2023 Washington Nationals season

The 2023 Washington Nationals season was the Nationals' 19th season as the Major League Baseball franchise in the District of Columbia, the 16th season at Nationals Park, and the 55th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Nationals were led by Dave Martinez in his sixth year as manager. They were members of the National League East.

The Nationals started out rough, having a .400 record at the All-Star Break, but briefly bounced back, going .620 after the All-Star break, including an .730 stretch after being no-hit by Michael Lorenzen on August 9, to improve to .460. However, they went .310 to finish .430 the season following this. Although they improved on their 55–107 record from 2022, which was an MLB-worst, they still finished in last place in the division for the third straight season.

On September 18, the Nationals were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth straight year.

Previous season
The Nationals finished the 2022 season with an MLB-worst record of 55–107. They finished in last place in the NL East, 46 games out of first.

Offseason
The Nationals entered the offseason with seven pending free agents: pitchers Steve Cishek, Sean Doolittle, Will Harris, Erasmo Ramírez, Joe Ross, and Aníbal Sánchez, and infielder/outfielder César Hernández. Additionally, designated hitter Nelson Cruz became a free agent after the Nationals declined their side of a mutual option for the 2023 season, while pitcher Francisco Pérez and catcher Tres Barrera also became free agents after being outrighted to the minor leagues. The Nationals immediately signed Doolittle back on a minor league deal announced November 6, 2022, inviting him to major league spring training as well. Ramírez also signed a new deal, a one-year major league contract, to remain with the Nationals. Pérez returned to the organization on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Cishek announced his retirement from professional baseball in December.

Among arbitration-eligible players, the Nationals chose not to tender new one-year contracts to pitcher Erick Fedde and designated hitter Luke Voit on November 18, 2022. They reached agreement on a new deal with infielder Ildemaro Vargas, avoiding arbitration, and tendered new contracts to seven more arbitration-eligible players: pitchers Víctor Arano, Carl Edwards Jr., Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, and Tanner Rainey and outfielders Víctor Robles and Lane Thomas. The Nationals also non-tendered pitcher Tommy Romero, who signed a minor league deal to remain with the organization, and cleared additional roster space by releasing pitcher Seth Romero, facing charges in Texas for driving under the influence, and outrighting pitchers Evan Lee and Jackson Tetreault and outfielders Yasel Antuna, Yadiel Hernández, and Josh Palacios to the minor leagues. Infielder Lucius Fox lost his roster spot in December as well, as did pitching prospect Gerardo Carrillo and journeyman reliever Reed Garrett. Another reliever, right-hander Andrés Machado, was cut loose in January after two seasons in the Nationals' bullpen.

The Nationals unveiled their first major league signings of the offseason on November 29, 2022, inking rookie outfielder Stone Garrett and veteran third baseman Jeimer Candelario to one-year deals. They added right-hander Thad Ward, a Boston Red Sox prospect, to their roster via the Rule 5 draft on December 7. Trevor Williams was signed December 10 to join the Nationals' rotation. Washington also added outfielder Corey Dickerson on a one-year deal January 10, 2023. The Nationals also claimed right-hander A. J. Alexy from the Texas Rangers and former top infield prospect Jeter Downs of the Red Sox off waivers, although Alexy was later designated for assignment and traded to the Minnesota Twins to clear a roster spot for first baseman Dominic Smith, whom the Nationals signed January 4, 2023.

Among other minor league signings, the Nationals reunited with first baseman Matt Adams, a member of their 2019 World Series championship team, in a deal announced December 14, 2022.

Media reports and rumors have linked the Nationals to other free agents during the offseason, including right-handed pitchers Seth Lugo (ultimately signed with the San Diego Padres) and Jordan Lyles (ultimately signed with the Kansas City Royals) catcher Gary Sánchez, and first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini (ultimately signed with the Chicago Cubs).

Transactions

 * November 6, 2022: The Nationals signed left-handed pitcher Sean Doolittle to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
 * November 10, 2022: The Nationals outrighted left-handed pitcher Francisco Pérez and catcher Tres Barrera to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.
 * November 14, 2022: The Nationals released left-handed pitcher Seth Romero.
 * November 15, 2022: The Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Tommy Romero for assignment, outrighted left-handed pitcher Evan Lee, right-handed pitcher Jackson Tetreault, and outfielder Yadiel Hernández to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, and selected the contracts of left-handed pitchers Matt Cronin and José A. Ferrer, right-handed pitchers Jake Irvin and Jackson Rutledge, infielder Jake Alu, and outfielder Jeremy De La Rosa.
 * November 18, 2022: The Nationals declined to tender new contracts to right-handed pitchers Erick Fedde and Tommy Romero and designated hitter Luke Voit.
 * November 29, 2022: The Nationals signed infielder Jeimer Candelario and outfielder Stone Garrett to major league contracts.
 * December 1, 2022: The Nationals outrighted outfielders Yasel Antuna and Josh Palacios to the minor leagues.
 * December 7, 2022: The Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Thad Ward from the Boston Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft.
 * December 10, 2022: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams to a two-year major league contract.
 * December 13, 2022: The Nationals claimed right-handed pitcher A. J. Alexy off waivers from the Texas Rangers and designated infielder Lucius Fox for assignment; he was outrighted to the minor leagues.
 * December 14, 2022: The Nationals signed right-handed pitchers Anthony Castro and Tommy Romero and infielders Matt Adams and Travis Blankenhorn to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.
 * December 20, 2022: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramírez to a one-year major league contract and designated right-handed pitcher Gerardo Carrillo for assignment; he was outrighted to the minor leagues.
 * December 22, 2022: The Nationals claimed infielder Jeter Downs off waivers from the Boston Red Sox and designated right-handed pitcher Reed Garrett for assignment; he elected free agency.
 * January 4, 2023: The Nationals signed first baseman Dominic Smith to a one-year major league contract; signed left-handed pitchers Anthony Banda and Francisco Pérez and infielder Michael Chavis to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training; and designated right-handed pitcher A. J. Alexy for assignment.
 * January 10, 2023: The Nationals traded right-handed pitcher A. J. Alexy to the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Cristian Jiménez; signed outfielder Corey Dickerson to a one-year major league contract; and designated right-handed pitcher Andrés Machado for assignment.
 * January 27, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Alex Colomé to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
 * January 31, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Wily Peralta to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
 * February 4, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
 * March 11, 2023: The Nationals signed catcher Keibert Ruiz to an eight-year contract extension with club options for the 2031 and 2032 seasons.

Spring training
The Nationals held spring training at their facility at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, which they share with the Houston Astros in their seventh year at the facility.

Non-roster participants in major league spring training for the Nationals included right-handed pitchers Zach Brzykcy, Gerardo Carrillo, Anthony Castro, Alex Colomé, Hobie Harris, Chad Kuhl, Andrés Machado, Wily Peralta, Tommy Romero, and Jackson Tetreault; left-handed pitchers Alberto Baldonado, Anthony Banda, Sean Doolittle, Evan Lee, and Francisco Pérez; catchers Brady Lindsly and Drew Millas; first baseman Matt Adams; infielders Michael Chavis, Lucius Fox, Erick Mejia, and Leonel Valera; and outfielders Yasel Antuna, Travis Blankenhorn, Donovan Casey, Yadiel Hernández, and Derek Hill.

Veteran right-hander Stephen Strasburg did not report to spring training in West Palm Beach after suffering a setback in his quest to return from thoracic outlet syndrome. Players present in camp but not as full participants included right-handed reliever Tanner Rainey, working his way back from Tommy John surgery the previous season; right-hander Jackson Tetreault, who had a season-ending shoulder fracture in 2022; left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle, who had an elbow brace procedure the previous season; and third baseman Carter Kieboom, who also had Tommy John surgery in 2022. Additionally, non-roster outfielder Derek Hill suffered a hamstring strain while running to first base during a game, and catcher Israel Pineda suffered a displaced pinky finger when he was struck by a pitch, while Kieboom experienced shoulder discomfort following a game, forcing them to slow down their ramp-up for the season. Reliever Víctor Arano was also sidelined with a nerve impingement in his right shoulder.

During spring training, the Nationals unveiled a contract extension with 24-year-old catcher Keibert Ruiz, keeping him under team control through the 2032 season.

Transactions

 * March 30, 2023: The Nationals selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda, right-handed pitchers Chad Kuhl and Hobie Harris, and infielder Michael Chavis.
 * April 14, 2023: The Nationals signed infielder Richie Martin and outfielder Nomar Mazara to minor league deals.
 * April 30, 2023: The Nationals designated left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda for assignment and selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Andrés Machado.
 * May 18, 2023: The Nationals signed catcher Luis Torrens and outfielder Franmil Reyes to minor league deals.
 * June 6, 2023: The Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Andrés Machado for assignment.
 * June 7, 2023: The Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramírez for assignment.
 * June 8, 2023: The Nationals claimed left-handed pitcher Joe La Sorsa off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.
 * June 21, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Derek Hill.
 * June 24, 2023: The Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl for assignment.
 * June 26, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Amos Willingham.
 * July 3, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham to minor league deals.
 * July 5, 2023: The Nationals designated outfielder Derek Hill for assignment.
 * July 12, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Rico Garcia to a minor league deal.
 * July 17, 2023: The Nationals claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.
 * July 19, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Rico Garcia.
 * July 31, 2023: The Nationals acquired minor league pitcher DJ Herz and minor league infielder Kevin Made from the Chicago Cubs for third baseman Jeimer Candelario.
 * August 1, 2023: The Nationals claimed left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
 * August 2, 2023: The Nationals released outfielder Corey Dickerson.
 * August 4, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Blake Rutherford.
 * August 6, 2023: The Nationals released right-handed pitcher Paolo Espino.
 * August 22, 2023: The Nationals signed manager Dave Martinez to a two-year contract extension.
 * August 26, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Jacob Young.
 * August 28, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of catcher Drew Millas.
 * September 1, 2023: The Nationals selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Travis Blankenhorn and released right-handed pitcher Rico Garcia.
 * September 27, 2023: The Nationals signed infielder Ildemaro Vargas to a one-year major league contract extension.

Major league debuts

 * April 1, 2023: Thaddeus Ward, Hobie Harris
 * May 3, 2023: Jake Irvin
 * May 9, 2023: Jake Alu
 * June 28, 2023: Amos Willingham
 * July 1, 2023: José A. Ferrer
 * August 4, 2023: Blake Rutherford
 * August 26, 2023: Jacob Young
 * August 28, 2023: Drew Millas
 * September 13, 2023: Jackson Rutledge

Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average Source:

Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts Source: