2020 Washington Nationals season

The 2020 Washington Nationals season is the Nationals' 16th season as the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, the 13th season at Nationals Park, and the 52nd since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team entered this season as the defending World Series champions.

2020 Washington Nationals
Major League affiliations
Location
Other information
Owner(s)Lerner Enterprises
General manager(s)Mike Rizzo
Manager(s)Dave Martinez
Local televisionMASN
(Bob Carpenter, FP Santangelo, Dan Kolko, Bo Porter)
Local radio106.7 The Fan
Washington Nationals Radio Network
(Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler)
< Previous season     

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 23 Opening Day.[3]

Offseason

Team news

The day after the Washington Nationals won the 2019 World Series on October 30, 2019, in Houston, Texas, nine members of that championship team officially filed for free agency: pitchers Jeremy Hellickson, Daniel Hudson, Fernando Rodney, and Jonny Venters; infielders Asdrúbal Cabrera, Brian Dozier, Howie Kendrick, and Anthony Rendon; and outfielder Gerardo Parra.[4] On November 1, the Nationals announced they would not exercise their share of the 2020 mutual option for first baseman Matt Adams, making Adams a free agent as well.[5] The Nationals also declined club options over first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Yan Gomes, who also became free agents, on November 2. They exercised club options to keep pitcher Sean Doolittle and outfielder Adam Eaton under contract for the 2020 season.[6] Hellickson chose to retire instead of pursuing another career opportunity, citing a nagging shoulder injury.[7]

Considerable media speculation swirled around whether the Nationals would re-sign Rendon, who was a finalist in National League Most Valuable Player balloting, and Strasburg, who was the World Series MVP.[8][9][10] Washington general manager Mike Rizzo expressed public interest in bringing back both players,[11] who rejected one-year qualifying offers from the Nationals.[12] However, in an early-December interview with Donald Dell, Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner said the club "can only afford to have one of those two guys", downplaying the possibility that both could fit into Washington's 2020 payroll.[13] On December 9, 2019, at the annual winter meetings in Strasburg's hometown of San Diego, the Nationals announced they had come to terms with Strasburg on a new, seven-year pact, reported to be worth $245 million, a record for a free agent pitcher.[note 1] At the press conference making the announcement, Rizzo also confirmed that the Nationals had re-signed Kendrick to what was reported as a one-year major league deal.[14] Kendrick's signing was officially announced the following day, along with the re-signing of Gomes to a two-year deal.[15] The team also re-signed Zimmerman and Cabrera to one-year major league deals[16][17] and brought back Hudson on a two-year guarantee.[18] Rendon ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Angels on a seven-year deal.[19]

The Nationals were also linked in media reports to other free agents, including first baseman Justin Smoak[20] (ultimately signed by the Milwaukee Brewers),[21] third basemen Josh Donaldson[22] (ultimately signed by the Minnesota Twins)[23] and Maikel Franco[24] (ultimately signed by the Kansas City Royals),[25] along with starting pitchers Madison Bumgarner[26] (ultimately signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks)[27] and Zack Wheeler[28] (ultimately signed by the Philadelphia Phillies).[29]

Eight Nationals were eligible for salary raises through the arbitration system during the offseason: pitchers Roenis Elías, Koda Glover, Javy Guerra, Joe Ross, and Hunter Strickland; infielders Wilmer Difo and Trea Turner; and outfielder Michael A. Taylor. The Nationals signed Strickland and Difo to new one-year contracts.[30] Hours before the deadline for teams to tender new contracts to arbitration-eligible players, on December 2, Glover announced his retirement from professional baseball at age 26.[31] The Nationals tendered contracts to all eligible players except Glover and Guerra, who were non-tendered.[32] The Nationals agreed to one-year contracts for each of their tendered players, avoiding arbitration.[33]

Within days, the Nationals signed a new reliever, former Oakland Athletics minor league closer Kyle Finnegan. Finnegan was the first free agent signing of the offseason announced by the team, on December 8, 2019.[34] The Nationals added to their bullpen again on January 3, 2020, announcing they had signed veteran Will Harris to a three-year contract.[35] On January 29, the team acquired reliever Ryne Harper from the Minnesota Twins.[36]

The Nationals added new blood to their position player roster as well, announcing the signings of infielders Starlin Castro to a two-year deal[37] and Eric Thames to a one-year deal on January 7 and January 8, respectively.[38]

Transactions
  • December 1, 2019: The Nationals signed infielder Wilmer Difo to a one-year major league contract.[39]
  • December 2, 2019: The Nationals signed right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland to a one-year major league contract[40] and declined to offer arbitration to right-handed relievers Koda Glover and Javy Guerra; Glover retired and Guerra elected free agency.[41]
  • December 8, 2019: The Nationals signed right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan to a major league contract.[42]
  • December 9, 2019: The Nationals signed right-handed starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg to a seven-year major league contract.[43]
  • December 10, 2019: The Nationals signed catcher Yan Gomes to a two-year major league contract and infielder Howie Kendrick to a one-year major league contract with a mutual option.[44]
  • January 3, 2020: The Nationals signed right-handed reliever Will Harris to a three-year major league contract.[45]
  • January 7, 2020: The Nationals signed infielder Starlin Castro to a two-year major league contract.[46]
  • January 8, 2020: The Nationals signed infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera to a one-year major league contract and first baseman and outfielder Eric Thames to a one-year major league contract with a mutual option.[47]
  • January 14, 2020: The Nationals signed right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson to a two-year major league contract.[48]
  • January 28, 2020: The Nationals signed first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a one-year major league contract.[49]
  • January 29, 2020: The Nationals acquired right-handed reliever Ryne Harper from the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Hunter McMahon.[50]

Spring training

The Nationals are holding spring training at their facility at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, which they share with the Houston Astros. It is their fourth year at the facility.

On February 12, the Nationals announced they had invited the following players on minor league contracts to participate in major league spring training: left-handed pitchers Fernando Abad and Sam Freeman; right-handed pitchers Dakota Bacus, Bryan Bonnell, Wil Crowe, Paolo Espino, Jhonatan Germán, Javy Guerra, David Hernandez, Kevin Quackenbush, and Derek Self; catchers Welington Castillo, Taylor Gushue, and Jakson Reetz; infielders Luis García, Drew Ward, and Jacob Wilson; outfielders Yadiel Hernández and Mac Williamson; infielder/outfielders Emilio Bonifácio and Brandon Snyder; and outfielder/left-handed pitcher J. B. Shuck.[51]

On March 12, the remainder of spring training was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Nationals had a record of 6–11–2 before this happened. When the new schedule was announced for the 2020 season, it included three new exhibition games against the Phillies and Orioles, which count as Spring Training games.

Regular season

Opening Day

Opening Day lineup
Opening Day Starters
NamePosition
Trea TurnerShortstop
Adam EatonRight field
Starlin CastroSecond base
Howie KendrickDesignated hitter
Eric ThamesFirst base
Kurt SuzukiCatcher
Asdrúbal Cabrera [a]Third base
Andrew StevensonLeft field
Víctor RoblesCenter field
Max ScherzerPitcher

^[a] Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19 and thus was placed on the IL.[52]

Game recap

[53]

Season standings

National League East
National League East W L Pct. GB Home Road
Miami Marlins 95 0.643 — 1–1 8–4
Atlanta Braves 1210 0.545 1 7–2 5–8
Philadelphia Phillies 79 0.438 3 6–8 1–1
New York Mets 913 0.409 4 5–7 4–6
Washington Nationals 711 0.389 4 4–8 3–3

National League Wild Card
Division Leaders W L Pct.
Chicago Cubs 135 0.722
Los Angeles Dodgers 147 0.667
Miami Marlins 95 0.643


Division 2nd Place W L Pct.
Colorado Rockies 128 0.600
St. Louis Cardinals 43 0.571
Atlanta Braves 1210 0.545


Wild Card teams
(Top two qualify for postseason)		 W L Pct. GB
San Diego Padres 1111 0.500 +½
Arizona Diamondbacks 1011 0.476 —
Milwaukee Brewers 910 0.474 —
Cincinnati Reds 911 0.450 ½
Philadelphia Phillies 79 0.438 ½
New York Mets 913 0.409 1½
Washington Nationals 711 0.389 1½
San Francisco Giants 814 0.364 2½
Pittsburgh Pirates 414 0.222 4½

Record vs. opponents
2020 National League Records

Source: NL Standings Head-to-head

Team ATL MIA NYM PHI WSH AL
Atlanta —1–15–22–20–04–5
Miami 1–1—1–22–10–05–1
New York 2–52–1—0–23–32–2
Philadelphia 2–21–22–0—0–02–5
Washington 0–00–03–30–0—4–8

Updated with the results of all games through August 15, 2020.

Major league debuts

NOTE: Dakota Bacus′s debut took place in the August 14 continuation of the suspended August 9 game. In baseball records, his debut technically appears as having occurred in the August 9 game.

Game log
2020 Game Log: 7–11 (Home: 2–8; Away: 5–3)
August: 4–7 (Home: 1–4; Away: 3–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record
—August 1@ MarlinsPostponed (COVID-19);[54] Makeup: September 18 as part of a doubleheader
—August 2@ MarlinsPostponed (COVID-19);[55] Makeup: September 20 as part of a doubleheader
8August 4Mets5–3Corbin (1–0)Matz (0–2)Hudson (2)4–4
9August 5Mets1–3Porcello (1–1)Fedde (0–1)Lugo (2)4–5
10August 7Orioles0–11Milone (1–1)Sánchez (0–2)—4–6
11August 8Orioles3–5Armstrong (1–0)Hudson (1–1)Castro (1)4–7
—August 9OriolesSuspended (field issues). Orioles lead 5–2, 1 out, top of 6th inning, runners on 1st & 2nd. Completed on August 14.
12August 10@ Mets16–4Corbin (2–0)Matz (0–3)—5–7
13August 11@ Mets2–1Scherzer (1–1)Porcello (1–2)Hudson (3)6–7
14August 12@ Mets6–11Familia (1–0)Sánchez (0–3)—6–8
15August 13@ Mets2–8Peterson (3–1)Voth (0–2)—6–9
16August 14Orioles[lower-alpha 1]2–6Lakins (2–0)Strasburg (0–1)—6–10
17August 14@ Orioles15–3Fedde (1–1)Milone (1–2)—7–10
18August 15@ Orioles3–7Wojciechowski (1–2)Corbin (2–1)Sulser (5)7–11
19August 16@ Orioles––
20August 17@ Braves––
21August 18@ Braves––
22August 19@ Braves––
23August 21Marlins––
24August 22 (1)Marlins––
25August 22 (2)@ Marlins
(Played at Nationals Park)		––
26August 23Marlins––
27August 24Marlins––
28August 25Phillies––
29August 26Phillies––
30August 27Phillies––
31August 28@ Red Sox––
32August 29@ Red Sox––
33August 30@ Red Sox––
34August 31@ Phillies––
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Postponement
Bold = Nationals team member
  1. Completion of game suspended on August 9. Game moved to Oriole Park at Camden Yards with Washington serving as the "home" team.

Current roster
Washington Nationals roster
Active roster Player pool Coaches/Other

Pitchers
Starting rotation

Bullpen

Closer

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches


45-day injured list


Restricted list


28 active, 28 player pool

7- or 10-day injured list
Suspended list
# Personal leave
* Not on 40-man roster
Roster and coaches updated August 15, 2020
Transactions • Depth chart

→ All MLB rosters

Statistics

Batting

(Updated as of xx/xx/xx)

Players in bold are on the active roster.

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Walks; SO = Strikeouts; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On Base Percentage; SLG = Slugging Percentage; SB = Stolen bases

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG OBP SLG SB

Pitching

(Updated as of xx/xx/xx)

Players in bold are on the active roster.

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR = Home runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB K

Awards and honors

All-Stars

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Fresno Grizzlies Pacific Coast League Randy Knorr
AA Harrisburg Senators Eastern League Billy Gardner Jr.
A-Advanced Fredericksburg Nationals Carolina League Tripp Keister
A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Mario Lisson
A-Short Season Auburn Doubledays New York–Penn League Patrick Anderson
Rookie GCL Nationals Gulf Coast League Rocket Wheeler
Rookie DSL Nationals Dominican Summer League Sandy Martínez

Class A-Advanced

After playing for 36 seasons at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, the Nationals′ Class A-Advanced affiliate, most recently known as the Potomac Nationals, moved during the 2019–2020 offseason to a new stadium in Fredericksburg, Virginia, that would open in April 2020.[56] On October 5, 2019, the team announced that it had changed its name to the Fredericksburg Nationals for the 2020 season and that its marketing nickname for the team – "P-Nats" when the team was the Potomac Nationals – had changed to "FredNats."[57]

Notes
  1. Strasburg's deal held the record only briefly before the New York Yankees signed free agent Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million deal later that month. (See Footer, Alison, "Strasburg to Nationals on record 7-year deal", MLB.com, December 9, 2019 and "'I’ve Always Been Here': Cole Speaks Glowingly Of Yankees During Introductory Press Conference", CBSNewYork, December 18, 2019)

References
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  2. "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  3. Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. "MLB offseason begins: 131 players become free agents". USA Today. October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  5. Todd, Jeff (November 1, 2019). "Nationals Decline Mutual Option On Matt Adams". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  6. Dybas, Todd (November 2, 2019). "Sean Doolittle, Adam Eaton will return to Nationals, expect Ryan Zimmerman to join them". NBC Sports Washington. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  7. Birch, Tommy (February 14, 2020). "Des Moines' Jeremy Hellickson retires from Major League Baseball". Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  8. Dougherty, Jesse (November 13, 2019). "Scott Boras, playing role of Scott Boras, talks Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  9. Dybas, Todd (November 3, 2019). "Will the Nationals have to choose between Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon?". NBC Sports Washington. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  10. Lupica, Mike (November 6, 2019). "The case for Stras, Rendon to stay with Nats". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
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  12. Polishuk, Mark (November 14, 2019). "7 Players Reject Qualifying Offers". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  13. Dybas, Todd (December 5, 2019). "Nationals owner Mark Lerner says team can't afford Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon". NBC Sports Washington. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  14. Blum, Ronald (December 9, 2019). "Strasburg, Nationals reach record $245M, 7-year deal". The Middletown Press. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  15. Byrne, Connor (December 10, 2019). "Nationals Announce Howie Kendrick, Yan Gomes Deals". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
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  25. "Royals officially sign 3B Maikel Franco to $2.95 million contract". ESPN. December 27, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
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  28. Albert, Darryl (November 4, 2019). "Report: Nationals interested in signing Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler". Larry Brown Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  29. Lauber, Scott (December 9, 2019). "Phillies finalize Zack Wheeler signing, focus on other needs at winter meetings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
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  32. Zuckerman, Mark (December 2, 2019). "Guerra non-tendered, Nationals will bring back others". MASN Sports. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  33. https://twitter.com/MarkZuckerman/status/1215776465834430465
  34. Weyrich, Matt (December 8, 2019). "Nationals sign reliever Kyle Finnegan to major-league deal". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
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  36. https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/1222587169790922753
  37. "Nationals sign INF Starlin Castro for $12 million, 2 years". Yahoo! Sports. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  38. Todd, Jeff (January 8, 2020). "Nationals Sign Eric Thames". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  39. Fortier, Sam (December 1, 2019). "Nationals sign Wilmer Difo to a one-year, $1 million deal, giving him one more chance to stick". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
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  41. Reddington, Patrick (December 2, 2019). "Washington Nationals non-tender both Javy Guerra and Koda Glover; tender contracts to four..." Federal Baseball. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  42. Dougherty, Jesse (December 8, 2019). "Nationals sign reliever Kyle Finnegan to a major league contract". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  43. West, Jenna (December 9, 2019). "Stephen Strasburg and Nationals Agree to Seven-Year Deal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
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  45. Polishuk, Mark (January 3, 2020). "Nationals Sign Will Harris". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  46. "Nationals agree to terms with infielder Starlin Castro". MASN Sports. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  47. "Nationals agree to terms with Asdrúbal Cabrera and Eric Thames". Curly W Live. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  48. Byrne, Connor (January 14, 2020). "Nationals Re-Sign Daniel Hudson". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  49. Byrne, Connor (January 28, 2020). "Nationals Re-Sign Ryan Zimmerman". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  50. "Nationals acquire right-handed pitcher Ryne Harper". Curly W Live. January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  51. "Who the heck is that guy? — 2020 edition! New faces at #Nats spring training". TalkNats. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  52. "Nationals' Juan Soto tests positive for coronavirus, to miss opener". ESPN. July 23, 2020.
  53. Hock, Bryan (July 24, 2020). "Cole as advertised as Yanks take '20 opener". MLB.
  54. Footer, Alyson (July 27, 2020). "Marlins-O's, Yanks-Phils games postponed". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  55. Frisaro, Joe (July 29, 2020). "Marlins games postponed through Sunday". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  56. Hambrick, Greg (June 26, 2018). "Potomac Nationals announce plans for Fredericksburg stadium". InsideNoVa.com. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  57. Caputo, Phil, "Introducing the FredNats, by George!", sportslogos.net, October 5, 2019 Retrieved October 5, 2019
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