DALLAS -- The Nationals have been building a foundation since 2021, and they prepare for the ¡¯25 season with key pieces in place around the field. While the team continues to develop this young talent, they are looking to add experienced players around them to support -- not substitute -- their career growth at the Winter Meetings.

¡°We've got a young core,¡± said manager Dave Martinez. ¡°We're really not going to mess around with what we have right now, and I don't want to take away anything from the kids that we've got coming up as well. But we do need to add some veteran guys. We're exploring all kinds of options.¡±

The Nationals have finished consecutive seasons 71-91. In order to boost that winning percentage, they are looking to enhance their offense. The Nationals ranked 25th among all teams in run differential (-104).

¡°Looking at the landscape of the team, I think that when you look at how ¡¯24 ended, we felt good about our starting rotation and the depth of the rotation -- which was a strong point,¡± general manager Mike Rizzo said. ¡°But when you come 29th in home runs and towards the bottom in slug, that¡¯s a point of emphasis for us this offseason.¡±

Two positions where the Nats could boost production from the free-agent and trade markets are first base and designated hitter. Last season, Joey Gallo, Joey Meneses and Juan Yepez played the majority of games at first base. Gallo and Meneses became free agents this winter. Of the players who DH¡¯d more than 10 games, only Yepez and Andr¨¦s Chaparro are still on the team.

¡°We¡¯re going to try to not pigeonhole ourselves, but it¡¯s that clear we have an opportunity to fill in several different spots -- first base, designated hitter,¡± Rizzo said. ¡°We feel that Yeppy and Chappy did a nice job for us. I think that they¡¯ll be guys that will be usable on a roster. But I think that beyond those two guys, that we can improve ourselves in several of those positions.¡±

The Nationals¡¯ .375 slugging percentage was fifth-lowest overall and down from .396 the previous season. Second baseman Luis Garc¨ªa Jr., a Silver Slugger Award finalist, led the team in the category with a .444 slugging percentage among qualified players.

¡°It¡¯s a commodity that¡¯s difficult to find, it¡¯s difficult to develop, and it¡¯s a difficult skill to master,¡± Rizzo said of slug. ¡°I see the development of some of our own players with their slugging percentage and their power getting better. ¡­ With our young players, the normal maturation, I think, will lead to gradually some more power. And then we have to go outside of the organization to find some.¡±

Last month, the Nationals non-tendered right-hander Kyle Finnegan, leaving a gap in the late innings. Finnegan emerged as a closer during his tenure, and the Nationals will explore internal options who could potentially do the same in Jose A. Ferrer, Robert Garcia and Derek Law.

¡°The process with him and with all tenders is the best form of how to use your resources,¡± Rizzo said. ¡°We liked the young arms that we have in the bullpen now at the big league level but [also] at the Minor League level, and we thought that, with the money that we didn¡¯t spend on tendering Finn, that we could use it to better ourselves in other areas.¡±

The Nationals also parted ways this offseason with veteran glue guy Ildemaro Vargas, who Martinez lauded for doing ¡°an incredible job of keeping that clubhouse together.¡± Even if a veteran player is signed to a short-term deal, the value of their influence could supersede the length of contract.

¡°I believe in chemistry and culture, we want to bring the right guy in,¡± Martinez said, adding, ¡°We don't want to hold any of our younger guys back because we've got guys that are coming. Just to have a veteran presence in that clubhouse, one or two guys -- even if it's for a year or two -- it will definitely help.¡±