BREAKING: Nationals Announce Roster Cuts Following Recent Performance
As of April 1, 2025, the Washington Nationals have announced immediate roster cuts directly linked to player performances in their recent game against the Toronto Blue Jays. and , the team has made several roster adjustments during spring training and the early part of the season to enhance overall performance.
Recent Roster Transactions:
- Stone Garrett: On February 27, 2025, outfielder Stone Garrett was designated for assignment to make room for the re-signing of All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan. Garrett cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester on March 4. citeturn0search1
- Ildemaro Vargas and Joey Meneses: Both players were placed on outright waivers and elected free agency . Vargas, a versatile utility player, and Meneses, a first baseman/outfielder, had been with the Nationals for multiple seasons. citeturn0search2
- Michael Rucker: The right-handed reliever was also placed on outright waivers and chose free agency, reflecting the team’s efforts to restructure its bullpen. citeturn0search2
- Amos Willingham: , pitcher Amos Willingham was designated for assignment. He had previously appeared in 18 games during his rookie campaign, recording a 6.66 ERA with 15 strikeouts across innings pitched. citeturn0search14
These moves are part of the Nationals’ broader strategy to refine their roster and improve competitiveness. While individual game performances can influence personnel decisions, no specific cuts have been reported following the recent matchup against the Blue Jays.
When Bryce Harper stepped up to bat for the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday against his former team, he was met with loud boos from the Nationals’ Opening Day crowd.
Some questioned whether, after seven years since Harper’s departure in 2018, the hostility was still warranted. However, this reaction was the clearest indication that Nationals fans were engaged, at least for the moment.
Ultimately, their voices were drowned out by Phillies fans, who erupted in cheers when Harper launched a seventh-inning home run in Philadelphia’s 7-3 victory.
Sports thrive on heroes and villains, and lately, Nationals fans have had few of either. If Harper is one of the few figures that still sparks emotion, why take that away? The owners certainly aren’t inspiring any passion.
As the Nationals celebrate their 20th anniversary in Washington, little has changed. Since the Lerner family took over early in the team’s tenure, they have failed to generate excitement. Even back in the early years, team president Stan Kasten was openly inviting Phillies fans to D.C. on Philadelphia sports radio.
Now, that invitation remains open.
Philadelphia fans dominated the stands on Opening Weekend, leaving Nationals Park satisfied as their team took two out of three games in the series. While Phillies supporters were aware of the season’s arrival, Nationals fans seemed indifferent.
The team was nearly invisible during the offseason, with no fan festival, no promotional caravan—nothing to build anticipation. While such events have become rare across the league, Washington is in a constant battle for relevance in a city that barely acknowledges them. The Lerners have never seemed to understand this, showing little interest in marketing or investing enough to field a competitive team. According to reports, they rank near the bottom in spending across nearly all departments.
Despite MLB generating record revenues of $12.1 billion, the Lerners claim to be losing $100 million annually operating the Nationals—an amount second only to the New York Mets, who, in contrast, have more than four times Washington’s active payroll.
While the Nationals have remained stagnant, the city’s football team has surged back into the spotlight. The new Commanders ownership, coupled with the excitement around quarterback Jayden Daniels, has reignited local sports enthusiasm—something the Nationals have failed to do.
Meanwhile, their regional rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, hosted a winter caravan to engage with fans. The difference? The Orioles have new owners.
Despite these frustrations, the young starting rotation was a bright spot on Opening Weekend. MacKenzie Gore dominated on Opening Day, striking out 13 batters over 6 1/3 shutout innings, becoming only the second pitcher in history—alongside Hall of Famer Bob Gibson—to achieve that feat in a season opener.
Jake Ervin followed with a solid outing on Saturday, and on Sunday, Mitchell Parker confused the Phillies’ lineup, delivering 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Yet, the Nationals only managed to win one of those games. Their bullpen allowed 15 runs in two losses, nearly undoing the promise shown by their young starters. Rookie reliever Brad Lord struggled in his debut, loading the bases before Kyle Finnegan came in to secure Sunday’s 5-1 victory.
For Nationals fans, the weekend was both encouraging and maddening. The glimpses of competitiveness only underscored how much better the team could be with more commitment from ownership.
The front office had targeted free-agent first baseman Christian Walker but was reportedly blocked by ownership from signing him. Instead, General Manager Mike Rizzo pivoted and traded for Nathaniel Lowe, who made an immediate impact with a two-run homer on Sunday.
However, the trade came at a cost—reliever Robert Garcia, who had been one of Washington’s most reliable bullpen arms last season. Garcia led Nationals relievers in strikeouts per nine innings (11.31) and was among the team’s leaders in several key categories. His absence was felt immediately, as the bullpen struggled over the weekend.
Washington will host its 20th-anniversary celebrations this upcoming weekend, featuring giveaways, including replica World Series rings. The Arizona Diamondbacks will be in town, a team far enough away that visiting fans are unlikely to take over the ballpark.
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