ILDEMARO VARGAS NEWS

Makes Opening Day roster Vargas will begin the season as the Nationals' primary utility infielder.

Impact The 31-year-old switch hitter posted a surprising .280/.308/.398 slash line in 196 plate appearances for the Nats last season after coming over from the Cubs, earning a one-year deal in the offseason for his efforts. Vargas saw action at three different infield spots as well as left field for Washington in 2022, but his main role this year will probably be to spell Luis Garcia at second base against tough left-handers, although Garcia will get the nod Opening Day against Atlanta's Max Fried.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jeimer Candelario agrees to 1-year contract with Nationals

Infielder Jeimer Candelario has agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals to give them someone to compete for the starting job at third base

NOVEMBER 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals rerack roster ahead of Rule 5 draft, re-sign Ildemaro Vargas The Nationals added six minor leaguers to their 40-man roster and made several other moves.

NOVEMBER 15, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Avoids arbitration Vargas signed a one-year contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration

Impact Vargas provided solid production at the plate for Washington, slashing .302/.338/.439 upon joining the team in August. The 31-year-old infielder will likely slide back into his starter role in 2023.

NOVEMBER 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting nightcap Vargas is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas went 0-for-4 during the matinee and will step out of the starting nine for Game 2. Cesar Hernandez will move to the hot corner while Josh Palacios starts in left field.

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Schwarber hits 2 HRs; Phils split with Nats to lead Brewers

Kyle Schwarber has hit two of Philadelphia’s five homers in the first four innings to help the Phillies get a much-needed win as they try to end an 11-year playoff drought, salvagi...

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marlins lose to Nats 6-1 after saying Mattingly won't return

Aníbal Sánchez threw five scoreless innings and the Washington Nationals beat Miami 6-1, hours after the Marlins announced manager Don Mattingly won’t be back next season

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Day off Friday Vargas isn't starting Friday against the Marlins.

Impact Vargas has hit just 3-for-19 in his last five starts, so he will get a day off Friday. Cesar Hernandez will take over for him in the hot corner and bat second.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gorman homers, drives in 2, as Cardinals beat Nationals 4-1

Nolan Gorman broke out of a slump with a homer and a pair of RBIs, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 4-1

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hernández, Nats again beat NL East-leading Mets by 7-1 score

César Hernández hit his first homer in more than a year, delivering the exclamation point on the Washington Nationals’ 7-1 win over the New York Mets

SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Meneses delivers 3-run HR in 10th, Nationals beat A's 7-5

Joey Meneses hit a game-winning three-run homer in the 10th inning to cap his first four-hit game as the Washington Nationals rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 7-5

SEPTEMBER 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sánchez earns first win since 2020, Nationals beat A's 5-1

Aníbal Sánchez earned his first victory in nearly two years, Luke Voit hit a two-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Oakland Athletics 5-1

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reds spoil top prospect Cavalli's debut, beat Nats 7-3

Donovan Solano hit a two-run double off Cade Cavalli in the pitching prospect’s big league debut, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 7-3

AUGUST 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ildemaro Vargas, motivated by mom, is giving himself a shot with the Nats “We knew [Vargas] could field his position anywhere we put him,” Nationals Manager Dave Martinez said Thursday. “We also knew that he brough...

AUGUST 19, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

'She is my best hitting coach': Vargas dedicates HR to mom SAN DIEGO -- Ildemaro Vargas spent three and a half minutes answering questions about his standout performance in the Nationals’ 3-1 win ove...

AUGUST 19, 2022 • MLB.COM

Goes deep Thursday Vargas went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-1 win against the Padres.

Impact Vargas produced the first run of the game with a solo shot off Yu Darvish in the third inning. The long ball was his first since May 20, though he's spent considerable time in the minors since that date. Vargas has never flashed much power in the minors, and he's swatted a modest 10 homers across 428 career at-bats as a big-leaguer.

AUGUST 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals rally against Darvish, Hader to beat Padres 3-1

Nelson Cruz drew a bases-loaded walk off Josh Hader to bring in the go-ahead run with one out in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 3-1

AUGUST 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wisdom's double in 11th propels Cubs to 7-5 win over Nats

Patrick Wisdom drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 7-5

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Monday Vargas isn't in the lineup Monday against the Cubs.

Impact Vargas started the last three games and went 2-for-9 with a double, an RBI and a walk. Maikel Franco will take his place at the hot corner and bat ninth.

AUGUST 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Opportunities picking up Vargas went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the Phillies.

Impact He's now picked up starts in three of the past four games, getting two nods at third base and one at shortstop while going 6-for-9 with a walk. Vargas is in the lineup at third base again Sunday and will hit ninth in Sunday's series finale. At this point, Vargas may have leapfrogged Maikel Franco as the Nationals' preferred option at the hot corner.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Four hits in Wednesday's loss Vargas went 4-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Mets.

Impact Getting the start at third base and batting ninth, the 31-year-old utility player kept flipping the lineup over, although Vargas' efforts didn't lead to any actual Washington offense until the ninth inning. With Cesar Hernandez and Maikel Franco both struggling at the plate this season, Vargas could see semi-consistent work around the infield, but the expected promotion of CJ Abrams -- one of the headliners in the package the Nationals received for Juan Soto -- would block one of those paths to playing time and potentially even cost Vargas his roster spot.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Contract officially selected Vargas' contract was selected by the Nationals on Monday.

Impact Vargas will serve as a utility man for Washington after the team traded Ehire Adrianza to Atlanta on Monday. Vargas appeared in 30 major-league games with the Cubs earlier in the year and slashed .130/.231/.348 with a homer, a triple, four runs and four RBI.

AUGUST 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Replacing Adrianza on roster The Nationals plan to select Vargas' contract from Triple-A Rochester prior to Monday's game against the Mets, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Vargas will be brought aboard as the Nationals' new utility man after Ehire Adrianza was dealt to Atlanta earlier Monday. The 31-year-old journeyman previously saw 10 games of action with the Cubs earlier this season and owns a lifetime .227/.265/.354 slash line across 407 plate appearances in the majors. He's capable of backing up all four infield spots and also has limited experience at either corner-outfield position.

AUGUST 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Links up with Nats Vargas signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday and was assigned to Triple-A Rochester.

Impact Vargas quickly found a new home after he elected free agency last week when the Cubs designated him for assignment. Before being booted off the Cubs' 40-man roster, Vargas went 3-for-23 over 10 games with the big club.

JUNE 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hits free agency Vargas cleared waivers and was released by the Cubs on Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Vargas was recently designated for assignment by Chicago, and he elected to become a free agent rather than report to the minors. The 30-year-old appeared in 10 games for the Cubs and had a .130/.231/.348 slash line with one home run and four RBI.

MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE