2024 Washington Nationals season

The 2024 Washington Nationals season is the Nationals' 20th season as the Major League Baseball franchise in the District of Columbia, the 17th season at Nationals Park, and the 56th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Nationals are led by Dave Martinez in his seventh year as manager. They are members of the National League East.

Previous season
The Nationals finished fifth in the National League East Division in the 2023 season, with a win-loss record of 71–91.

Offseason
The Nationals had only one pending major league free agent after the 2023 season: reliever Carl Edwards Jr., who had finished the season on the 60-day injured list. The Nationals also declined their 2024 club option for outfielder Víctor Robles, who had also ended the season on the 60-day injured list, while retaining his rights through arbitration.

Additionally, the Nationals designated reliever Matt Cronin for assignment to clear roster space entering the offseason.

The Nationals avoided arbitration with reliever Tanner Rainey and outfielder Víctor Robles by signing them to one-year deals on November 14, 2023. They tendered contracts to four more arbitration-eligible players—relievers Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey, infielder Luis García, and outfielder Lane Thomas—but chose not to retain their rights to first baseman Dominic Smith, who was not tendered a new contract.

Also losing their roster spots during the offseason: swingman pitchers Cory Abbott and Roddery Muñoz, the latter of whom was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates; relievers Joe La Sorsa and Andrés Machado, the latter of whom was released to pursue an overseas playing opportunity; infielder Jeter Downs, who was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees; and catcher Israel Pineda.

The Nationals added four prospects, all pitchers—Zach Brzykcy, Cole Henry, DJ Herz, and Mitchell Parker—to the 40-man roster to prevent them from being eligible for the Rule 5 draft. In the Rule 5 draft, the Nationals made a selection themselves for the second straight year, adding infield prospect Nasim Nuñez of the Miami Marlins to their roster.

Active on the free agent market, the Nationals were linked in rumors to starting pitcher Michael Wacha; infielders Jeimer Candelario (ultimately signed with the Cincinnati Reds) and Rhys Hoskins; and outfielder Jorge Soler.

The Nationals announced signings of reliever Dylan Floro and third baseman Nick Senzel on December 12, 2023. The team later signed infielder/outfielder Joey Gallo on January 27, 2024.

Notable transactions

 * November 6, 2023: The Nationals designated left-handed pitcher Matt Cronin for assignment.
 * November 14, 2023: The Nationals selected the contracts of left-handed pitchers DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker and right-handed pitchers Zach Brzykcy and Cole Henry, designated right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott and first baseman Dominic Smith for assignment, and released right-handed pitcher Andrés Machado.
 * December 1, 2023: The Nationals outrighted left-handed pitcher Joe La Sorsa to the minor leagues and lost right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz to the Pittsburgh Pirates on a waiver claim.
 * December 6, 2023: The Nationals selected infielder Nasim Nuñez from the Miami Marlins in the Rule 5 draft and signed infielder/outfielder Juan Yepez to a minor league contract.
 * December 12, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro and infielder Nick Senzel to one-year major league contracts and designated infielder Jeter Downs for assignment.
 * December 13, 2023: The Nationals signed infielder Dérmis García to a minor league contract.
 * December 18, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Ty Tice to a minor league contract.
 * December 19, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Nash Walters to a minor league contract.
 * December 21, 2023: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Spenser Watkins and first baseman Juan Yepez to minor league contracts.
 * December 22, 2023: The Nationals signed infielder/outfielder Travis Blankenhorn to a minor league contract.
 * January 5, 2024: The Nationals signed first baseman Lewin Díaz to a minor league contract.
 * January 27, 2024: The Nationals signed infielder/outfielder Joey Gallo to a one-year major league contract with a mutual option for the 2025 season and designated catcher Israel Pineda for assignment.
 * February 2, 2024: The Nationals signed left-handed pitcher Richard Bleier and right-handed pitchers Robert Gsellman and Adonis Medina to minor league contracts.
 * February 6, 2024: The Nationals signed right-handed pitchers Luke Farrell and Stephen Nogosek to minor league contracts.
 * February 8, 2024: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Luis Perdomo to a minor league contract.
 * February 13, 2024: The Nationals signed outfielder Jesse Winker to a minor league contract.
 * February 16, 2024: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Jacob Barnes to a minor league contract.
 * February 17, 2024: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Zach Davies to a minor league contract.
 * February 22, 2024: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Derek Law to a minor league contract.
 * February 27, 2024: The Nationals signed right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes to a minor league contract.
 * March 8, 2024: The Nationals signed outfielder Eddie Rosario to a minor league contract.
 * March 13, 2024: The Nationals outrighted infielder Carter Kieboom to the minor leagues.
 * March 24, 2024: The Nationals selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes and outfielders Eddie Rosario and Jesse Winker.
 * March 26, 2024: The Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Derek Law.

Spring training
The Nationals held their spring training at the Cacti Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. Non-roster invitees to spring training included left-handed pitchers Richard Bleier and Joe La Sorsa; right-handed pitchers Jacob Barnes, Matt Barnes, Zach Davies, Robert Gsellman, Derek Law, and Luis Perdomo; catchers Brady Lindsly and Israel Pineda; infielders Darren Baker, Lewin Díaz, Brady House, Trey Lipscomb, and Juan Yepez; and outfielders Travis Blankenhorn, Dylan Crews, Robert Hassell III, Eddie Rosario, Jesse Winker, and James Wood. The Nationals also signed outfielder Eddie Rosario to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training midway through camp.

The Nationals had a 15–12–1 record in Grapefruit League play, before finishing their preseason exhibition slate with a March 26 game at Nationals Park between the major league team and a roster of prospects, including several non-roster invitees. They teed up their Opening Day roster as they selected the contracts of Law, Rosario, Winker, and Matt Barnes, with Lipscomb the last non-roster invitee to be reassigned to minor league camp following the Nationals Park exhibition.

Transactions

 * March 30, 2024: The Nationals selected the contract of infielder Trey Lipscomb.
 * April 6, 2024: Stephen Strasburg officially retired from baseball.
 * April 23, 2024: The Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jacob Barnes.
 * May 7, 2024: The Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes for assignment; he elected free agency.
 * May 27, 2024: The Nationals designated outfielder Víctor Robles for assignment.
 * June 13, 2024: The Nationals claimed right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
 * June 15, 2024: The Nationals signed first baseman/outfielder Harold Ramírez to a minor league contract.
 * June 24, 2024: The Nationals selected the contract of first baseman/outfielder Harold Ramírez.
 * July 1, 2024: The Nationals selected the contract of outfielder James Wood and designated outfielder Eddie Rosario for assignment; he was granted free agency.
 * July 5, 2024: The Nationals selected the contract of first baseman/outfielder Juan Yepez.
 * July 6, 2024: The Nationals designated infielder Nick Senzel for assignment.
 * July 13, 2024: The Nationals acquired minor league infielder Cayden Wallace and a competitive balance pick in the 2024 draft from the Kansas City Royals for right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey.

Major league debuts

 * March 30, 2024: Trey Lipscomb, Nasim Nuñez
 * April 15, 2024: Mitchell Parker
 * June 4, 2024: DJ Herz
 * July 1, 2024: James Wood