With the recent additions of Michael Soroka and Nathaniel Lowe to the Washington Nationals, let's take a look at how the 26-man roster could be shaping up, and identify some key positions that could still use another addition or two.
Catchers (2): Keibert Ruiz, Drew Millas
This position seems to be fairly set, as Ruiz is going to be locked in as the Nationals starter for the foreseeable future. The backup catcher battle between Riley Adams and Drew Millas will be interesting, but I believe Millas has a much higher upside due to his athleticism, so I went with him here.
First Base (1): Nathaniel Lowe
The Nationals finally have a first baseman after their trade with the Texas Rangers earlier this week, and I would doubt that the club would look to make another addition at the position.
Second Base (1): Luis Garcia Jr.
Maybe the brightest spot of the Nationals during the 2024 season was Luis Garcia Jr., who broke out in a major way. Unless he is traded, he should be the team's Opening Day starter at the position.
Third Base (1): Jose Tena
Going into next season, Tena should be penciled in as the starter at the hot corner unless the team either brings in an external piece or Brady House wins the job in Spring Training. This is a prime position for the club to bring in a stopgap piece for a year or two in free agency.
Shortstop (2): CJ Abrams, Nasim Nuñez
CJ Abrams will be looking to prove he can be more consistent and be looked at as more of a mature leader for the club in 2025, as the end of his 2024 season was a complete embarrassment to the organization. Nuñez will be taking over the Ildemaro Vargas role, and his speed and glove make him a valuable late-game replacement or pinch runner as well.
Outfield (4): Dylan Crews, Jacob Young, James Wood, Alex Call
The outfield of the future is in place in Crews, Young, and Wood. I would anticipate Alex Call wins the 4th spot in the outfield, but also wouldn't be surprised if Robert Hassell III shines in Spring Training and takes a starting spot away from Jacob Young.
Designated Hitter/Reserve (3): Stone Garrett, Andres Chaparro, Juan Yepez
This is sort of the spot for guys with some serious thump who might not have a clear path to consistent playing time. Garrett showed some signs of life late last year after returning to the MLB, and the duo of Chaparro and Yepez were very solid, and could trade off at DH should the team not make any other significant addition.
Starting Pitchers (5): MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin, Michael Soroka, Mitchell Parker, Cade Cavalli
There are 3 locks for the rotation in Gore, Irvin, and Soroka (at least to start the season), and the last 2 spots are likely to be split between 3 names. Just for the fact that I don't think the Nationals want to have 3 lefties in a 5-man rotation, I would give the edge to Cavalli, but depending on his health this spot could change.
Bullpen (6): Derek Law, Eduardo Salazar, Jose A. Ferrer, Evan Reifert, Joe La Sorsa, DJ Herz, FA Addition
The bullpen still needs a veteran addition or two to stabilize the back end, as the team currently does not have an established closer option. Keep an eye on the bullpen to see how the Nationals plan to replace Robert Garcia and Kyle Finnegan, who served as key options for the club in 2024.
Overall, I think that the Nationals will have a roster that lines up similarly to this on Opening Day 2025, but I don't think they are done making moves yet in free agency. Be on the lookout for another veteran bat, and at least one or two bullpen names that might not break the bank. Looking at this team's potential roster for 2025 became a whole lot more exciting over the last few days, and hopefully GM Mike Rizzo can build on that momentum.
Who is missing from my Opening Day 2025 26-man roster prediction? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.