Overview

• The Nationals dismissed GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on July 7 and elevated assistant GM Mike DeBartolo to interim GM ahead of the draft.
• DeBartolo is evaluating five leading candidates—Kade Anderson, Liam Doyle, Aiva Arquette, Ethan Holliday and Eli Willits—against the No. 1 pick’s $11.1 million slot value.
• MLB’s slotting system allocates Washington a total draft budget of $16.6 million, limiting its ability to offer above-slot bonuses.
• Rockies draft insider Kiley McDaniel estimates a better-than-50 percent chance that Ethan Holliday will slip to No. 4, where Colorado plans to exceed its $8.8 million slot cap.
• Holliday’s power projection and Hall of Famer Matt Holliday’s pedigree make signability and bonus flexibility key factors in where he lands.