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 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. 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 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. ==Regular season==