/Sports/MLB/Washington Nationals/ Last Updated: Wed, Feb 12th, 2025 @ 6:50pm EST

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

CJ Abrams seems ready to answer the bell

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The Nationals young shortstop was the talk of the first day of town at the first day of camp

While position players don’t need to show up to camp until February 18th, many decided to come today to join the pitchers and catchers. The most notable of the group was shortstop CJ Abrams, especially considering how last season ended.

Abrams 2024 season was ended prematurely when he was demoted after an all-nighter in Chicago where he was seen at a casino deep...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Washington Nationals baseball is back!

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

With pitchers and catchers reporting today, baseball magic is finally back in the air.

Baseball season is officially here, as Nationals pitchers and catchers reported to West Palm Beach today. After the Super Bowl wrapped up Sunday night, it is now time for some baseball! As the snow comes down in DC, the Nationals are preparing for the 2025 campaign.

While position players are not set to report until February 18th, many of them decided to come down early,...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals History: Mike Rizzo shocked the world when he signed Jayson Werth

Joy R. Absalon-Imagn Images

Considered a massive overpay at the time, Jayson Werth’s leadership and production proved the Nationals right

When Mike Rizzo signed Jayson Werth to a 7-year $126 million deal, it was both a statement of intent and a massive role of the dice. The deal made him the 12th highest paid player in the league, despite only one all star appearance. In my opinion, the risk paid off. Was he analytically worth his contract? Maybe not, but he set the tone for the Nationals...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Q&A with Ryan Clary of Locked On Nationals

I chatted with Locked On Nationals podcast host Ryan Clary. We talked about his journey and the state of the team

Ryan Clary is one of the rising young voices in the Nationals media space. He hosts the Locked On Nationals podcast, where he discusses all things Nats baseball five days a week. Clary is also a producer at 106.7 the fan. He is one of the most passionate and informative voices in the space. Just a couple years older than myself, he has a similar background of seeing the...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Top 10 Nationals prospects

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Federal Baseball top 10 prospects for the Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals have a very interesting farm system. It probably is not as strong as it was this time last year due to the graduation of James Wood. However, it has been a long time since the Nats have had a system this deep. The depth will only get better now that the Nats have the number 1 pick and the massive bonus pool that comes with it. Here are the 20 best Nationals...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals Prospects: Don’t sleep on Jake Bennett

Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

After missing 2024 with Tommy John Surgery, Jake Bennett has flown under the radar, but he still has upside

Jake Bennett has become a forgotten prospect in the Nationals system. However, he is capable of having a Jake Irvin or Mitchell Parker type impact if he is healthy. After undergoing Tommy John Surgery in September of 2023, Bennett missed the whole 2024 campaign. Before that, he looked poised to have a quick rise through the minors.

Jake Bennett was a second...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals history: Juan Soto’s heroics made the 2019 Wild Card Game Nationals Park’s greatest night

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The 2019 Wild Card Game is the greatest Nationals game I have ever been to

After a fairy tale regular season that saw the Washington Nationals go from 19-31 to the playoffs, the stage was set for a winner take all matchup with the Brewers. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and extreme anxiety. The Nats were 0-3 in winner take all matchups since 2012, losing each in traumatic fashion. Heartbreak was the only thing playoff baseball had given Nationals...

Yardbarker: Washington Nationals

3 ASU players on the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

ASU baseball is less than a week away from opening night against Ohio State. Next Friday marks head coach Willie Bloomquist’s fourth year leading the program with a 90-81 record through the previous three seasons.

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Jose A Ferrer is the future and the present of the Nationals bullpen

Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

2025 has the chance to be a breakout year for young Jose A Ferrer

If the Nationals make the risky decision of not bringing in a veteran closer, Jose A Ferrer should get the first crack at the ninth inning. The 25 year old left hander has sky high potential and looks poised for a breakout in 2025.

After being signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, Ferrer worked his way through the Minor League system, making his debut towards the end of the 2023...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals News: Nats take a flier on reliever Colin Poche

Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Nationals signed Colin Poche to a Minor League deal, but he should make the team

While it is not the closer fans have been asking for, Mike Rizzo brought in some bullpen help in the form of left hander Colin Poche. The Nats signed Poche to a Minor League deal with a Spring Training invite. However, I believe that the 31 year old will make the team and become a mainstay in the Nationals bullpen.

Poche has been a reliable reliever in Tampa Bay over the...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals prospects: After an injury plagued season, 2025 is a huge year for Cayden Wallace

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

After coming over in the Hunter Harvey trade, injuries halted Cayden Wallace’s progress

Cayden Wallace is one of many young Nationals third baseman trying to stake a claim as the 3B of the future. While Wallace certainly isn’t the favorite in that discussion, he has some interesting tools. However, he needs to stay healthy to show off his skills.

2024 was a weird and frustrating year for Wallace. After a solid 2023 season where he reached double-A, his...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals history: The Trea Turner trade was Mike Rizzo’s greatest masterclass

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Looking back at how Mike Rizzo stole Trea Turner from the Padres

In his long tenure as Nationals GM, Mike Rizzo has made plenty of great transactions. Whether it was Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps swap or the Gio Gonzalez trade, Rizzo has a tendency to find good deals. However, there is one deal that stands above the rest. An 11 player, three team deal, where the Nats ended up being the only satisfied party in the end.

Of course, I am referring to the Trea Turner trade,...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

The Nationals need to add a veteran in the backend of the bullpen

Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

The Nats still need to shore up the bullpen before the season starts and there are some solid options available

Despite the addition of Jorge Lopez, more help is needed in the Washington Nationals bullpen. While there are some interesting young guys, the bullpen has a dangerously low floor. GM Mike Rizzo needs to add a veteran who can provide stability after non-tendering Kyle Finnegan.

The two best candidates remaining on the market are David Robertson...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals prospects: After a long road, Andry Lara is back on track

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

After struggling for years, Andry Lara looks like he might finally be living up to his $1.25 million price tag

Signed all the way back in 2019, Andry Lara had a lot of hype as an international prospect. Signed for $1.25 million out of Venezuela, Lara was one of the best pitchers in that international class. In fact, MLB Pipeline had Lara as the 21st best international prospect of the cycle and the second best pitcher.

It has been a bumpy road for the now 22 year old,...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Did the Nationals solve their power shortage?

Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images

Adding power to the lineup was a top priority for the Nationals, but did they accomplish their goal?

After the 2024 season, everyone knew that Nationals needed to add more power to the lineup. In fact, it was the subject of one of the first articles I wrote on the site. GM Mike Rizzo harped on the issue repeatedly, after failing to solve what was already a problem in 2023. The Nats finished 29th in home runs, only besting the historically bad Chicago White...

Yardbarker: Washington Nationals

Why Jamie Arnold Is a Match Made in Heaven For the Nationals at 1:1

During MLB’s Winter Meetings, a lot took place. With big free agent signings, to key players being traded around, the Winer Meetings were quite exciting.

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals history: The Gio Gonzalez trade took the Nats to the next level

Joy R. Absalon-Imagn Images

The Gio Gonzalez trade was an underrated moment in the Nats climb to contention

These days, Gio Gonzalez gets lost in the shuffle of Nationals history. He was not on the 2019 World Series team, and could be a bit frustrating to watch due to his effectively wild nature. Because of that, some people forget just how good Gio was in DC.

Coming off a 2011 season where a young Nationals team went 80-81, Mike Rizzo was looking to take the team to the next level. He...

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

A view from the basement of the NL East

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Sizing up the top three teams in the NL East as the Nationals look to make up ground on the divisions elite

For the Nationals to get back into contention, they are going to overtake some of the titans of the National League in their own division. The NL East is an unforgiving landscape, where teams like the Mets, Phillies and Braves come into most seasons with championships on the mind. All three have stacked rosters and expect excellence year in and year...

Yardbarker: Washington Nationals

Royals designate Braden Shewmake for assignment

The Royals announced that they’ve designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment. That opens a 40-man roster spot for reliever Carlos Estévez, who inked a two-year free agent deal.

Federal Baseball

SamSallick

Nationals prospects: Kevin Bazzell is a sleeper to watch in the Nats system

Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Nationals 2024 third round pick offers a unique profile and fun upside

Kevin Bazzell, the Nationals third round pick in the 2024 draft is one of the most fun sleepers in the system. He has a unique profile and skillset, which I believe will eventually help him carve out a big league role. For me, that role will be a backup catcher that can also play a number of other different positions, such as third base and corner outfield.

You don’t...

The selection and placement of stories on this page were determined automatically by a computer program.
The time or date displayed (including in the Timeline of Articles feature) reflects when an article was added to or updated in LooksNeat.