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.

It’s time to look ahead to the 2024 season and ponder some key questions the Nationals will face this winter as they construct the team. Here are five that are on my mind in October, and we will address more as the offseason continues.

Who will round out the coaching staff?
The Nationals have several key roles to fill on manager Dave Martinez’s 2024 coaching staff. Bench coach Tim Bogar, first base coach Eric Young Jr., third base coach Gary Disarcina and assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler will not return next season. Hitting coach Darnell Coles, pitching coach Jim Hickey, catching and strategy coach Henry Blanco, bullpen coach Ricky Bones and run prevention coordinator Ricky Gutierrez remain on the staff.

Who will provide offense?
Washington will look to add power to its lineup for 2024. Although they had the least strikeouts in the NL and ranked fifth in hits, the Nationals finished 12th in runs scored, slugging percentage and OPS, as well as last in home runs and walks. Said general manager Mike Rizzo, “Slug is something that we’re going to try and either acquire and/or develop to get to a point where you don't need to get three or four hits in an inning to score a run and it makes it much more difficult to put up a crooked number.”

Who will pitch in the starting rotation?
The Nationals tabbed only eight starting pitchers (seven until Jackson Rutledge debuted in mid-September) to finish the season tied with the Blue Jays for fewest starters utilized. Patrick Corbin, Josiah Gray, MacKenzie Gore, Trevor Williams, Jake Irvin, Joan Adon and Rutledge are all returning next year. The team had success with expanding to a six-man rotation, which it could implement again to manage innings. If so, Adon or Rutledge could be candidates to spend time continuing to develop in the Minors. (Note: Cade Cavalli is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and eyeing a return in June.)

Who will start at third base?
The question of the hot corner needs to be answered again. After the Nats traded everyday starting third baseman Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs at the Deadline, Ildemaro Vargas, Jake Alu and Carter Kieboom made starts at the position. The Nationals already re-signed Vargas (who logged 332 innings at third in 2023) for next year, and Alu and Kieboom will contend for playing time in Spring Training. Look for the team to explore the free-agent market, too. Candelario, who liked playing in Washington and has a history with Martinez, will be among that group of players this winter.

Which prospects will make their Major League debuts?
Eyes will be on outfielders Dylan Crews and James Wood, ranked as the Nats’ Nos. 1 and 2 prospects by MLB Pipeline, next season. Both finished the year in Double-A Harrisburg and are projected to debut in the bigs in 2024. The rise through the Minors has been quick for Crews, who was drafted as the No. 2 overall pick in July. Other prospects to watch for include outfielder Robert Hassell III (No. 8) and southpaws DJ Herz (No. 16) and Mitchell Parker (No. 25).