The Washington Nationals have had a slow offseason with just over a month until pitchers and catchers report for spring training in Florida. The team’s last signings to the major league roster — third baseman Nick Senzel and reliever Dylan Floro — came in mid-December. But Thursday was the deadline to agree to salaries and avoid arbitration with eligible players, which meant there was some procedural movement.
The Nationals avoided arbitration with their four remaining eligible players — reliever Kyle Finnegan, infielder Luis García, reliever Hunter Harvey and outfielder Lane Thomas. According to a person familiar with the negotiations: Thomas will earn $5.45 million in 2024 while Finnegan agreed for $5.1 million, Harvey for $2.325 million and García for $1.95 million. Teams had until 8 p.m. Eastern to negotiate before the sides would need to exchange figures ahead of arbitration.
The Nationals entered the offseason with seven arbitration-eligible players, but that number whittled over the winter. Dominic Smith was designated for assignment, and Tanner Rainey and Victor Robles agreed to one-year deals in November; Rainey will make $1.5 million this coming season, and Robles, who didn’t agree to a salary by the deadline the past two offseasons, will make $2.65 million.
Finnegan, Harvey and Thomas were three of the team’s most consistent players last season. Thomas, 28, earned $2.2 million a year ago, improved offensively in every major statistical category in 2023 and became a catalyst at the top of the order, leading the team in home runs (28) and runs (101).
Finnegan and Harvey, who made $2.325 million and $870,000 respectively in 2023, were part of the closer-by-committee approach that Manager Dave Martinez hinted last month could continue this coming season. Finnegan had 28 saves and eight holds, while Harvey had 10 saves and 19 holds.
García was eligible for the first time because of his Super 2 designation, given to players who rank in the top 22 of service time among those between two to three years. García, 23, hit .266 but wasn’t consistent at the plate or in the field a year ago; he was optioned to Class AAA Rochester in August before being recalled in September. Martinez said in December that García isn’t guaranteed the starting second base job in spring training, a stark contrast to last offseason, when he was billed the team’s second baseman of the future.
Note: Tim Bogar and Pat Roessler, members of last year’s coaching staff whose contracts weren’t renewed, have found new homes. Bogar will be the manager of the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Class AA affiliate. He had been with the Nationals since 2018 and served as the team’s bench coach for the past four seasons. Roessler, the team’s assistant hitting coach a year ago, joined the New York Yankees in the same role.