3 players for Washington Nationals to target this offseason

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2019 is rapidly fading away for the Washington Nationals.

It was one thing to finish in the NL East basement in 2020. It was a pandemic shortened season, the Nationals were unable to get on track, and there was a lot of strangeness going on. Then came the trades in 2021 after another miserable start. But since Max Scherzer was not going to return, and extending Trea Turner was not going to happen, that also made sense. But after trading Juan Soto, the Nationals’ rebuild had firmly begun.

Three players for Washington Nationals to target

It is clear that the Nationals are not going to reload for a playoff run. Add in the uncertainty about their ownership situation and a quiet offseason would not have been surprising. But general manager Mike Rizzo said he was told that the Nationals are to conduct “business as usual” this offseason. For now, this should result in looking for pieces to supplement their core and find potential bounceback candidates as trade fodder for the offseason.

The Washington Nationals are not going to contend any time soon. Let’s look at three players they could eye to help the rebuilding process.

Noah Syndergaard

One area that Rizzo specifically mentioned that the Washington Nationals were going to look at was the pitching staff.

Such a plan makes sense. The Nationals do not have really anything they can count on to take the ball. Between the corpses of Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin, prospects that may not be ready, and a host of other uninspiring options, the Nationals should do most of their offseason shopping with an eye to the mound.

One such option could be Noah Syndergaard. He had a solid enough performance in 2022, posting a 3.94 ERA and a 1.255 WHiP over his 134.2 innings between the Angels and Phillies. While he is still not back to his previous form, as evidenced by his 95 strikeouts, he did issue just 31 walks and his 85.3 MPH average exit velocity against was the lowest of his career.

Syndergaard is going to be a popular target for teams looking for a potential bargain. His solid performance, coupled with being another year removed from Tommy John surgery, make him someone that could be in line to bounce back in 2023. For teams looking at someone to fill out a rotation or a possible trade chip, Syndergaard could be the answer.

The Washington Nationals need to find someone that can make a difference in their rotation. If he is healthy, Noah Syndergaard could be the answer.

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Danny Duffy

One area that a team can help itself is by signing the right players on a minor league deal. This should be an avenue that the Washington Nationals explore as well.

It makes sense for the Nationals to look at that collection of players. Whether it is due to injury woes, a surprisingly rough season, or just falling through the cracks in free agency, the Nationals could find bargains in that area. As their pitching staff needs help, Rizzo should be active in this aspect of the market.

Danny Duffy should be the type of pitcher that the Nationals look at. He has not pitched since July 16, 2021, battling injuries since earlier in the season. He was even traded to the Dodgers that year and had re-signed during the 2021-22 offseason, but never threw a pitch for the organization.

When healthy, Duffy has been a solid swingman, capable of providing strong innings in the back of the rotation or serving in a variety of roles in the bullpen. He had been on pace for a career year in 2021 before his injuries, making him an even more intriguing option for pitching desperate teams. As he would likely be weighing minor league offers, the chance to reach the majors again in Washington could be a draw.

The Washington Nationals need pitching depth and arms to fill a variety of roles. Danny Duffy, if healthy, would be a perfect option.

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Craig Kimbrel

One of the biggest areas of need for the Washington Nationals was the ninth inning.

Tanner Rainey led the Nationals with 12 saves last year, but also underwent Tommy John surgery and could be lost for the 2023 season. Kyle Finnegan performed well when he took over but he is a question mark. Sean Doolittle is a presence again as he signed a minor league deal and could work his way back into that role. This is a situation where it would make sense to take a chance on a proven closer on a make good deal.

Craig Kimbrel could be that closer. He had been one of the best closers in the game until 2019 when he signed after the MLB Draft due to the Qualifying Offer. Between his late signing that year, the pandemic in 2020, being unable to adapt to a setup role with the White Sox, and ongoing command issues with the Dodgers this past season, Kimbrel’s days of dominance appear long in the past.

But there is something to be said for those Official Proven Closers. They will continue to get chances to bounce back and prove themselves. In Kimbrel’s case, his best option could be to look for a one year deal on a rebuilding team, hoping to prove himself and be traded to a contender at the deadline. If he is determined to close, that may be his best option.

The Washington Nationals need to find bullpen pieces as well. Taking a chance on Craig Kimbrel could pay off, especially at the deadline.

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