Nats Make Third Set of ST Cuts (UPDATED)
Yesterday, the Nats made the third set of cuts, as Darren Baker was optioned to Rochester while Daylen Lile, Yoyo Morales, and Cayden Wallace were reassigned to minor-league camp.
As Zuckerman noted in his article (linked above), that brings the major-league camp number to 41, with 15 cuts to go. While ST stalwarts Robert Hassell, Andrew Pinckney, and Brady House are still in camp, the order in which they’re presented among the position players is roughly their odds from best-to-worst.
Not so much with the relievers, which still include Brad Lord and Rule 5 pick Evan Reifert. Lord has the odds stacked against him because he’d have to be put on the 40-man. Reifert has the benefit of already being on the 40-man and the Nats’ tendency to hold on to Rule 5 guys no matter how bad they do (see: Ward, Thad; Nuñez, Nasim).
If past is prologue, the next set of transactions will be the releases prior to the setting of the full-season rosters.
UPDATE
For the first time in 15 years (Brian Broderick we hardly knew ye), the Nats have returned a Rule 5 pick before the end of the season, sending Evan Reifert back to Tampa Bay. For those wondering, The last Rule 5 pick returned overall was the immortal Elvin Ramírez, who was hidden on the I.L. for the entirety of the 2011 season before he was returned to the Mets in October.
in past years they’d likely keep Riefert but with the improved group of arms in the system the need is not as great. his spot is a perfect place for Lord.
Reifert has been returned to the Rays. No doubt Rizzo has been closely monitoring all of the “oh, Rizzo will hang onto him no matter what” cries that I’ve seen in the InterNats and decided to send Reifert back out of spite.
And this will in no way impede folks from repeating the criticism in future seasons should the Nats make another Rule 5 claim, because narratives are nearly impossible to kill.
I actually would have been screaming if the Nats were NOT playing in the Rule 5 pool. There’s absolutely no harm in it, all the more for a losing team, even if you end up sending the guy back. I thought Ward had the pedigree to possibly turn into something and was fine with them riding things out with him. He never made it, but he was worth the shot. (In the Rule 5 draft in which they took Ward, I was quite interested in Chaparro, who didn’t end up getting picked by anyone. But he probably got on the Nats’ radar at that time.)
I didn’t understand the upside of Nunez last year, but he’s had a great spring, albeit still with almost no EV. I’m curious to see if they send him to Rochester to “play everyday,” or if they see his ceiling as a bench/specialty player who is probably as good a hitter as he’s going to be. If nothing else, he’s already a heck of a lot better their their recent SS reclamation projects, Jeter Downs and Lucius Fox.
Going into camp this spring, I would have said the that the multi-position infield reserve bench slot was Tena’s to lose, but he’s done everything he can to lose it. I assume they’re keeping Rosario (for now), but he hasn’t done much either. Lipscomb and Nunez have been much better. But again, both of them could benefit developmentally from getting regular ABs in the minors.
My guess is that the season will begin with a bench of Adams (all three reserve catcher candidates have had awful springs; Millas seems to have missed out on a big opportunity), Chaparro, Rosario, Call, and . . . Nunez or Lipscomb.
Oops, I missed the news that Chaparro is probably starting the season on the IL. I don’t know if that means they will keep Yepez around, or keep both Lipscomb and Nunez.
Brian Broderick was not returned prior to the start of the season. He was returned to the Cardinals on May 13 after pitching 11 games for the Nats. (Later in the season he was brought back to Harrisburg).
Maybe I am misreading what you wrote.
I can’t check the archives because the platforms switched in June, but ok. The underlying point was that the Nats haven’t given up on a guy without trying to hide him since 2010.
Some moves made today:
03/19/25 Fredericksburg Nationals placed LHP Gabriel Agostini on the 60-day injured list.
03/19/25 Fredericksburg Nationals placed C Jose Colmenares on the 60-day injured list.
03/19/25 Fredericksburg Nationals placed LHP Liam Sullivan on the 60-day injured list.
03/19/25 Harrisburg Senators placed LHP Lucas Knowles on the 60-day injured list.
03/19/25 Harrisburg Senators placed LHP Lucas Knowles on the 60-day injured list.
03/19/25 Washington Nationals optioned CF Robert Hassell III to Rochester Red Wings.
03/19/25 Washington Nationals optioned 3B Trey Lipscomb to Rochester Red Wings.
03/19/25 Wilmington Blue Rocks placed RHP Tyler Yankosky on the 60-day injured list.