Three potential offseason targets for the Nationals

With their high-spending rivals sitting atop the division standings, the Washington Nationals are once again facing an offseason of adding supplemental pieces rather than pursuing franchise-altering stars. 

Harrison Bader, CF, Cincinnati Reds 

Defense has long been Bader's signature (the bushy red hair had to be cut once he was traded to the Yankees). In fact, his defense is much of where Bader's value stems from as offensively he's never been a substantial threat -- posting a .243/.310/.397 line over his seven-year career. Bader had a power surge in the 2022 postseason, hitting five homers for the Yankees in nine games, but there's been little evidence he can hit for power regularly. 

Washington has a loaded outfield picture in their future but it's unlikely the organization is going to rush any of the group (Dylan Crews, James Wood, Robert Hassell III) to the majors until they're ready. Adding a free agent like Bader could help bridge things to that future while helping the present club field a better defense behind their pitchers. 

Joe Jiménez, RHP, Atlanta Braves

Hard-throwing relievers reaching free agency prior to age 30 often do well on the open market. Teams are always in need of reliable bullpen arms. Quietly, Jiménez has been just that over the last two seasons. He's made 113 appearances with the Tigers and Braves, totaling a 3.22 ERA with 141 strikeouts and just 27 walks. Most of those innings have come in middle relief, lower leverage situations. 

Washington's bullpen features a collection of arms who fit into a similar mold: inexperienced strike-throwers who can be susceptible to hard contact and home runs. Kyle Finnegan has saved 25 games and Hunter Harvey has mostly stayed healthy, but adding someone with Jiménez's pedigree could help take some pressure off the rest of the bullpen arms. 

Gio Urshela, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

CJ Abrams likely has shortstop locked down for the foreseeable future. The rest of the Nationals infield is less clear. The club's top infield prospects, Brady House and Yohandy Morales, are both third baseman but both are likely at least another year away from being MLB-ready (House is at Double-A, Morales at High-A). There's room to bring in a suitable stopgap until that time. 

Urshela's first break came as a result of injury, as his breakout with the Yankees in 2019 came following Miguel Andujar being lost for the season. Since then he's a .291/.335/.452 hitter over five years with the Yankees, Twins, and Angels before his 2023 season came to an end in June due to his own injury. Defensively Urshela is generally viewed as one of the league's better third basemen but he has played elsewhere in the infield, meaning he could easily slide over once House is ready.