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 is officially 2025 (Happy New Year!), and the Nationals will report for Spring Training ¡­ next month!

Let¡¯s take a look at the areas of the team that can still be addressed this offseason, and then look ahead to what could develop during the season.

One (realistic) FA target who would still be a perfect fit: LHP A.J. Minter
Minter is coming off an injury-hampered season with the Braves in which he was limited to 39 games and underwent left hip surgery in August. The 31-year-old has a proven track record in the back of the bullpen, going 24-29 with a 3.28 ERA and 36 saves in 348 2/3 innings over his eight-year career.

The Nats have had recent success signing players who have had bounce-back seasons, including Jesse Winker, Jeimer Candelario and Kyle Schwarber. After Washington non-tendered All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan in November, a pitcher like Minter could bring experience to the ¡®pen while southpaw Jose A. Ferrer potentially learns the closer role.

One player poised to have a breakout season: OF James Wood
Wood pummeled nine home runs in his first 79 big league games last year. He also ranked fourth in the National League in batted balls with an exit velocity over 105 mph after being called up on July 1. So what can he do in his first full 162-game season? The production for the 6-foot-7 outfielder could be very exciting. ZiPS predicts that Wood will lead the Nationals in offense with a .265/.351/.456 slash line, 137 hits, 20 home runs, 76 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a 127 OPS+.

One prospect to watch in 2025: OF Robert Hassell III (No. 13)
Hassell, 23, has dealt with injuries in his early pro career. Now, the eighth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft is looking ahead to a healthy season. Hassell finished last year with Triple-A Rochester, and he went on to earn an All-Star selection in the Arizona Fall League. He posted an .877 OPS with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 22 games for the AFL champion Salt River Rafters. The Nats protected Hassell from the Rule 5 Draft and added him to the 40-man roster, earning him a return to big league camp for the second spring in a row.

One prediction for the new year: LHP Jose A. Ferrer earns closer role
The Nats were impressed by what they saw from the 24-year-old Ferrer just one season after debuting in July 2023. In spite of missing the first 97 games of ¡®24 because of a left lat strain, Ferrer returned to pitch to a 3.38 ERA, and he allowed only one home run in 32 innings. He also earned his first career save. Ferrer averaged 98.3 mph with his four-seamer, ranking in the 97th percentile among pitchers.