The 2024 season hasn't been the prettiest regarding the Nats record, but some individual performances are very encouraging. A few players have shown their worth to the front office and some have not. Who on the Nationals could see a larger role in the 2025 season? Who's role will be diminished?
Larger Role in 2025:
Luis García Jr.
Before the season, García Jr. was written off by many Nats fans. The second baseman had a tough 2023 season, including a demotion to AAA for a few weeks. The now 24-year-old ended last season on a hot streak at the plate that has carried into this season. Luis is hitting .280 with 16 home runs and 65 RBI. He also has a .759 OPS, 21 stolen bases, and just ten errors in the field. It was well-known in Spring Training that García Jr. was not guaranteed the starting position, he had to earn it. Luis has done much more than that this season and seems ready for the next step in his career.
García Jr. deserves a larger role next season—the 24-year-old should play every day, including games versus tough lefties. Davey Martinez tends to sit García Jr. against tougher left-handed pitchers. The young second baseman has more than earned opportunities against tough left-handed pitching.
Jose A. Ferrer
Another 24-year-old stud in Washington, fans and experts around the league will soon know Jose A. Ferrer's name. The 24-year-old is sporting a 3.38 ERA across 26.2 innings with a 1.20 WHIP in 27 games this season and is also 1/1 in save opportunities. The hard-throwing left-hander is nasty and could be an important part of the Nats' bullpen next season. Jose spent the beginning of the season on the IL with an arm injury but is fully healthy.
Consistent late-inning opportunities for Ferrer next season is the next step in his development. I'd love to see Ferrer get a shot to be the eighth-inning setup man. He's more than capable of sitting down the best hitters due to his repertoire, it's merely a matter of Jose putting it together. Coach Sean Doolittle is imperative to Ferrer's development. At his best, Doolittle overpowered hitters with his fastball, just like Ferrer can.
Decreased role in 2025:
Jacob Young
This may ruffle some feathers, but the Nationals have too much talent in the outfield for Jacob Young to start in 2025. While Young's defense is elite, his offensive skills aren't enough to justify him in the starting lineup. Especially if the Nats sign a middle-of-the-order bat this offseason, Young will likely be the fourth outfielder next season. That's exactly the role he should play, an elite defensive replacement off the bench.
The Nats' outfield in 2025 should be James Wood in left, Dylan Crews in center, and a free agent signing in right field. A pipe dream of mine is Juan Soto returning to D.C. to play right field, and it's a possibility. Other options include Anthony Santander or Teoscar Hernandez. The offseason acquisitions will likely dictate Jacob Young's playing time in 2025.
Ildemaro Vargas
I am two for two in the category of ruffling feathers. Ildemaro Vargas is a fan favorite, but his time as a National needs to end. He's 33 years old and on the team to provide a "veteran presence", but his career OPS is .645. It's puzzling to me that Davey Martinez tries to play Vargas seemingly every day. Nationals recent call-up Darren Baker has provided more excitement in 13 at-bats than Vargas has all season. Ildemaro's role is utility man off the bench but has more playing time against lefties than Luis García Jr, which is inexcusable.
Vargas is currently one of four Nats players over 30 years old. Washington is in the midst of a rebuild, and should use their veteran roster spots for players worthy of such. Vargas has shown very little in his career to earn the title of veteran other than service time. He sports a .247 career average with 15 home runs and 125 RBI in 1092 at-bats in the MLB. There isn't much CJ Abrams or Luis García Jr. will learn from Vargas. It's time for Vargas to make his exit from Washington.