Welcome to the offseason edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. 

For the nearly 900 Major League games in which Joey Gallo has appeared, the nine-year veteran has played only three of them at Nationals Park. This coming season, it will be his new home ballpark.

Gallo and the Nats have agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million, which includes $1 million in performance bonuses, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old has stepped into many roles throughout his career. Gallo checks several boxes on the Nationals’ 2024 wish list -- including a coveted lefty bat -- as he eyes a turnaround season on a new team.

OFFENSE: The Nats have had recent success in generating bounce-back performances from veteran players, such as Jeimer Candelario and Kyle Schwarber. Gallo slashed .177/.301/.401 in 111 games last season. He tied for second-most home runs on the Twins (21) and recorded an elite hard-hit (52.9%) and barrel rate (19.3%) while drawing a 14.5% walk rate. But Gallo also struggled with a 42.8% strikeout rate and 44.3% whiff rate with his second-lowest career batting average. The Nationals, who finished last in the NL in home runs last season, will work with Gallo to get him back to offensive production that helped him earn an All-Star selection in 2021.

DEFENSE: Gallo has played the outfield, first base and third base in the big leagues. Last season, he made 36 starts at first base, 34 in left field, six in center field and six in right field with Minnesota. At the Winter Meetings, general manager Mike Rizzo said, “I think we’re going to be aggressive again this year looking for a bat that can play the corner infield -- be it third base or first base or DH or left field -- or a combination of all three of those.” Gallo could share time at first base and as designated hitter with righty-hitting Joey Meneses in addition to being tabbed in the outfield.

VETERAN EXPERIENCE: Gallo, a first-round pick in the 2012 Draft, made his Major League debut in ‘15. He has played for the Rangers (2015-21), Yankees (‘21-22), Dodgers (‘22) and Twins (‘23). Gallo was named to the All-Star Team in 2019 and ‘21, and he earned back-to-back Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder in 2020-21. Gallo joins offseason free-agent acquisitions third baseman Nick Senzel and right-hander Dylan Floro has new additions with veteran experience that can help a young, developing team. 

In which state did Gallo grow up?

A. California
B. Nevada
C. Oklahoma
D. Texas

MLB Pipeline announced its top 10 third base prospects for 2024, and the Nationals are the only club to have two players on the list. Brady House ranked No. 6 and Yohandy Morales ranked No. 10 at the position.

Both prospects also were recognized for their fielding tools. House, Morales, Junior Caminero (Rays), Noelvi Marte (Reds) and Aidan Miller (Phillies) earned a scouting grade of 50 in the category. 

Wrote MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis: “The best defender on this list is House. He’s athletic for a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder and can make most plays at third base with his average quickness and plus arm.”

House, 20, is ranked as the Nationals’ No. 3 prospect and No. 40 overall. Morales, 22, was drafted last July and is the Nats’ No. 7 prospect. House and Morales are projected to debut in 2025.

B. Gallo was born in Henderson, Nev., and went to high school in Las Vegas

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