Yesterday was the first day of full squad workouts for the Washington Nationals, as now every member of the 40-man roster as well as the non-rosters invites are all together in West Palm Beach, Florida, all with the same goal in mind. That goal is to make this team and to make this year a memorable one, and perhaps surpass all expectations for the club in 2025.
Of course, there are headlines galore concerning the club, and in this latest news roundup I am picking a few smaller headlines that might not have caught as much mainstream attention.
Josiah Gray to 60-day IL to open up 40-man spot for Paul DeJong
One transaction that happened as a result of the Paul DeJong signing on Sunday is that righty Josiah Gray was moved to the 60-day IL to clear space on the 40-man roster. This should come as no surprise, as Gray, who had Tommy John Surgery late last season, is expected to miss the majority if not all of the 2025 season.
If the Nationals' reported deal with Lucas Sims ends up becoming official in the coming days, we could see righty Mason Thompson join Gray on the 60-day IL to open up a spot on the 40-man as well. Both pitchers could make returns later on in 2025, and should not be counted on to make a big impact this season.
Travis Sykora recovering from offseason surgery, won't pitch to begin season
In another piece of news that flew under the radar last week is that Nationals #2 prospect and Top 100 prospect in all of baseball, righty Travis Sykora, will miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from an offseason surgery. Thankfully, there is not anything major to worry about, as Sykora did not suffer any arm damage or anything that should be an issue long-term.
The righty had a "minor labrum surgery" this offseason, and we should see him back on the mound in May. Where we see him once he returns is a bit more of a question at this time, as he spent last season at Low-A Fredericksburg, and could see a promotion to High-A Wilmington once he's healthy.
Nationals, Kyle Finnegan, have remained 'in contact' throughout the offseason
This is definitely a little bit more clouded due to the reported impending signing of veteran righty Lucas Sims, but General Manager Mike Rizzo revealed in some of his first media availability of the Spring that the door is open for a reunion with 2024 All-Star Kyle Finnegan. The righty, who was non-tendered following last season, remains unsigned to this point, and is widely believed to be the best reliever that has yet to find a new home for the 2025 season.
Both sides have reportedly remained 'in contact' throughout the offseason, but it appears that Finnegan, who many believed would have latched on to a new team by now, could be holding out for a better financial fit, as Rizzo said "it takes two to tango" when asked what it would take to bring him back. Of course, with Sims potentially coming into the fold, we do not know how this will change their judgement about their 9th inning need, but it appears that the club might be set to roll with a combination of Jose A. Ferrer and free agent acquisition Jorge Lopez.
Which piece of Nationals news are you most intrigued about? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.