The Morning Briefing: Nationals Ranked 22nd in MLB Rankings

by Richard Wachtel

Updated January 03, 2021

Good Morning Washington Nationals fans; the Washington Nationals were ranked 22nd in the first MLB Power Rankings of 2021.

Over the holiday weekend, Major League Baseball released their first power rankings for 2021, and Nationals fans aren't so happy about the placement of the Washington Nationals.

In the first power rankings of 2021, Major League Baseball ranked the Washington Nationals at 22 out of 30 teams. We shouldn't take stock in these rankings as we all feel that even though Mike Rizzo traded for Josh Bell towards the end of 2020, the Washington Nationals roster isn't complete, and there is a lot more work that needs to be done. However, we can note that the NL East is going to be very competitive in 2021. With all the NL East teams being contenders, it will be an exciting year for sure, and we can't wait. [Click here to see the full power rankings.]

Are you interested in International signings from a Nationals perspective? Well, our friend Stephen at Talk Nats.com has a great article that is worth your read today. From the article: "The international signing period opens on January 15, and the Nats are supposed to make a big splash by signing Armando Cruz who is currently rated the № 2 player among all of the international free agents according to Baseball America. In fact if you remove the 22-year-old Cuban, Pedro Leon, then Cruz would be at the top of all of the players. Cruz turns 17 in a few weeks, and he will cost the Nats about $4 million to sign. He immediately will be a Top-10 prospect in the Nats system once the prospects are re-rated." [Click here to read the full article]

Podcast Alert: Make sure that you subscribe to "In the Clubhouse," today because Richard sits down with a surprise guest, and you don't want to miss this interview, we promise. You can find our podcast on all the major podcasting networks:

On the Washington Nationals beat. Over the weekend, Todd Dybas moved on from the Washington Nationals beat on NBC Sports Washington. We enjoyed Todds reporting on the Washington Nationals and wish him good luck on his next adventure.

Former Washington Nationals Player News.

Matt Weyrich from NBC Sports Washington reported that former Washington Nationals first baseman Eric Thames signs with the Japan’s Yomiuri Giants. From the article: "Thames, 34, signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Washington last offseason that included a mutual option for 2021. However, he hit just .203 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 41 games and appeared in only two contests the final week of the season as the Nationals started leaning on Brock Holt at first base instead. The Nationals declined their side of Thames’s mutual option shortly after the World Series, making him a free agent."

Additionally, former Washington Nationals sixth overall pick in 2007, Ross Detwiler has signed with the Miami Marlins. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Marlins have signed the left-hander to a one year deal. Detwiler pitched well for the White Sox in 2020. 3.20 ERA out of the pen. Big league deal. Per sources.

Lastly, late yesterday, According to MLB Insider Robert Murray, the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Houston Astros are pursuing right-hander Alex Colomé.

Alex Colomé, 32, has spent the last two seasons with the Chicago White Sox, after a brief stint with the Seattle Mariners in 2018 and five and a half years with the Tampa Bay Rays. [Click here to read our article]