

Even though it is the offseason, we have been extremely busy producing great content on the Nats Report. Here are just a couple of the articles that we have published recently that you might have missed:

• Podcast: In the Clubhouse (Gallo and Top 30 Discussion)
• Spring Training Storylines to Watch
• Washington Nationals tease new uniform for 2024
• Perspective: When is Enough Enough?
• How can the Nats’ offense improve in 2024?

We are working on a lot of great Nationals-themed content all off-season so make sure that you are following us on all the major social media channels for the latest.

Featured Stories of the Day

O’s Bradish has UCL sprain, set to open season on IL via MLB Trade Rumors

Angels owner has no plans to sell via MLB Trade Rumors

If you haven’t already, please consider supporting this publication with a paid subscription so you don’t miss a thing.

The Nats Report is an independent reader-supported project with both free and paid subscriptions and not affiliated with the Washington Nationals.

Those who opt for the paid edition are providing vital assistance to bolster our independent coverage of the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball.