Spring Training is fast approaching, and the Washington Nationals have been "active" in the free-agent market. Active means dishing out their usual one-year deals to lower-tier free agents. A trade was mixed in this offseason, but other than that, it's been a quiet offseason on the free agent forefront. Could the Nationals end the offseason with a splash? Here are two remaining free agents that make sense for Washington to sign.
Tanner Scott
The last two regular seasons have seen relief pitcher Tanner Scott ascend into one of the best in the major leagues. The left-hander posted a 1.75 ERA in 72.0 innings pitched in the 2024 season. He was traded mid-season from Miami to San Diego, as he was one of the coveted trade targets across the Majors. In 2023, Scott posted a 2.31 ERA in 74 appearances out of the Marlins' bullpen, according to baseballreference.com. Scott struck out 104 batters in 78.0 innings pitched in 2023. Tanner began his career in the Orioles organization and made his MLB debut at 22.
Scott will not be going for cheap on the free agent market. He'll likely command a contract in the three-year range at 10-17$ million per season. With that price tag, you receive one of the best relievers in baseball. If given the chance, Scott could begin a new reign of bullpen success in Washington.
Jack Flaherty
Breaking into the Major Leagues at 21, it seemed Jack Flaherty was destined to be the next ace of the St. Louis Cardinals. That was not the case for a multitude of reasons. Six years later, Flaherty has resurrected his career and is on the free agent market. The now 29-year-old was 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 2024 across 162.0 innings pitched, according to baseballreference.com. The "journeyman" seems like a great fit in D.C.
Flaherty would serve multiple purposes in the Nationals starting rotation. He would pitch every fifth day and likely be solid, but he would also give younger pitchers an opportunity to learn from a veteran. Flaherty has pitched in ten career postseason games. It's unlikely Flaherty is expecting a multi-year contract and could be incentivized to take a one-year with a higher AAV.
While neither signing falls under the "extremely likely" category, both players would fit in Washington's roster like a glove. The Nats' front office has not indicated they're ready to dive into their checkbooks. The yearly trend of cheap one-year deals has continued into 2025. The trend should halt soon, though, as the Nats hold the first overall selection in the 2025 MLB Draft, which should establish momentum in the organization. If the Lerners are unwilling to spend next offseason, there could be a more significant problem than we think in Washington. There will be too many assets within the organization to justify cheap ownership.