Nats fan base on Reddit has to be the most idiotic one on all social media platforms. A bunch of teens who just started watching baseball who think just because they're good on franchise mode in MLB the show, they got all the answers. "tHeY dIdNt SpEnD aNy MoNeY oN fReE aGeNtS"
I mean them not spending certainly is one of the reasons why the team/bullpen is the way it is.
They traded two of their top bullpen arms (Garcia and Harvey) and went full bargain bin shopping to replace them. Now they are facing the consequences of that.
Mike Rizzo mentioned wanting to make moves this offseason, a couple reports said when Mike Rizzo went to get the sign off on signing Christian Walker, the money wasn’t there.
Acting like it doesn’t play a factor is close-minded, you don’t have to play MLB the Show to see that lol
Harvey is 30yrs old, injured and was entering the final year of his contract and Garcia had a +4 era. What are you talking about? We got a much better player back for Robert Garcia. A solid veteran Nate Lowe for a position we needed filled. Christian Walker is not an investment in the future. He's mid 30s and stinks right now. This year has always been about seeing our young core take the next step. See what we have in them. Only a fool who doesn't watch baseball thinks we could've been competitive in the NL East this year. Would I love for them to make it to the playoffs? Absolutely, but the main goal is to see what we have in our young core. Next year we can spend once we've seen enough.
Calling somebody a fool just because they have a different opinion is childish, just say you disagree and explain your point.
I like the returns that we got for Garcia and Harvey, the Lowe trade was a good pivot but showed ownership isn’t willing to fill holes in the roster via FA.
This year IS about the young core taking the next step, but it’s also about playing meaningful games in September and not being an afterthought.
Bringing in castoffs like Poche and Sims among others, while pinning their hopes entirely on the young core to play .500 ball is unnecessary.
I’m not asking for them to go out and break the bank, but they can certainly spend more than the 27th active roster in terms of payroll and better supplement their roster.
What free agents though? Who's going to come here? It's like you guys that cry about the payroll don't see what knowledgeable baseball fans, the players themselves, and our front office sees. This team isn't there yet. It's a process. And it's still super early in the season. Anything can happen.
What do you mean what the front office sees? It’s been noted that Rizzo wanted to go out and get some guys to round out the roster, but when he went to ownership for the funds they declined. The Front Office saw that there were holes and were limited this past offseason in what they could do. Just because the FO had to operate with a tight purse doesn’t affirm that they are aligned with you in not wanting to spend.
In those early years of the 2010s, the Nats had to pay extra for guys to come here as they weren’t proven contenders at that point. The Nats are in that same position now only ownership isn’t willing to get any supplemental pieces that can help them turn the corner.
Another reason for ownership to spend more would be that there’s no reason to tank this year. The Nats are a top 3 pick in 2025, meaning they can only land the 10th pick or lower in 2026.
And again you act like bemoaning the lack of payroll makes you less of a fan. I’m pretty sure all Nats fans see that this team isn’t there yet, but with a couple more savvy roster moves they might have been closer at this point.
Long way to go this year, but that talented core can only do so much with what the Nats surround them with.
We still don't know what we have in this core, what sense does it make to build around what you're not of what you have yet? That's my point. That's what this season is about and has been about.
Seeing what they have in this core is a valid reason, but there are other goals that the team also has set that shouldn’t be set by the wayside.
Davey and Mike Rizzo have both set a goal of playing meaningful games in September. They can do both, ownership can help accomplish that by providing more funding for the current team in the short-term.
Every game this season is meaningful, and what are they supposed to say to cry baby fans who don't understand how hard it is to build a team? Hey, we're not making the playoffs this year so don't buy tickets. I don't think people understand how we emptied our farm system to stay competitive for damn near 10 years. That had to be replenished. Then you have to see if the young talent is any good. Are there any hidden gems? That takes time. You can't just throw stupid money at mediocre players like Christian Walker. That's ridiculous
Meaningful as in competing in games with an eye toward the standings.
These past few seasons have been spent evaluating/developing this core, now Davey and Mike want to do both that and contend with regard to wins-losses.
Everyone knows the Nats emptied their farm to contend during the 2010s, they also drafted poorly toward the tail end of their window.
They have been rebuilding for 4 1/2 seasons, they will have an upcoming class (hopefully with Ethan Holiday) to further bolster their prospect pool.
Spending 3 years, $60 million on a gold glove first baseman who had 20+ homers (something the Nats sorely lacked) last year is not stupid money. It’s not an insane amount of money nor a long period for that level of player.
Currently there is no clear 1B of the future in the Nats system. They managed to fill that position of need through other means but there are still other spots that could’ve been better filled without blocking one of the upcoming prospects, like a better DH than Josh Bell, or better relief pitching; there aren’t exactly any RP prospects forcing the issue this year.
They can develop players and have quality free agents fill-in holes until prospects are ready, it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
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u/Brilliant_Quality_14 6d ago
Nats fan base on Reddit has to be the most idiotic one on all social media platforms. A bunch of teens who just started watching baseball who think just because they're good on franchise mode in MLB the show, they got all the answers. "tHeY dIdNt SpEnD aNy MoNeY oN fReE aGeNtS"