Washington Nationals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Washington Nationals non-tendered right-handers Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey on Friday, making them both free agents. Finnegan will hit the open market after five seasons in D.C., with his last one being his best. He earned his first All-Star bid by going 3-8 with a 3.68 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a career-high 38 saves in 63 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. The 33-year-old's 38 saves were third-most in baseball. Finnegan's strikeout rate the last two years wasn't representative of a closing arm, and it might be a stretch to expect him to land a closing gig in free agency. He should at least be a high-leverage option somewhere. Rainey had a 4.76 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 50 relief outings for the Nats in 2024 in his return from Tommy John surgery, but he was much better in the second half. The 31-year-old should be able to turn that into a bullpen with another team in 2025.

The Washington Nationals have signed pitcher Mason Thompson to a one-year deal. The 26-year-old missed the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery and it is presumed that he'll miss at least some portion of the beginning of 2025 as well. Once he returns, the righty will help the Nats out of the bullpen. When Thompson last played in 2023, the former third-round draft pick pitched to a 5.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 9.2% K-BB% in 51 appearances (54 IP). Unless he finds himself in some high-leverage role, the 6-foot-6 hurler will be off the fantasy radar until further notice.

Free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Joey Meneses has signed with the New York Mets on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring camp. Meneses debuted with the Nationals back in August of 2022 and impressed with a .324/.367/.563 slash line over 240 plate appearances with a .395 wOBA and 158 wRC+, but failed to come close to that type of production over the next two seasons. The 32-year-old finished last season with a .231/.291/.302 slash line with a .264 wOBA and 68 wRC+ in 313 plate appearances. If Meneses wants to make it back to the majors, he may have an easier path if the Mets don't re-sign Pete Alonso. Either way, he won't be on the fantasy radar unless he's getting regular at-bats with the big-league club.

Washington Nationals infielder Ildemaro Vargas has cleared waivers and has elected to test free agency, according to Bobby Blanco. Vargas posted a .246/.295/.316 slash line with one home run and nine stolen bases across 97 games with the Nationals. He was deployed as a utility option in Washington last season and logged double-digit starts at second base, third base, and the outfield. He held a stellar 10.2% strikeout rate but struggled to generate hard contact as he carried a poor 31.9% hard-hit rate and a 1.2% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should expect Vargas to have a similar role in the 2025 campaign if he finds a suitor, but he should not be on your fantasy radar given his lack of hitting production.

According to Washington Nationals insider Bobby Blanco, first baseman/designated hitter Joey Meneses has elected to test free agency. Meneses had the worst season of his three-year MLB career last summer as he posted a poor .231/.291/.302 line with three home runs and two stolen bases. This was a stark contrast to the .275/.321/.401 line he held during the 2023 campaign. The 32-year-old also spent some of last season with Triple-A Rochester and carried a modest .254/.322/.471 line with 14 doubles and nine home runs. Meneses will likely find a new home but is best to leave off your fantasy radar in 2025 given his struggles last season.