The Cleveland Guardians were the winners of the second MLB Draft Lottery, after the Nats messed things up by “winning” twice. Fortunately, they did not “lose” their best possible draft position of #10 in the 2024 Draft.
Today, the Nats will pick 5th in the Rule 5 Draft. They passed on taking anyone in the MLB phase from 2011 to 2021 (no draft in 2020) before taking Thad Ward a year ago.
Will they make an MLB-phase pick again? As noted in the comments, picking a pitcher – which seems almost a lock, given the Nats’ predilections – and stashing him on the I.L. or the bullpen is not difficult, as was proven with Ward. There certainly are some guys that fit the Nats’ m.o. (scroll to “The Injury Risks”).
In transaction news, the Nats re-signed UT Erick Mejia, LHP Joe LaSorsa was outrighted to Rochester, and Roddery Muñoz was claimed off waivers by the Pirates. Odds are, more signings will come later this month – it’s difficult to tell because the last true “normal” offseason was 2018-19.