The MLB Winter Meetings are right around the corner, which means that free agent signings and trades will be happening every hour of the day. With all the action that goes on during the Winter Meetings, the Nationals should be sure to get in on it and make some big splashes. Here are ways that Mike Rizzo and the Nationals can make headlines and win the Winter Meetings.
1. Swing a big trade
There are some significant names on the trading block, including White Sox SP Garrett Crochet and Cubs OF Cody Bellinger, and the Nationals have multiple pieces that would be enticing for other teams. Acquiring a big piece for the lineup like OF/DH Brent Rooker or the aforementioned Bellinger or a solid rotation piece like Crochet or Mariners SP Luis Castillo would signify that the Nationals are looking to be competitive in 2025 and would certainly stamp them as one of the winners of the Winter Meetings.
2. Sign some big name free agents
The Nationals currently have a very low payroll, so they should be very active on the free agent market this offseason. There are plenty of great fits for the Nats, including 3B Alex Bregman, OF Anthony Santander, and pretty much every starting pitcher on the market. Santander is coming off a career year with the Baltimore Orioles in which he hit 44 home runs and fits perfectly into the Nationals lineup. Alex Bregman would fill the glaring hole at third base and would instantly become a key piece to the Nationals' future. Both Santander and Bregman have been mentioned regarding some of the Nationals' offseason targets. Starting pitching has not been in many rumors regarding the Nationals, but with the quality of starters available, the Nationals would be remise to not at least look into signing a front-line starter. If the team makes a couple of big signings next week, that will be a foundation for what could be a great offseason for the Nationals.
3. Juan Soto
This one is a pipedream at this point, but Juan Soto would be the biggest signing in franchise history. The Nationals have not even made an offer for Soto, which is disappointing to say the least, but not surprising. Soto is expected to sign by the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday, so this should end soon. Not much can still be said about Soto, he's arguably the best pure hitter in baseball and is only 26 years old. His signing alone would make the Nationals a legitimate contender in 2025 and beyond and would make the top of the Nats' lineup one of the deadliest in baseball. If the Nationals by some miracle end up with Soto, it would be the biggest signing in Winter Meetings history and franchise history and would instantly make the Nats the winners of the offseason.