The Nationals made their one-year deal with former No. 2 overall draft pick Nick Senzel official yesterday, and the club is envisioning a prominent role for the 28-year-old. Senzel himself tells reporters that manager Dave Martinez told him the expectation is that he’ll play third base every day in 2024 (link via Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com).
At the time he agreed to his one-year, $2MM pact with Washington, it was reasonable enough to expect that Senzel might bounce around the diamond, as he’d done throughout his time in Cincinnati. The Reds began Senzel’s development as a third baseman but began playing him at other positions before long. Eugenio Suarez was locked in as the Reds’ third baseman, and after he turned in a 34-homer, All-Star campaign in 2018, Senzel wound up serving as Cincinnati’s primary center fielder in 2019. Overall, Senzel played all three outfield spots, second base and third base in the big leagues during his time as a Red (plus some briefer looks at shortstop in the minors).
It seems the Nationals plan to give Senzel an opportunity he never fully received in Cincinnati: everyday reps at the hot corner. Part of that lack of opportunity in Cincinnati was due to the presence of other veterans (e.g. Suarez, Mike Moustakas). Part was due to a litany of injuries that derailed Senzel’s development. He missed time due to finger surgery (to repair a torn tendon), elbow surgery (to remove bone spurs), shoulder surgery (torn labrum), injuries to both knees (one of which required arthroscopic surgery) and an ankle sprain. If he can finally remain healthy and things go well, the Nats can control him through the 2025 season via arbitration.
Word of an everyday role for Senzel isn’t without impact elsewhere on Washington’s roster. The Nats have their own former top prospect whom they selected in the first round of the 2016 draft, just 24 picks after Senzel, in Carter Kieboom. The 26-year-old has appeared in parts of four big league seasons with the Nats but mustered only a .199/.297/.301 slash in 508 trips to the plate. Kieboom is now out of minor league options, so he’ll need to either make the Opening Day roster or else be traded or exposed to waivers before he can be sent down to the minors.
That puts Kieboom in an unenviable spot. Like Senzel, he’s been plagued by myriad injuries throughout his still relatively young career. Most notable is the infielder’s 2022 Tommy John surgery, but Kieboom has also missed time with a shoulder impingement and a wrist injury. That shoulder issue wiped out much of his 2023 season. Kieboom had surely hoped that a return to health would give him the opportunity to at last cement himself in the big leagues. In order to have the best chance at doing so, he’d need regular playing time that now does not appear to be in the cards. If he sticks with the Nats to open the season, he’ll face the tough task of trying to produce and earn a long-term spot through sporadic at-bats — likely being scattered between third base, designated hitter and perhaps at second base.
It’s also fair to question whether Kieboom is on the verge of running out of opportunities in D.C. altogether, though. His trade value isn’t anywhere near what it once was, but it’s still plausible that another club could take a look at him as a third base flier in a small trade or via a waiver claim. He still has four years of club control remaining.
TheFuzzofKing
One bust for another. Go Nats!
Rot in hell, Ted Leonsis!
Nats ain't what they used to be
What does Ted Leonsis have to do with Nats? They are owned by Learner family.
TheFuzzofKing
Ted should rot for moving the Caps and Wiz. No wrong thread to say it in.
Stay away from the Nats, Ted!
Eovaldismemes
trust me ted has no control over the movement of the nats, and if he did i don;t think he would.
yankeemanuno23
Ted was on the list of suitors for the Nats ownership ! He can’t field winning teams consistently in Wiz & recently w Caps. He’s in it for the $ for his related ancillary $ and brand value just like w/AOL. Big business developers at the Yard in VA
Gmaytag
Senzel is just a run of the mill ball player, isn’t going to move the needle a bit. Nats will continue to be bottom feeders for NLE!!
Four4fore
Maybe playing one position will be what it takes for his bat to come alive.
Franklin Nitty
No doubt about it, Senzel will put up good numbers away from David Bells musical chair position strategy. He would be in right one day, third base the next and center the following day. Batting anywhere from second to ninth in the order.
solaris602
Many in Cincy would agree with Franklin – Reds ruined him by rarely playing him at his best position 3B. Maybe the ruination runs too deep at this point, but at least we’ll all be able to see what he does as an everyday 3B.
YankeesAreDodgersEast
Hey guys look, we (dodgers) let y’all have one
Ahahahahaha
YankeesAreDodgersEast
On a serious note, I remember this guy was a big deal right before getting called up, one of the rare can’t miss, that missed.
GO1962
He didn’t miss, because he has been in the majors for several years now. It;’s just that he did not develop into an all-star or above average player.
YankeesAreDodgersEast
When you’re a top 5 prospect, and you are average, or even slightly below average, I call that a miss.
But I guess that’s just semantics.
Franklin Nitty
Have fun watching the world series from home again.
Buzzz Killington
Well they got Jeimer on the right track.
Larry Brown's crank
senzel is actually an above average 3rd baseman……..(reds fan)
Tom the ray fan
Turn around Jemier, low risk move anyhow.
deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger
“I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad…”
The Rangers aren’t the only team to screw up first round draft picks in recent years.
Four4fore
Like the name change.
DCartrow
Two Knoxvillians in the starting lineup!!
Senzel and Lane Thomas!!
The K-Town Nats, baby!!
JRamHOF
Those two are going to look like Kobe and Shaq against LHP
Veejh
Not one mention of Brady House and keeping the seat warm for him….one of the top Nats prospects poised to take over the 3B gig. Remember Rizzo saying he doesn’t want to block any positions? House, Crews and Wood are all probably going to be brought up this season. Come on, MLBTR.
dclivejazz
House most likely won’t be brought up this season. The other two guts have a good shot.
dclivejazz
guys, not guts….
Rsox
Giving him a set position can only help improve his game. This could be a nice underrated pickup for the Nats
This one belongs to the Reds
Will be interesting to see…if he stays healthy. That’s been a big if.
Dbird777
As a Reds fan–and the Nats not being in our division–I hope Nick balls out
raulp
I really hope Senzel can manage to stay healthy and allowed to play everyday, so his hitting can improve, no questions about his defense and running skills.
Degaz
..and he will still be a 0.0 WAR player
DonOsbourne
Brewers should take a no risk flier on Kieboom.
Jabronie23
Seems like he was horrible mismanaged by the Reds
JerseyShoreScore
What are the Nats going to do for the other 130 games next season when Senzel is on the IL?
Bobcastelliniscat
I wish Nick a lot of success with the Nats. The Reds screwed up his career.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Injuries screwed up Nick’s career, not the Reds. Wish Senzel success, but think he’ll spend 30-50% of season on IL.
User 2079935927
Makes Senzel. Does it not?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Ask Denzel, or Re-“pun”-zel.
The619MetroPadres
I see what you did there Winslow.
jbryant0693
Career .618 OPS against RHP, 70% of pitchers are RH. Ouch. Good luck with that Nats!
Biggie22
Rooting for him….
Staying healthy is imperative for his improvement…. People forget he’s been so snake bitten by injuries that he’s actually had less at bats than many younger players who’ve been in the league for a much shorter period of time, especially considering he wasn’t getting minor league at bats during most of his time on the shelf with all his injuries….
It’ll be interesting to see if he can still develop some more as an overall ball player with a consistent position & consistent at bats…
bloomquist4hof
If they leave him at 3B maybe his defensive numbers wont be so bad. I wouldnt be surprised to see him not be terrible. The tools to be a regular are still there. They could end up with a nice trade piece next summer.
Redsguy 3
Shouldn’t the title of this thread just be “Nats plan to stink next season?” Senzel is a lifetime bum.
SODOMOJO
“How to completely ruin a championship franchise in 5 years”
By Mike Rizzo
The619MetroPadres
Ya man. People forget the Nats won the ship not long ago- 2019. Now at the bottom every year.
The619MetroPadres
Wasn’t Senzel manning center field for a while for the Reds too?
This one belongs to the Reds
Yes, and he wasn’t a good one.
octavian8
As a Reds fan I’m happy for Nick. Great low risk signing for the Nats. Back at third base and regular at bats I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a productive season.
Yanks2
Never heard of him
senator
I’m sure the Angels will give you a deal on Tony “No Bags” Rendon….
yankeemanuno23
Nats going nowhere until Lerners sell out or lose ownership control. Punk moves for -avg players!
After following since RFK days, I’m only going to buy tix to games where top teams come to town (NYY, LA, Hstn). Ciao baby!
gbuff
WILL MIKE RIZZO PLEASE DO SOMETHING !!!! THIS IS TWO YEARS RUNNING WHERE THE NATIONALS HAVE DONE NOTHING IN THE OFFSEASON. i’M OKAY WITH A REBUILD BUT DO SOMETHING. IS RIZZO VACATIONING IN THE CARIBBEAN ? PERHAPS HE IS A LITTLE TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THE EXTENSION HE SIGNED