

Washington Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams is the only healthy pitcher who has not reported to spring training yet, as he remains home in San Diego waiting for his wife to give birth to the couple's first child. Barring another addition to the roster, Williams is penciled in as the team's No. 5 starter and is expected to arrive at camp within the next few days. Based on what general manager Mike Rizzo said, the 31-year-old shouldn't face any competition for his rotation spot to open the 2024 season. He won't really be of much consideration in mixed fantasy leagues, though, after posting a 5.55 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 144 1/3 innings for the Nationals last season. When former first-rounder Cade Cavalli (elbow) makes his season debut at some point this summer, it could push Williams to a long-relief role.


Washington Nationals catcher Riley Adams (wrist), who broke the hamate bone in his left wrist in September of last year and needed surgery, has fully healed and said he doesn't have any lingering issues entering spring training. Before getting hurt, Adams was in the midst of a breakout in D.C., slashing .273/.331/.476 with four home runs, 21 RBI and eight runs scored in 44 games in his second full season with the team. Still, he won't have much fantasy appeal at all as long as starting catcher Keibert Ruiz remains healthy in 2024. The 27-year-old backup backstop should see most of his sparse playing time against left-handed pitching, with whom he produced a .960 OPS with three of his four long balls against in 2023.


Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (elbow), who is 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery, threw his first bullpen session on Monday and had another one on Thursday. He will continue to throw off a mound three times a week until he's cleared to face live hitters. Cavalli continues to target a full return to the majors around June, which would be 14 months after he had elbow surgery. The 25-year-old is making good progress but isn't expected to pitch in any Grapefruit League games in spring training. He was a first-round pick in 2020 out of Oklahoma and was expected to be a part of the team's starting rotation in 2022 before blowing his elbow out in spring training that year. There's plenty of upside with Cavalli, but fantasy managers will want to temper expectations for him in 2024 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery.




Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said on Wednesday that outfielders Jacob Young and Victor Robles will be competing for the center field job this year. It's a surprise after Robles was signed for $2.65 million over the winter after missing most of 2023 due to a back injury. Young started last year at Single-A Wilmington and finished with 33 big-league games in D.C. Martinez clarified his comments a bit on Thursday, saying "Vic has a little bit of the upper hand." Robles has been mostly inconsistent in parts of seven major-league seasons, but he showed improvement before his injury in 2023 by hitting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage in 36 games. Common sense suggests Young needs more time in the minors, so it would be a surprise if Robles wasn't the Nats' starting center fielder on Opening Day, but if he scuffles at all during the year, Young could get the nod.




San Francisco Giants infielder Wilmer Flores enters spring training this year without a clear role once again. Last year, he had a stretch when he mostly came off the bench, but then he ended up being a lineup regular and the team's best hitter due to injuries. Until this past week when the team signed right-handed slugger Jorge Soler, Flores looked headed for right-handed designated hitter duty and time at first base. "Wilmer is a tough one, man. I mean, that guy hits righties, hits lefties. He's so well respected, not only around the league but certainly in this clubhouse. You don't always have a full complement of players. Guys are going to get hurt, too, but I'll figure out a way to get him in there," manager Bob Melvin said. The 32-year-old hit a career-high 23 homers in 2023, but the addition of Soler is going to make it much tougher for him to find regular ABs.
