What will Nats' roster look like next season?

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato's Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

From pitching to defense to offensive production, the Nationals have several areas of their roster to address this offseason. Let’s take a look at five questions facing the Nats as they construct the 2023 team.

1. Who will be in the starting rotation?
The Nationals' rotation was in flux throughout the season because of injuries -- 15 pitchers made at least one start. Patrick Corbin, Josiah Gray and Erick Fedde, the team’s leaders in starts, finished the season healthy and are poised to return to the starting rotation in 2023. Aníbal Sánchez will become a free agent, and he has expressed his desire to return to Washington. The Nationals will have to determine the roles of Paolo Espino (19 starts) and Cory Abbott (nine starts), who can start and also pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen. That could depend on the health of Stephen Strasburg, Cade Cavalli and MacKenzie Gore. Cavalli and Gore are expected to be ready for Spring Training, while there is no timetable for Strasburg. Which leads us to …

2. What is the outlook for Strasburg?
At the end of the season, general manager Mike Rizzo said the 2023 expectations for the 34-year-old right-hander are “still a little bit of a mystery.” Strasburg has pitched just 31 1/3 innings over the past three years -- including only one start this season -- while battling through a series of injuries. He is recovering from a stress reaction in his ribs after having undergone thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in 2021. The Nats will continue to monitor Strasburg’s rehab leading up to Spring Training. Said Rizzo: “We’re just going to have to see with the type of surgery and rehab that he’s had, it’s unfamiliar to us -- it’s unfamiliar to a lot of people -- and we’re just going to have to take it day by day.”

3. Who will start at third base?
The question surrounding the hot corner still remains one to be answered. Carter Kieboom, who was competing for the starting role before he was sidelined by Tommy John surgery, is anticipated to be healthy for Spring Training. Veteran utility infielder Ildemaro Vargas made 43 starts at third base after being called up on Aug. 1, and prospect Jake Alu made a strong case for a big league opportunity this season in Triple-A.

4. Who will play the corner outfield?
Lane Thomas turned heads when he was shifted from left to right field toward the end of the season. Between Thomas and Victor Robles in center field, the Nationals have one outfield spot to address, depending on where they see Thomas as the best fit. Among the current roster, Alex Call, Yadiel Hernandez and Josh Palacios will compete for playing time. This also could be addressed in free agency or a trade, or manager Dave Martinez said he would be open to another platoon scenario like they had this season in left with Hernandez and Thomas.

5. Who will DH?
The Nationals, who ranked 26th among all teams this season in runs scored, will look to add an offensive spark to their lineup this offseason. One area in which to do that is the designated hitter role. The Nats and DH Nelson Cruz have a mutual option for 2023, but his return seems unlikely. Luke Voit shifted to the designated hitter role when Cruz was sidelined late in the season, which created an opening for Joey Meneses to play primarily at first base. Washington could stick with that plan or pursue another bat in the offseason.