The Nationals introduced that third baseman Nick Senzel has been designated for task. Infielder Trey Lipscomb was referred to as again up from Triple-A Rochester within the corresponding transfer.
It’s the second time this week that the Nats have DFA’ed one in all their veteran pickups from the offseason, as Eddie Rosario was designated and subsequently launched (after which shortly signed by the Braves, his former group). Rosario’s minor league deal carried a $2MM base wage as soon as he was chosen to the Nationals’ energetic roster, and likewise, Senzel signed a assured one-year, $2MM contract with Washington over the winter. If Senzel isn’t claimed or traded throughout his DFA interval after which launched, the Nationals shall be liable for the roughly $950K nonetheless owed to Senzel, aside from the prorated minimal MLB wage that may be coated by a brand new group if Senzel indicators elsewhere.
The monetary ingredient of as we speak’s transfer might be secondary to the bigger-aspect of the Nationals pulling the twine early on a veteran participant quite than trying to transfer Senzel in a commerce nearer to the deadline. As with Rosario, it looks like Washington simply opted to maneuver on solely since Senzel wasn’t producing sufficient to generate a lot commerce curiosity. Senzel has hit .209/.303/.359 with seven dwelling runs over 235 plate appearances, translating to a below-average 90 wRC+. Aside from a superb 11.5% stroll fee, Senzel wasn’t bringing a lot to the desk both offensively or defensively because the Nats’ common third baseman, and he had solely 0.1 fWAR over 64 video games.
As has usually been the case for Senzel, well being was an element. He suffered a fractured thumb proper on the finish of Spring Coaching that required a season-opening stint on the 10-day injured record, and although the fracture was slight sufficient that he missed lower than three weeks of motion, it’s simple to think about how any sort of lingering thumb discomfort may’ve impacted Senzel’s efficiency on the plate.
That is primarily the story of Senzel’s profession, as a variety of accidents has stored him off the sphere for lengthy stretches of time, to say nothing of how his ceiling as a expertise has been lowered. Chosen second total by the Reds within the 2016 draft, Senzel battled accidents and a variety of place adjustments over his first 5 MLB seasons, and he hit solely .239/.302/.369 in 1366 PA for Cincinnati from 2019-23. The Reds then non-tendered him final fall, sending Senzel to free company and for what he hoped was a welcome change of surroundings in Washington.
Whereas the Nationals’ 41-47 document nonetheless places them on the outskirts of the NL wild card race, 2024 was all the time seen as one other step within the group’s rebuilding course of, because the Nats had been in search of extra growth from their kids already on the energetic roster and people simply on their manner into the Present for the primary time. Star outfield prospect James Wooden made his MLB debut this previous week within the wake of Rosario’s departure, Victor Robles’ launch final month created extra time for Jacob Younger because the common middle fielder, Joey Meneses was optioned to Triple-A to make extra room for Juan Yepez at first base. Lipscomb ought to be the favourite for the third base job with Senzel out, although prime prospect Brady Home is the group’s longer-term third baseman of the long run.
Impending free brokers Jesse Winker and Dylan Floro stay as two of the Nationals’ likeliest veteran commerce chips heading into the July thirtieth deadline. Such gamers as outfielder Lane Thomas and relievers Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan have additionally reportedly drawn curiosity, and whereas that trio is all arbitration-controlled by means of the 2025 marketing campaign, one would picture the Nats could be open to listening to provides as they appear in direction of reinforcing their core.
