Washington Nationals Maintaining a Low-Key Presence at the 2023 Winter Meetings—A Familiar Approach
All signs look for the Nationals to be quiet once again at this year's MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville
And away we go!
The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings have officially commenced in Nashville, and if reports are accurate, once again, the Nationals will not be making any headlines in this year's Nats Report.
Over the years, the Nationals haven't traditionally been newsmakers during the Winter Meetings. The only significant instances were when Davey Johnson declared "World Series or bust" in 2012 and when the team hired Dusty Baker, drawing a large crowd for his media session in 2015. These moments, however, might not be the type of news fans want to see—let's call them just that, moments.
Speaking of Davey Johnson, tonight, we will find out if the former Washington Nationals manager will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 by the Contemporary Era Committee. If so, Johnson will be only the second person with a Hall of Fame plaque that includes "Washington, N.L." on it, following Ivan Rodriguez, elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in 2017.
There might not be much Major League Baseball news coming out of this year's meetings in Nashville. While there are reports about which teams MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani might sign with, the Nationals will and are not in the running for the first-ever $500 million player in North American team sports.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, Ohtani, along with his agent and interpreter, isn't even making the trip to Nashville.
The most significant trade and baseball news that could happen this week involves the former Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto. Could we see the Padres desperately seeking someone to take Juan Soto and his expected $33 million salary while getting back a wealth of pitching to help them improve their starting pitching rotation?
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Perspective: No matter how you slice it, the Nationals won the Soto Trade
Richard • Oct 17, 2023
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There will be rumors about where the next big Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamomoto signs, whether pitcher Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox gets traded, and where he might go with two years still left on his contract.
The offseason as a whole has been quiet so far. Aaron Nola, who re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for $172 million, and Sonny Gray, who signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. n
Back to the Nationals.
They remain in rebuild mode and will not be adding that "one last piece" to become the contenders we all hope to see on the upcoming horizon.
Numerous second-tier players are considered by the Nationals for signing to help move along the rebuild, but the big question is whether they will be signed this week at the Winter Meetings. The Nationals could make a splash by signing a first baseman and a designated hitter. ( I am looking at you, Rhys Hoskins.) According to Talk Nats, "Nats still have interest in corner infielders and a DH and were hoping to get a deal done before the Winter Meetings. No hard deadline set, but people are arriving tomorrow in Nashville for the opening of the event. The Nats have been tied to Jeimer Candelario, Rhys Hoskins, and Jorge Soler more as a DH.”
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Perspective: Crafting a Team Identity: A Crucial Element on Par with Free Agent Signings
Richard • Nov 25, 2023
We all hope the Nationals will make a significant free-agent signing this off-season. However, it's unlikely to happen. Nevertheless, if that doesn't materialize, I'd be equally excited about a new team identity that symbolizes the team's future. In sports, a team's identity is paramount to success. One primary benefit is the enhancement of team cohesion…
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Don't be surprised if the Nationals remain quiet once again at this year's Winter Meetings. So sit back, and continue to wrap those holiday gifts, as we are only TWO full months away from when Pitchers and Catchers report.
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Those who opt for the paid edition are providing vital assistance to bolster our independent coverage of the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball.
