They continue to get better: The Nats’ 2024–2025 off season in review

As we get ready for opening day on Thursday, March 27, it’s a good time to review the trades, signings, and departures that took place over the off season. For the fourth consecutive year, the Nationals have stayed with low-cost options for restocking the team.

New players acquired

The team’s biggest acquisition came via a trade with the Texas Rangers. The Nationals acquired first baseman Nathaniel Lowe in exchange for Robert Garcia. The 29-year-old left-handed batter has appeared in the last six seasons for the Rangers, playing 686 games, and will remain under team control through 2026. Over the last three seasons, Lowe has averaged 153 games, .277/.360/.438, 20 home runs, 76 RBI, 122 Rbat+, and 2.9 bWAR. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2022 and a Gold Glove in 2023 and was part of the 2023 World Series championship team.

Turning to free agent signings, Michael Soroka, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher, signed a one-year contract for $9 million. Soroka had a monster rookie season for the Braves in 2019 when he went 13–4 with a 2.68 ERA, was named an All Star, and finished second in the Rookie of the Year contest and sixth in Cy Young voting. He was injured in 2020 with a torn Achilles tendon and missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons while recovering from that injury. In 2023 he pitched poorly in 7 games for the Braves and was traded to the White Sox for the 2024 season. With the South Siders, he pitched poorly in his first 9 games as a starter (6.39 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) and was moved to the bullpen, where he pitched very well (2.75 ERA, 1.22 WHIP). The Nats intend to use him as a starter and hope that his strong performance from the latter part of 2024 persists.

Josh Bell, age 32, returned to the Nationals as a DH after signing a one-year contract for $6 million. Bell, of course, played for the Nats in 2021 and 2022 before being sent to the Padres as part of the Juan Soto trade. Since then, he has played for the Guardians, Marlins, and Diamondbacks, in addition to the Padres. Over the last three seasons, Bell has averaged 150 games, .254/.336/.415, 19 home runs, 72 RBI, 110 Rbat+, and 0.7 bWAR. He won the Silver Slugger Award in 2022.

The Nats signed Jorge Lopez, age 32, as a right-handed reliever to a one-year contract for $3 million. Lopez has 9 seasons of major league experience with the Brewers, Royals, Orioles, Twins, Marlins, Mets, and Cubs. Over the last three seasons, Lopez has averaged 60 games, 3.74 ERA (110 ERA+), 4.33 FIP, 10 saves, and 0.7 bWAR. He was an All Star in 2022.

The Nats signed Lucas Sims, age 30, as a right-handed reliever to a one-year contract for $3 million. Sims has 8 seasons of major league experience with the Braves, Reds, and Red Sox. Over the last three seasons, Sims has averaged 44 games, 4.00 ERA (114 ERA+), 4.76 FIP, 2 saves, and 0.7 bWAR.

The Nats signed Amed Rosario, age 29, as a right-handed hitting utility infielder and outfielder to a one-year contract for $2 million. Rosario has 8 seasons of major league experience with the Mets, Guardians, Dodgers, Rays, and Reds. Over the last three seasons, Rosario has averaged 133 games, .275/.308/.389, 7 home runs, 54 RBI, 96 Rbat+, and 1.5 bWAR. In 2022 he led the major leagues with nine triples.

Paul DeJong, age 31, was signed as a right-handed hitting third baseman to a one-year contract for $1 million. DeJong, who was an All Star in 2019, has 8 seasons of major league experience with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Giants, White Sox, and Royals, with most of it spent at shortstop (though he did play 41 games at third base last season). Over the last three seasons, DeJong has averaged 109 games, .205/.263/.372, 15 home runs, 40 RBI, 72 Rbat+, and 0.2 bWAR.

Toward the end of spring training, Colin Poche, age 31, was selected as a left-handed relief pitcher after he had signed a minor league contract and attended spring training as a non-roster invitee. He pitched for the Rays in four of the last six seasons (having missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to Tommy John surgery). Over the last three seasons, Poche has averaged 58 games, 3.27 ERA (121 ERA+), 4.16 FIP, 3 saves, and 0.7 bWAR.

Players re-signed

Two pitchers from the 2024 Nationals were re-signed by the team after they entered free agency. Trevor Williams, age 32, signed a two-year, $14 million deal. And Kyle Finnegan, age 33, who had elected free agency in November after the Nats did not tender him a contract in arbitration, re-signed with the team in late February for $6 million on a one-year contract.

Injuries

Josiah Gray, who underwent Tommy John surgery on July 24, was placed on the 60-day injured list. He will likely miss most of the 2025 season. Cade Cavalli, who had Tommy John surgery about a year ago, is closer to returning. He will probably open the season on the 15-day injured list and is expected to spend time rehabilitating in Florida before pitching with a minor league affiliate, probably in May. Mason Thompson is also on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from his second Tommy John surgery.

Andres Chaparro (left oblique strain), Zach Brzykcy (right quad), and Derek Law (right elbow) are likely to be on the 10-day or 15-day IL to open the season.

Departures

We bid adieu to several Nationals players:

• Patrick Corbin left via free agency and has signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. In Corbin’s first season with the Nats in 2019, he went 14–7 with a 3.25 ERA and won game 7 of the World Series. Over the next five seasons, however, he went 33–70 with a 5.62 ERA and was regularly one of the worst pitchers in the majors. I hope we can remember the former and not blame him too much for the latter.
• Robert Garcia departed the Nats for the Texas Rangers in the Lowe trade. He pitched in 97 games for the Nats in 2023 and 2024 with a 4.04 ERA.
• Jacob Barnes left via free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched in 63 games for the Nats in 2024 with a 4.36 ERA (93 ERA+).
• Ildemaro Vargas elected free agency after the Nats designated him for assignment and has signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in 234 games for the Nationals from 2022 to 2024 with a .656 OPS.
• Joey Meneses elected free agency after the Nats designated him for assignment and has signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. He played in 286 games for the Nats from 2022 to 2024 with a .731 OPS.
• The Baltimore Orioles claimed Thaddeus Ward on waivers. He pitched in 26 games for the Nats in 2023 with a 6.37 ERA as a Rule 5 draft pick, before spending the 2024 season with Rochester.
• Joey Gallo elected free agency after the Nationals declined the 2025 option in his contract. He spent spring training with the White Sox as a non-roster invitee, but in late March he requested and was granted unconditional release and announced his intention to convert into a pitcher. He played in 76 games for the Nats in 2024 with a .613 OPS.
• The Atlanta Braves claimed Amos Willingham on waivers. He pitched in 19 games for the Nats in 2023 and 2024 with a 7.11 ERA.
• Joe La Sorsa signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds after he was released by the Nationals. He pitched in 39 games for the Nats in 2023 and 2024 with a 4.70 ERA.
• Jordan Weems elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He pitched in 124 games for the Nats from 2022 through 2024 with a 5.03 ERA.
• Carter Kieboom elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He played in 133 games for the Nats over four seasons from 2019 through 2023 with a .598 OPS before spending the 2024 season with Rochester.
• Jake Alu retired from professional baseball on January 16, 2025. He played in 51 games for the Nats in 2023 with a .571 OPS before spending the 2024 season with Rochester.