Fantasy News

• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Tough night on basepaths

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  Vargas went 2-for-3 with an RBI but was caught stealing twice in Friday's loss to the Astros. Starting at third base and batting ninth, Vargas had another good showing at the plate, but it was his misadventures on the basepaths that stood out in a 5-3 loss. He was picked off at second base by Justin Verlander and caught in a rundown in the third inning, then was thrown out trying to steal second base in the eighth. Vargas is batting .323 (10-for-31) with a 5:3 BB:K through 11 games and has been seeing semi-regular playing time around the infield, but Friday's performance won't endear him to manager Dave Martinez.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: On base four times Monday

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2024

  Vargas went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double, a run scored and two RBI in Monday's win over the Giants. Getting the start at shortstop with CJ Abrams (finger) sidelined, Vargas continued a hot start to the season that has seen him go 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs, a stolen base and an impressive 5:2 BB:K. The 32-year-old utility player has already seen action at four different positions this season -- four games at second base, three at shortstop, and one each at third base and left field -- and even once Abrams returns to the lineup, Vargas might see more playing time than expected as long as he's contributing at the plate.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Swipes bag Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2024

  Vargas went 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Pirates. The utility player pinch ran for Victor Robles (hamstring) in the second inning and stayed in the game to play left field, picking up his first RBI, first extra-base hit and first steal of 2024. Vargas has appeared in three games so far and done so at three different positions, also seeing action at second base and third base. His most consistent path to playing time will come as Luis Garcia's platoon partner at the keystone, but after he saw a career-high 286 plate appearances in 2023, Vargas might be headed for an even bigger role this season while bouncing all over the diamond. Whether the 32-year-old does anything with the opportunity is another question, though -- he has a career .248/.289/.368 slash line in the majors.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Should open season in utility role

  Rotowire Mar 27, 2024

  Vargas appears set as the Nationals' primary utility infielder to begin the season. A big spring from prospect Trey Lipscomb created some drama toward the end of camp as to who would claim the final roster spots, but Vargas' job seems secure after Lipscomb was reassigned to minor-league camp Tuesday. With Luis Garcia and Nick Senzel both question marks at second base and third base, Vargas could see more playing time than expected in the early going, but he offers little fantasy upside after slashing .252/.304/.363 over 286 plate appearances for the Nats in 2023.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Sitting again Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2023

  Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Vargas will remain on the bench for the second straight game Saturday after going hitless in his last two contests. Carter Kieboom will once again start at third base and bat seventh.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Out of Friday's lineup

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2023

  Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against Atlanta. After putting together a four-game hitting streak last week, Vargas has since gone 0-for-6 with three strikeouts over his last two games. He'll hit the bench Friday with Carter Kieboom starting at third base and batting sixth.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Avoids arbitration with Nationals

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2023

  Vargas and the Nationals avoided arbitration Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year contract for 2024. Vargas is making $975,000 this season and should get a little salary bump for 2024. The 32-year-old utility player has a career-high 280 plate appearances with the Nats in 2023, producing a .245/.299/.354 batting line with four home runs. Vargas does not have options left, so he figures to head into next season in a reserve role for the Nationals.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Not starting Game 1

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Vargas is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Vargas has an .821 OPS through 14 games in September and will take a seat for Sunday's matinee. Carter Kieboom is starting at the hot corner and batting seventh.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Resting Thursday

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2023

  Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Thursday against Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Although the switch-hitting Vargas holds a .773 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, he'll get a day off against Max Fried on Thursday. Carter Kieboom will start at third base instead while batting fifth.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: On bench Monday

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  Vargas is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. The Nationals have been running a three-headed timeshare at third base of late, with Vargas, Carter Kieboom and Jake Alu having now made two starts apiece at the position over the past six games. Alu seems to have the most stable playing-time outlook of the three, as he'll now make his third straight start in left field in place of the slumping Travis Blankenhorn. The lack of consistent at-bats for either Vargas or Kieboom makes both players tough to rely upon, even in NL-only leagues.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Sitting third straight

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2023

  Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Vargas has now missed three consecutive starts for the Nationals after starting nearly every game in August. Jake Alu will start again at second base and Travis Blankenhorn will man left field.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Sits again Friday

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2023

  Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Vargas will take a seat for the second straight game Friday after being an everyday part of the Nats' lineup for most of August. Jake Alu will fill in at second base, allowing Travis Blankenhorn to start in left field.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Takes seat Thursday

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2023

  Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Thursday against Miami, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Although Vargas is slashing .268/.294/.476 against left-handed pitchers this season, he'll retreat to the bench against Braxton Garrett and the Marlins on Thursday. Michael Chavis will fill in at the keystone and bat seventh.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Belts fourth homer

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  Vargas went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs in Friday's win over the Athletics. The veteran utility man tied his career high in RBI with the performance, which was highlighted by a three-run homer off Sam Long in the seventh inning -- Vargas' fourth homer of the year. The 32-year-old switch hitter has emerged as the Nationals' starting third baseman in the wake of the Jeimer Candelario trade, and he's been surprisingly productive in the role. Vargas is batting just .250 (8-for-32) so far in August, but he has nine RBI and a .531 SLG thanks to three doubles and two homers.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Gets third straight start

  Rotowire Aug 6, 2023

  Vargas will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Reds, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. He'll be manning the hot corner for the third consecutive game and looks like he'll settle in as the Nationals' top option at the position in the wake of Jeimer Candelario being traded to the Cubs. Jake Alu appeared set to get the first chance to replace Candelario, but he's now picked up two straight starts at second base and should serve as the Nationals' primary option at the keystone after the struggling Luis Garcia was demoted to Triple-A Rochester.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Sits after three straight starts

  Rotowire Jul 9, 2023

  Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. Vargas started in all of the Nationals' last three games and produced exactly one base hit in each of those contests to bring his hitting streak up to six games. The Nationals faced left-handed starting pitchers in each of those last three contests, but Vargas will find himself on the bench Sunday versus Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning. Vargas looks as though he'll be limited to a short-side platoon role for the foreseeable future.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Swats second homer

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2023

  Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Sunday's loss to the Phillies. He took Connor Brodgon deep in the ninth inning for a somewhat meaningless blow in an 11-3 rout. Vargas continues to be used sparingly and has only 52 plate appearances on the season, but the veteran utility player has produced a .320/.333/.540 slash line with two homers, nine runs and 10 RBI when he's gotten into the lineup.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Pops second homer

  Rotowire May 22, 2023

  Vargas went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Tigers. Getting a rare start at shortstop and batting seventh, Vargas took Joey Wentz deep in the third inning for his second homer of the year. The 31-year-old utility player has been productive when called upon -- he's made seven appearances in May and produced four multi-hit performances, batting .458 (11-for-24) on the month with seven RBI.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Returns from IL

  Rotowire May 3, 2023

  The Nationals activated Vargas (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Vargas went on the injured list April 11 after going 1-for-12 to begin the season. A depth infielder, the 31-year-old will likely see only sporadic playing time.

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• Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Beginning rehab assignment

  Rotowire Apr 27, 2023

  Vargas (shoulder) joined Triple-A Rochester on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Vargas has been on the injured list for over two weeks due to a strained left shoulder. It's unclear how many games Vargas will play in the minors, but the goal is to get him plenty of at-bats and starts at shortstop. Once he's feeling better, he'll likely return to his role as a utility piece for Washington.

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