PREAMBLE
Leaving a game late in 2024 (that they actually won) my dad and came to the depressing realization that outside of the guys that had to be on the roster (Benny & LuBob) there was no one you could really say you wanted on the 2025 Opening Day roster. Fast forward to the end of this franchise's 3rd straight 100 loss campaign. Objectively there's about a dozen actual major leaguers on the roster. They might be platoon guys, or nearing a ceiling of competent starter but that's not nothing. Whether that speaks to the entropy of the universe or a change in development from the backfields on up (could it be both)? At some point these off seasons might matter again.
COACHING STAFF
- Hitting coach: Not Greg Walker
- Pitching coach: Not Coop (but also kinda Coop)
I don't feel qualified to answer either of these so a quip will have to do.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Mike Tauchman: Tender
- Steven Wilson: Tender
- Derek Hill: Non-tender
Even factoring his lack of durability (his career high in games is 109) Tauchman was complete bargain (1.9 WAR in 93G) passable in the field & truly above average at the dish. Still a head scratcher no one scooped him up at the deadline for a lottery ticket.
2024 looks to be a blip on Steven Wilson's radar. He's averaged a 3.46 ERA / 54IP in his other 3 seasons. He'd double that AAV on the open market despite middling stuff.
Like Julks, Fletcher & Clint Frazier before him Derek Hill failed to register on 35th & Shields (shrug emoji).
CLUB OPTIONS
- Luis Robert Jr.: Exercise $20 million option
- Martín Perez: Buy out for $1.5 million
I had more to write about Robert before in reality his option was picked up. Letting him go with one other guaranteed contracts on the books for nothing would've been malpractice.
Perez was never going to have his 10mil option picked up after logging just 56IP which it makes it all the stranger that he declined it first.
FREE AGENTS
Mike Yazstremski: 2yr/20mil
--- Outside of his rookie season and Covid Yaz 2.0 has played no less than 106 G. He's more in the Tauchman mold in that he's perfectly fine defensively but he's familiar with LF.
Rhys Hoskins: 1yr/9mil (Club option for 2027 @ 11mil OR buyout of 2mil)
--- Flippable contract w/the faint option to stick around if productive. Still hit slightly above average when he actually played for MKE. A lil' Rate Field inflation might help him outta his pillow contract
Jakob Junis: 2yr/8mil
---A rumored target last offseason, his starting days seem behind him. His reliever days might just be beginning.
Jose Quintana: 1yr/7mil (Club option for 2027 @ 8mil OR buyout of 1.5mil)
---Look he's gonna keep doing this until he's not. He was even solid in the playoffs! He and my next target are far more likely to stick around than Hoskins. Wouldn't be shocked if he lands 2yr deal on a contender
Adrian Houser: 1yr/4mil (Club option for 2027 @ 8mil OR buyout of 2mil)
---Lost in his inevitable fall from 2003 Esteban Loaiza-esque heights was that he was basically back to his #5 starter form in Tampa Bay. He wasn't unpitchable by any means. If that's his floor it's worth it to see if he catches some of that lightning again
Jorge Mateo: 1yr/1.5mil
---Need some playable infield D after my next move.
TRADES
Nationals Get: Jonathan Cannon, Korey Lee & Lenyn Sosa
White Sox Get: Jacob Young
--A need for need kinda trade. You COULD argue that this should be Quero for Young straight up but that seems like an overpay. Five years of Young's way above average CF glove and passable offense is worth the reverse in Sosa. The carrot being a DC club that ranked near the bottom of Catcher WAR gets one in Lee. Also I just don't wanna see Cannon pitch again. What a shame with that last name
SUMMARY
W/2025 WAR / Salary / GP
C - Kyle Teel / 1.9 / 820k / 78GP
1B - Rhys Hoskins / 0.9 / 9mil / 90GP
2B - Chase Meidroth / 1.3 / 820k / 122GP
SS - Colson Montgomery / 3.3 / 820k / 71GP
3B - Miguel Vargas / 1.9 / 820k / 138GP
DH - Andrew Benintendi / 1.0 / 16.5mil / 116GP
LF - Mike Yastremski / 2.7 / 10mil / 146GP
CF - Luis Robert Jr / 1.4 / 20mil / 110GP
RF - Mike Tauchman / 1.9 / 3.5mil / 93GP
Bench - INF/Mateo C/Quero OF/Young UTIL/Baldwin
SP1 - Shane Smith / 2.3 / 820k / 146.1IP
SP2 - Jose Quintana / 1.3 / 7mil / 131.2IP
SP3 - Davis Martin / 1.5 / 820k / 142.2 IP
SP4 - Adrian Houser / 3.3 / 4mil / 125 IP
SP5 - Sean Burke / 0.9 / 820k / 134.1 IP
RP
Jakob Junis / 0.9 / 4mil / 66.2 IP
Mike Vasil / 2.9 / 820k / 101 IP
Jordan Leasure / 0.7 / 820k / 64.2 IP
Steven Wilson / 1.2 / 1.5mil / 55.1 IP
Wikelman Gonzalez / 0.2 / 820k / 20.1 IP
Grant Taylor / 0.0 / 820k / 36.2 IP
LRP
Tyler Gilbert / 0.5 / 820k / 55 IP
Brandon Eisert / 0.4 / 820k / 69.2 IP
Totals: 90.12 MIL / 33.7 WAR....
...It's reasonable to expect another 10+ wins this year regardless of what moves get made or not. It only gets harder from here. Maybe for once we're up for the challenge. See you @ 35th & Shields friends!
