2023 Washington Nationals season

The 2023 Washington Nationals season will be the Nationals' 19th season as the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball 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 will attempt to improve upon their MLB-worst 55–107 record from the previous season.
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).
Spring training.
The Nationals are holding 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.
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.
Regular season.
Game log.