Good Morning Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, November 22, 2023. I am Haden and I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving. Let’s talk about some baseball.

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Leading today’s Morning Briefing: Non-tendered players enter the free agency market

Friday night was the non-tender deadline, which is the deadline to decide if a player without a guaranteed deal and who has less than six years of service time will be offered a contract in 2024. If a player gets non-tendered, they enter free agency. This is the place where we often see teams do “bargain bin shopping”. We saw the Cubs do this to an extreme case with Cody Bellinger last season, and the Nationals do it with Jeimer Candelario and Dominic Smith, the latter of which was non-tendered.

And with this year’s group of non-tenders, there are some interesting opportunities for the Nationals. For example, if you could land starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff on a two-year deal with a club option, you could have a frontline starter in your rotation in 2025, assuming his shoulder injury doesn’t have any setbacks.

I would be extremely disappointed if the Nationals dived into the non-tender market otherwise. If they are going to spend, they should go out and get someone coming off of a good season. But then again, with the roster, I think the Nationals should trot out, there isn’t really room for anyone else.

Which segways perfectly into James O’Hara’s Be Your Own Nats GM. While it isn’t a comprehensive database, it has many of the top options at all the different positions.

Here are my 2024 Washington Nationals. In the open spots, I’d place Joan Adon, Robert Garcia, and Trevor Williams to round out the bullpen. Personally, I’d also swap Drew Millas with Riley Adams. Finally, I’d sign a versatile left-handed infielder to play third base, so that Carter Kieboom can carve out a role as a left-handed pitching mashing platoon guy.

I’ve talked extensively about why Dylan Crews and James Wood should be on the Opening Day roster, and barring them getting absolutely dominated in Spring Training, I stand by that.

Feel free to send The Nats Report and I your Nationals rosters on Twitter (@thehadenraymer and @thenatsreport)!

The BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot was Announced

You can read Richard’s write-up on the 2024 Hall of Fame ballot here on the site.

In the Clubhouse returns

After taking the postseason off, In the Clubhouse returned! The latest episode is out on the site and on YouTube. We talked about the roster moves we’ve seen over the past month, the front office hires, and changes to the coaching staff.

ICYMI: Latest articles on the Nats Report

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

• Rochester Red Wings: A Year in Review
• The Nats Report’s Free Agency Wishlist
• Prospect Profile: Drew Millas
• Prospect Profile: Brady House

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

Cardinals sign another innings eater via MLB Trade Rumors

White Sox sign Paul DeJong to play shortstop via MLB Trade Rumors

Mike Shildt is the Padres’ new manager via MLB.com

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