Washington Nationals: predicting 30-man roster in latest proposal

If baseball returns this summer one proposed change would be to allow teams 30-man rosters. Here is a projection of how the Washington Nationals team will look.

All the cards are on the table and the two sides must now agree if baseball is going to be played this summer. One of the proposed changes in the shortened season would call for teams to have 30-man rosters. This bodes very well for the Washington Nationals, who return as World Series Champions.

The Nationals were one of baseball’s oldest teams last year and they brought back a lot of the veteran guys to help defend the title. Roster expansion is great to protect from injury, though for the sake of resting old bodies, it’s even better for the Nats.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

When (if) the teams take the field on July 1st, here is what the Nationals 30-man roster could look like.

Starting Pitchers

Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez, Joe Ross, Austin Voth

This is the bread and butter of the team right here. Each one of the top five had a memorable outing in the 2019 postseason. Keeping the arms healthy will be a big part of how the Nationals season goes, so don’t be surprised to see the team start with a six-man rotation early on until the arms are back into early season form. Had there been a competition for the fifth starter on a 25-man roster it would have been between Ross and Voth. With expanded rosters, they both make the team easily without pressure from anyone else in the Nats system.

Relievers

Sean Doolittle, Will Harris, Daniel Hudson, Tanner Rainey, Wander Suero, Roenis Elias, Erik Fedde, Ryne Harper, Javy Guerra

The anticipation is mounting for the three-headed monster out of the bullpen. Doolittle, Harris, and Hudson can each close and will be called upon to lockdown opposing hitters when games are close and late. Rainey has gained Manager Dave Martinez’s trust and could one day work himself into a closer roll. Suero was a workhorse last year and has been erratic at times. Not being overused this year will help with his numbers. Harper was acquired in an offseason trade and looks to get his feet wet with his new team. Guerra pitched for the Nationals last year as a midseason pickup and is a non-roster invitee. A move to the 40-man roster will have to take place to get him on the active roster.

Infielders

Eric Thames, Ryan Zimmerman, Howie Kendrick, Asdrubal Cabrera, Starlin Castro, Trea Turner, Carter Kieboom

This is where the Washington Nationals will get the benefit of expanded rosters, resting the legs of the old men around the diamond. Thames should get the bulk of the starts at first base while Zimmerman serves as a backup. Castro starts at second base and is spelled by Cabrera when needed. Turner handles shortstop and Kieboom gets the first crack at third base with Cabrera getting a few starts there as well. Kendrick is strictly the designated hitter. This means the end of the line for Wilmer Difo. The Nats find a trade partner for him before play begins as well as he is out of options.