Good Morning Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today December 11, 2023. Shohei Ohtani signed which means free agency will finally start. My name is Haden and let’s dive into the news.

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Leading today’s Morning Briefing: Ohtani signs a 10-year, $700M contract with the Dodgers

Wow. Shohei Ohtani signed for the biggest guaranteed contract in all of sports with the Los Angeles Dodgers. While I could take this time to write about whether the contract is an overpay, if the Dodgers will be financially ruined over the next decade, or if talk about how I am glad my favorite team didn’t sign him to that contract, all of that is overdone. The contract is an overpay, but not as much as you would think, the Dodgers are one of the very few who could financially handle this, and you bet I wish the Nationals signed him to that figure. Instead, let’s talk about the greatest part of the signing, which is that the offseason will finally start.

Most upper-echelon free agents were waiting to see which teams needed to pivot because they did not land Ohtani. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, and Jordan Montgomery will now have more teams calling. And because those guys are still on the board, many clubs don’t want to settle on someone like J.D. Martinez or Lucas Giolito quite yet.

This is good news for the Nationals, who are still looking to add another piece or two for 2024.

Around the MLB

The Kansas City Royals are ready to raise a banner in 2024, as they signed left-handed reliever Will Smith to a one-year, $5M contract. Smith spent the past three seasons on a World Series-winning roster, winning it all with Atlanta, Houston, and the Rangers.

The Detroit Tigers brought left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin back on a one-year, $4.25M deal. Chafin took a step backward in 2023, but he was a premier setup man in 2021 and 2022.

The Cleveland Guardians added the best defensive catcher in baseball, Austin Hedges, on a one-year, $4M deal. He also provides veteran leadership to a squad that is set to roster nine position players who are 26 or younger.

The Los Angeles Dodgers sent left-handed reliever Victor Gonzalez and infielder Jorbit Vivas to the New York Yankees in exchange for shortstop Trey Sweeney, according to Alden González at ESPN. Both Vivaas and Gonzalez were on the 40-man roster, and their departure cleared room for reliever Joe Kelly and Ohtani. Trey Sweeney was a fringe top-10 prospect in the Yankees system.

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:

• Perspective: Crafting a Team Identity
• The Nats Report’s Free Agency Wishlist
• Perspective: Juan Soto to Nats isn’t as Crazy as you Think.
• Perspective: When is Enough, Enough?
• Exploring the Impact of the Nationals Outfield on the Future

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 Story of the Day

Quick Notes 📓

Quick Notes: Washington Nationals announce promotions for 2024 including a 2019 World Series Replica Ring

The Nats Report News Room • Dec 5, 2023

The Nationals have just announced the 2024 promotion schedule which includes some really interesting giveaways including the long awaited 2019 World Series Replica Ring. Here are the giveaways including the dates: April 1, 2024 - Opening Day Reversible Bucket Hat

Read full story →

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