ILDEMARO VARGAS NEWS

Pushes for roster spot Vargas started at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's spring game against San Francisco.

Impact What a push Vargas put on as the Cactus League wraps up. Saturday's three-hit effort followed up a 4-for-5 effort Thursday, when he started at second base. Entering Sunday, Vargas is batting .375 with six doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored and one stolen base. He's locked in a battle for a utility role with Garrett Hampson, who started in center field Saturday had is batting .300 through 17 Cactus League contests.

11 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Torey Lovullo Discusses Justin Martinez and Ildemaro Vargas The Diamondbacks manager had high praise for his newly extended reliever and likely backup shortstop to start the season.

1 DAY AGO • SI.COM

NRI deal with Arizona The Diamondbacks signed Vargas to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Aram Leighton of Just Baseball reports.

Impact Vargas was non-tendered by the Nationals last month after he slashed just .246/.295/.316 in 2024. The 33-year-old first reached the majors with the Diamondbacks in 2017 and has spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues with Arizona. Vargas has a shot to win a utility job with the Diamondbacks.

DECEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Becomes free agent Vargas elected free agency Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas played quite a bit for the Nationals the last couple years, but he slashed just .246/.295/.316 in 2024 and the club didn't want to pay him a raise in arbitration. The utility player will hit the free-agent market rather than accepting an outright assignment.

NOVEMBER 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Houston led majors with 35 pitch clock violations, Washington's Finnegan topped individuals with 11

Houston led the major leagues with 35 pitch clock violations and Washington’s Kyle Finnegan topped individuals with 11

OCTOBER 3, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fills in for resting Garcia Vargas will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Vargas has now picked up just two starts through the Nationals' first nine games of the month, with both coming against left-handed pitchers. He'll be filling in Wednesday for Luis Garcia, who will cede the keystone to Jose Tena while Vargas covers Tena's usual spot in the infield.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Vargas' two-run double in the ninth rallies Nationals past Pirates 8-6 for doubleheader sweep

Ildemaro Vargas hit a two-run double off Aroldis Chapman in Washington’s four-run ninth inning, and the Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6 for a doubleheader sweep

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Andrés Chaparro hits 3 doubles in MLB debut, James Wood adds 4 hits as Nationals rout Orioles 9-3

Andrés Chaparro doubled three times in his big league debut, almost overshadowing another four-hit game by rookie James Wood as the Washington Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles...

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting in second straight Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Impact After making five consecutive starts, Vargas now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, with both absences coming against right-handed pitching. Though the Nationals optioned Vargas' main competition for playing time at third base, Trey Lipscomb, to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, the club called up Jose Tena in a corresponding move. Tena will get his second straight start at the hot corner Sunday and looks like he'll be given a look as an everyday player while Vargas shifts to a utility role.

AUGUST 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup Vargas is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Vargas will begin Saturday's contest in the dugout after going 0-for-4 with one strikeout in Friday's 3-2 win over the Halos. Jose Tena will make his Nationals debut at third base while Nasim Nunez returns to the lineup at shortstop.

AUGUST 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Conforto's two-run single keys 4-run 10th inning as Giants beat Nationals 9-5

Michael Conforto’s two-run single highlighted a four-run 10th inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 9-5 on Thursday after squandering a three-run lead i...

AUGUST 8, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gaining playing time in infield Vargas will start at second base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Impact Though he'll be filling in for a resting Luis Garcia on Wednesday, the switch-hitting Vargas may be in store for at least semi-regular playing time at third base against right-handed pitching in place of Trey Lipscomb, who has produced a .393 OPS since rejoining the big club in early July. Vargas had started over Lipscomb in both of the first two contests of the series, but the Nationals will have room for both players in the infield Wednesday while Garcia rests.

AUGUST 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dylan Cease throws second no-hitter in San Diego Padres history, 3-0 win over Washington Nationals

Dylan Cease pitched the second no-hitter in San Diego Padres history, a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals that completed a three-game sweep

JULY 25, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals Broadcast Baffled by 33-MPH Pitch From Utilityman Ildemaro Vargas Has this pitch crossed home plate yet?

JULY 25, 2024 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Nationals Broadcast Baffled by 33-MPH Pitch From Utilityman Ildemaro Vargas Has this pitch crossed home plate yet?

JULY 25, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Jacob Young drives in go-ahead run as Nationals rally past Reds 5-4

Jacob Young hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning, Lane Thomas bolstered his trade stock with a run-scoring double and the Washington Nationals rallied past the Cincinn...

JULY 21, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swats first homer of year Vargas went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Mets.

Impact The veteran utility player began the game on the bench, but he pinch hit for Trey Lipscomb in the eighth inning and took Adam Ottavino deep -- Vargas' first long ball of the season. After a hot start to the season, Vargas is batting just .135 (5-for-37) over his last 15 appearances, and his playing time has dwindled.

JULY 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Quintana throws another gem, Nimmo and Lindor power Mets to 7-5 win over Nationals

Jose Quintana permitted one hit over seven shutout innings, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor both homered and drove in three runs, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Natio...

JULY 10, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Back in bench role Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Vargas picked up five straight starts in the infield between last Sunday and Thursday, but he benefited largely from Washington facing three left-handed pitchers over that stretch. He'll now hit the bench for the third game in a row, with right-handers taking the hill for the opposition in each of those contests.

JULY 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Martinez and Iglesias homer in 6-run 10th and Mets hold off Nationals 9-7 to spoil Wood's debut

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JULY 2, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jesse Winker's go-ahead home run rallies Nationals past Diamondbacks 3-1

Jesse Winker hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning and the Washington Nationals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1

JUNE 19, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tigers rally in 7th inning to end Nationals' 5-game win streak with 7-2 victory

Justyn-Henry Malloy homered and drove in three RBIs and the Detroit Tigers ended the Washington Nationals’ five-game winning streak with a 7-2 victory

JUNE 13, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals beat Braves 2-1 to deal Chris Sale his 1st loss since April 13

Jake Irvin pitched six shutout innings and the Washington Nationals dealt Atlanta ace Chris Sale his first loss in nearly two months with a 2-1 victory over the Braves

JUNE 8, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joey Meneses, Jake Irvin help Nationals end Guardians' nine-game home winning streak, 5-2

Joey Meneses’ two-run double keyed a four-run second inning and Jake Irvin pitched six strong innings to lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians...

JUNE 2, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swipes fourth bag Vargas went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over Atlanta.

Impact The 32-year-old utility player began the game on the bench but took over at third base when Nick Senzel fouled a ball off his knee in the second inning. Vargas has posted career-best numbers to begin this season, slashing .298/.383/.404 through 109 plate appearances with four steals, seven RBI and 11 runs. If Senzel misses any time, Vargas would be the next man up at the hot corner.

MAY 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE