Monday’s roster squeeze hit the Nationals hard, and the first round of moves is already in the books.
Washington entered the day with a full 40-man roster and five players on the 60-day injured list: Drew Millas, Mitchell Parker, PJ Poulin, Ken Waldichuk and Matt Waldron. Because every one of those spots had to be resolved by 5 p.m. ET, the Nats had to choose between reinstating players, trading them or cutting them loose.
In the end, Millas and Waldron stayed in the organization, while Waldichuk cleared outright waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Rochester. To create the room needed for Millas and Waldron, Washington designated Jose Tena and Paxton Schultz for assignment.
The rest of the day brought more movement. Poulin cleared outright waivers, but he had the right to file for free agency and did so. Parker and Schultz were both claimed by other clubs, with Parker headed to the Braves and Schultz going to the Reds.
The churn is far from over. Another wave of roster decisions is coming on Nov. 17, when Rule 5 protection must be sorted out. That process will automatically put players such as Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora on the 40-man roster.
Rather than run through every possible name, the real pressure points are the players who will force tough calls. That group includes Travis Sykora, Max Romero Jr., Alejandro Rosario, Trey Lipscomb, Cayden Wallace, Phillip Glasser, Cortland Lawson, Chandler Champlain, Tyler Stuart, T.J. White, Elijah Green, Noah Dean, Thomas Schultz, Yeremy Cabrera, Cristhian Vaquero, Rafael Ramirez Jr. and Brenner Cox.
There are some big names in that mix, and teams often have to gamble on whether another club will take a shot in the Rule 5 draft. The Nationals have already lived through that kind of uncertainty before, including the back-and-forth around Griff McGarry last year. He didn’t even last through Spring Training with Washington.
Two of the most recognizable prospects on that list, Elijah Green and Cristhian Vaquero, are not expected to be protected. Vaquero signed for a $4.925 million international free agent bonus on January 15, 2022 and carried the nickname “The Phenomenon,” but the results never matched the hype. Green, the Nats’ first-round pick in 2022 at fifth overall, received a $6.5 million bonus and also fell short of expectations.
In six months in 2022, Washington effectively spent $11.5 million on those two players alone. The organization also poured in extra development resources, especially with Green, who was pulled out of Single-A ball twice and sent to special instruction at the West Palm Beach facilities.
Even with Green and Vaquero apparently off the protection list, Toboni still has more roster work to do. More spots will need to be cleared from the current 40-man group, and at least three more players must come off. The arbitration-eligible pool has already been trimmed by three names after Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment yesterday and Parker and Waldichuk were DFA’d today.
There’s also another layer to watch: any free agents signed to MLB deals will need 40-man spots, and unrestricted free agency opens at 5 p.m. Qualifying offers will be announced at the same time. The Nationals, though, do not have any players eligible for free agency or a qualifying offer.
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Nationals Face Tough 40-Man Decisions As Roster Churn Heats Up
With the offseason roster calendar tightening, the Nationals are among the teams bracing for a round of 40-man maneuvering before the November 2 deadline. MLB rules no longer allow clubs to simply stash players on the 60-day injured list, which means Washington has some real choices to make as it sorts through a roster that is already in motion.
The Nationals have been active early, claiming Braxton Roxby and trading for Nate Furman, and more moves could follow as they weigh which injured players stay protected and which ones get exposed to the waiver wire. Around the league, clubs like the Giants are facing the same pressure, and with another layer of uncertainty tied to the looming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, this figures to be a busy stretch for front offices trying to get ahead of the churn. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Offseason Plan Is Starting To Take Shape
The Nationals have already started to shape their offseason roster work with a small but telling move, acquiring infielder Nate Furman from the Giants in exchange for left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck. To make room, Washington designated Richard Lovelady for assignment, a reminder that even the early winter churn can say plenty about where a front office thinks it needs help and how it wants to build out the edges of the roster.
Paul Toboni has also laid out the broad outline of what comes next for Washington, pointing to bullpen arms, starting pitching and left-handed bats as clear priorities. The Nationals plan to address those needs through both free agency and trades, which suggests this is only the first step in a much busier stretch as the club tries to add depth and balance in a few key spots. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Opened Another 40-Man Spot For What Comes Next
The Nationals added another infield option on the margins of the roster mix, landing Nate Furman from the Giants in exchange for minor league left-hander Tony Neubeck. Furman gives Washington a player with some big league experience already on his resume, and his minor league track record has included on-base ability and speed, two traits that can matter for a club trying to build depth around the edges.
To make room, Washington designated left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment, a move that clears a path on the 40-man roster for whatever comes next. Neubeck, meanwhile, had only recently begun his professional career after signing as a free agent, so the deal is as much about the Nationals immediate roster flexibility as it is about adding a player who may fit into the infield picture down the line. [Read more 🡒]