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[Washington Nationals]

The three Washington Nationals players I am most excited to see at Spring Training

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Nationals Park on September 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As we enter the spring, just about everyone on the Washington Nationals roster has a lot to prove. This team is very short on proven commodities. However, there are three players fans should be paying close attention to. Cade Cavalli, Dylan Crews and Luis Perales have a ton to prove in 2025, and I will be watching them closely this spring.

Can Cavalli Put it Together:

Cade Cavalli is the player I am most fascinated by. After the MacKenzie Gore trade, he seems like the de facto ace. He had a bumpy road back from Tommy John Surgery, but showed flashes of elite potential last season. In his 10 MLB starts, Cavalli posted a respectable 4.25 ERA.

I think he can get much better. His stuff is front of the rotation caliber and he throws plenty of strikes. However, his execution and command are not great. With the new pitching development team and a fully healthy offseason, Cavalli could improve that though. As the season progressed in 2025, he made some adjustments that helped him become an effective MLB pitcher.

Cade Cavalli is now the ace of the Washington Nationals' rotation.

Cavalli was throwing from a higher arm angle (43.9 degrees), over six degrees more in 2025, primarily due to his horizontal release point shifting over five inches farther than his midline, and adding nearly… pic.twitter.com/jm7Hn10xPn

— Corbin (@corbin_young21) January 23, 2026

There is room for a lot more though. His fastball averages 97 MPH and he pairs it with an awesome power curveball. The curve averaged 86 MPH and generated whiffs at a 40% clip. He used the curve over 30% of the time, which makes the high whiff number even more impressive.

Despite being in the 72nd percentile for whiffs, Cavalli only struck out 18.3% of hitters. That ranked in the 18th percentile. There is no way a pitcher with Cavalli’s stuff should be striking out under 20% of hitters. This spring, fans should be watching Cavalli’s execution with two strikes. If new pitching coach Simon Mathews can improve Cavalli’s ability to put hitters away, he will have a big season.

If I had to guess, Cade Cavalli will be the Nats Opening Day starter. The fact a pitcher with 11 MLB outings is the Nats Opening Day starter says a lot about the state of the rotation. However, Cavalli has a chance to be great, he is just unproven.

Can Dylan Crews Live Up to the Hype:

Coming out of LSU, Dylan Crews was one of the most hyped up college baseball players in the last decade. Along with his teammate Paul Skenes, Crews helped the LSU Tigers win the National Championship. Since leaving LSU, Skenes and Crews have been on very different paths.

While Skenes was winning his first Cy Young award in 2025, Crews was struggling to find his footing. Crews hit just .208 with a .632 OPS last year. There were long stretches where the former Golden Spikes winner looked lost at the plate.

Coming out of college, Crews was supposed to be a can’t miss prospect. Skenes and Wyatt Langford may have had more upside, but Crews was the one that had no chance of being a bust. So far, that has not been the case. Crews, who is one of the most decorated college baseball players ever, has not been the same player in the MLB.

2023 Dylan Crews:

.426/.567/.713
182 WRC+
18 HR
100 R
70 RBI
1.54 BB/K

Build the Statue @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/9Zmt1uxIhC

— Reech (@Reech___) January 16, 2026

Even in the minors, Crews did not dominate the way he was expected to. He was good, but never elite. Crews did not torch the minor leagues the way Wyatt Langford did. In the MLB, he got exposed even more. His suboptimal angles have been a problem. Crews is hitting the ball on the ground too much and is not tapping into his power.

In 2025, Crews was also whiffing way too much. His issues against spin have been present for a while, but he was even whiffing against fastballs. Crews was an elite fastball hitter, even in his up and down MLB stint in 2024. That was not the case last year.

While Crews’ season was interrupted by injury, his performance was still concerning. He needs to get back to crushing fastballs. Hopefully the new coaching staff can help Crews rebuild his confidence. This is the first time Crews has ever failed, so I am curious to see how he bounces back. Spring Training will be our first chance to see what kind of adjustments Crews has made.

Can Luis Perales Throw Enough Strikes:

The prospect I am most curious about this spring is Luis Perales, who the Nats acquired from the Red Sox this offseason. Paul Toboni swung a rare prospect for prospect trade with his old club back in December. He sent the high floor Jake Bennett to the Red Sox for Perales, who is riskier but comes with a much higher ceiling.

Perales blew out his elbow in the middle of his breakout 2024 season. He had to undergo Tommy John Surgery, missing the rest of 2024 and most of 2025. Perales came back at the end of 2025, where he made a few appearances in the minors.

However, most of his action came in the Arizona Fall League. The results were interesting. His velocity was actually better than ever, sitting at nearly 99 MPH. Perales had a hard time finding the strike zone though. In 11.1 innings, he struck out 19 batters but walked 11.

Luis Perales (BOS) continues to look excellent following his return from TJS

In the AFL today, his fastball averaged 99 MPH with elite ride and his breaking balls graded out well. The Red Sox have a gem here! pic.twitter.com/egLKrALIQS

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) October 15, 2025

It is not uncommon for pitchers coming back from TJ to struggle with command at first. They have not pitched in competitive games for over a year, so there is some rust. These pitchers are also adjusting to their new elbow as well. As pitchers get further removed from surgery, the command usually improves.

Perales showed much improved command in his breakout 2024 season, but had some control questions before then. Command will always be a question mark for the flamethrower, but as long as he is around the strike zone, the stuff will play.

I will be watching Perales very closely to see what that control looks like. If it is back to those 2024 levels, he can be a front of the rotation starter. However, he has the chance to be a nasty reliever. His injury history, smaller build and control point to a bullpen role, but he also has a chance to start.

It will be interesting to see what the Nats do with him. If they move him to the bullpen, he could be in the big leagues very soon. However, if they want to continue developing him as a starter, things will take longer. Either way, Perales should start next season at Triple-A. If Toboni wants to let him rip in the bullpen, Luis Perales could be the Nats closer by the end of the season.

There are more players we could highlight, but these are the three that stand out to me. All three have so much to prove this year, but also have great upside. 2026 will be a year where these young players will have to prove themselves. With Paul Toboni improving the farm system, these guys could be replaced if they do not perform.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...nationals-players-excited-see-spring-training

 

[Washington Nationals]

What Could The Washington Nationals Farm System Look Like By The End Of 2026?

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA - SEPTEMBER 7, 2025: Eli Willits #13 of the Fredericksburg Nationals in action during a Carolina League game against the Carolina Mudcats at Virginia Credit Union Stadium on September 7, 2025 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Mudcats beat the Nationals, 6-3. (Photo by Rodger Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

While it lacks the thump it once had when James Wood and Dylan Crews were atop the rankings, the Nationals’ farm system is currently the deepest it has ever been, and certainly in a better spot than where it was this time last year. Opinions on the farm range, as Keith Law of The Athletic ranked the Nats farm 6th best in baseball, and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN ranked it 14th, but the overall sentiment remains: the future looks brighter than before for the Nats, even if the present is not where they hoped to be.

The farm system has seen a big boost this offseason from prospects acquired in deals for players such as MacKenzie Gore, Jose A. Ferrer, and Jake Bennett, and there is still the potential of more to come, with Paul Toboni taking calls on other major leaguers such as CJ Abrams and Jacob Young. While I don’t expect a deal to get done this winter, perhaps being a move that happens at the trade deadline or next winter, I fully support Toboni looking to maximize this team’s farm system, setting them up for a future run at contention better.

Given all the young talent in the farm system, the fact very little Nats prospects will be graduating from prospect status soon, the potential for one or both of CJ Abrams and Jacob Young to be moved this year, and the Nationals picking 11th in the 2026 MLB Draft, it’s fair to assume this farm system will be in an even better spot at the end of 2026 than it is now. Let’s take a look at how the top of this hypothetical Nationals farm could shake out.

Graduating From Prospect Status

C Harry Ford

1B/DH Abimelec Ortiz

OF Christian Franklin

RHP Luis Perales

1B Yohandy Morales

OF Andrew Pinckney

Given that most of the talent in the Nationals’ farm system is accumulated in the lower levels of the minor leagues, there are very few prospects who are going to lose prospect status in the 2026 season. The only players who are locks to graduate prospect status this season are catcher Harry Ford and first baseman Abimelec Ortiz, both likely to be in the lineup on Opening Day, or soon afterwards at the very least.

Outside of those 2, there are very few prospects near the top of the Nationals’ farm system who I see losing prospect status in 2026, with Luis Perales having the best chance if he lights up Triple-A and debuts midway through the year. After him, it’s an assortment of lower-ranked prospects, such as outfielder Christian Franklin, outfielder Andrew Pinckney, and first baseman Yohandy Morales, who could end up getting enough time in the bigs to make them no longer prospects.

Top 100 Prospects

SS Eli Willits

RHP Travis Sykora

RHP Jarlin Susana

3B Gavin Fien

One of Devin Fitz-Gerald/Seaver King/Landon Harmon/Other

While the Nationals have 4 top 100 prospects currently, with one soon to graduate in Harry Ford, they also have a ton of high upside prospects who could jump into top 100 lists with a strong 2026 campaign. One prospect who I’m highly confident in cementing himself as a top 100 prospect soon is Gavin Fien, the headliner of the return in the MacKenzie Gore trade. While he wasn’t dominant in his 10 professional games in 2025 following the draft, he showed promise and why many analysts are so incredibly high on his bat.

After Fien, there is a long line of young prospects in the Nationals’ farm system who could make the leap from interesting to exciting in 2026. Top of that list may be second baseman Devin Fitz-Gerald, who was scorching Low A pitching in 2025 before a shoulder injury ended his season. After him, plenty of names jump to mind, with Seaver King, who is already a top 100 prospect according to Keith Law, standing out as a prospect who could see a big breakthrough in 2026 with the new coaching staffs in the minor leagues.

New Additions

Prospects From CJ Abrams Trade (Top 100 Prospect + More)

Prospects From Jacob Young Trade (Top 250ish Prospect)

11th Overall Pick (Top 100-150 Prospect)

42nd Overall Pick

78th Overall Pick

There are numerous avenues Paul Toboni and his front office could take to boost the Nat’s farm system, many that us fans wouldn’t even think of right now, but as of now, these are the most likely ways they can do so. If the report that the Nationals turned down a package led by Shortstop Josuar Gonzalez from the Giants, a top 50 prospect in the sport according to some outlets, for CJ Abrams, then we can make the eventual trade return for him to be at the very least in the same ballpark.

Perhaps that does mean getting a deal done for Gonzalez and others with the Giants, perhaps it means a deal centered around a top-ranked pitcher like Bubba Chandler, Seth Hernandez, or Hunter Barco from the Pirates, but whatever it is, I trust this front office to not give in on their demands in the sake of making a deal happen.

The Nationals will also have the opportunity to add a strongly touted prospect in the MLB Draft this July, as they hold the 11th overall pick. While it’s unfortunate that the new lottery rules have once again knocked the Nats out of the top 10, there will still be plenty of highly regarded prospects available at 11th overall, with Bryce Rainer and Braden Montgomery, both consensus top 100 prospects currently, both being selected 11th or later in the 2024 MLB Draft.

While he favored prospects who played up-the-middle positions with his first-rounders during his time in Boston, anything could be on the table for Toboni and his staff this year, depending on how the draft class and draft board shake out.

Mock End of 2026 Top 10 Nationals Prospects

1. SS Eli Willits
2. SS Josuar Gonzalez
3. RHP Travis Sykora
4. RHP Jarlin Susana
5. 3B Gavin Fien
6. 2B Devin Fitz-Gerald
7. RHP Cameron Flukey
8. SS Seaver King
9. RHP Landon Harmon
10. OF Bo Davidson

From this hypothetical list, you have 4 surefire top 100 prospects, 3 very close to being top 100s, and 3 more with the talent to be top 100s. While prospect rankings are irrelevant once these players reach the bigs, as then it becomes about your performance and not your potential, the more lottery tickets you can stock up to cash in the big leagues, the better. I’m excited to see what more tricks Paul Toboni has up his sleeve, and how else he’ll stock up the Nationals’ farm system for years to come.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/88652/what-could-nationals-farm-system-look-like-end-2026

 

[JJ]

oh man look at the nats actually trying to build something here! gotta respect what toboni is doing even if it means watching a rebuilding team for a while

the minor league coaching staff expansion is HUGE and something that doesn't get talked about enough. adding assistant trainers, conditioning coaches, and defensive coaches at every level? that's how you develop players properly instead of just hoping they figure it out on their own. the bills could learn something about organizational depth from this approach honestly lol

i'm most intrigued by the waiver wire strategy though. churning through guys like lovelady and gasper might seem chaotic but it's smart baseball. you're essentially getting free lottery tickets - if they hit, great, if not you move on with zero risk. way better than locking yourself into guaranteed contracts for mediocre players like they did with sims and poche last year

the crews situation worries me a bit though. dude was supposed to be the safest pick in that draft class and he's hitting .208? that's rough. skenes out here winning cy youngs while crews is struggling to make contact. hopefully the new hitting coaches can get him right because the talent is obviously there from his college days

cavalli is the wildcard for me. 97 mph heat with that power curve should NOT result in an 18% strikeout rate. something is off with his pitch sequencing or execution. if the new staff can fix that he could legitimately be an ace

also lmao at the physical therapist being named james wood. that's hilarious

 

[Washington Nationals]

Miguel Sime Jr. has a chance to be a breakout prospect for the Washington Nationals

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: Washington Nationals 4th round pick in the 2025 MLB draft, Miguel Sime Jr., waves to the crowd during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are plenty of Nationals prospects who have a chance to breakout in 2026. However, the one I want to talk about today is Miguel Sime Jr., the 18 year old fireballer. Even in today’s world, where velocity is king, you will not find many teenagers who throw harder than Sime. He routinely touches triple digits, which obviously makes him a name to watch.

Sometimes drafting can be quite simple. When you have the chance to draft a 6’4 235 pound 18 year old who throws 100 in the 4th round, it is tough to pass up. The Nats took that chance on Sime, betting on his upside. He is far from a perfect prospect, but you do not find pitchers with that kind of arm talent in the 4th round very often.

This winter, there was a video of Sime throwing 102 MPH. Obviously, that is special stuff, especially for an 18 year old. It got me fired up about his future. He is still very far from the MLB, but if he is even around the strike zone, he could move quicker than expected. Lower minors hitters would just be overwhelmed by his triple digit heat.

I missed this. Good lord. If Miguel Sime is even around the strike zone, his stock is going to explode this year https://t.co/9VnHnGp87J

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) January 31, 2026

Throwing strikes is a concern for Sime though. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America gave his control a below average 40 grade. Pipeline did note that his control improved during his senior spring and in the MLB Draft League. However, he still has a ways to go. There is some effort in his delivery and his arm action is on the longer side.

Sime will never be an above average command guy, but he does not need to be. He has the chance to sit at 100 MPH one day, so as long as he is in the zone, he does not have to paint corners.

His showing in the MLB draft league was very encouraging. Sime was showing a better feel for his power arsenal, which made the Nats more comfortable buying him out from his LSU commitment. The fastball was in the 98-100 range at times and he showed off an improved curveball.

Miguel Sime @LSUbaseball commit gets us started with some heat!

FB: 98-100
CV: 82-83 https://t.co/fWT071lkSI pic.twitter.com/fUHzebO3TR

— Jake Bargery (@JakeBarg) June 30, 2025

Baseball America even noted that the Nats like the look of his changeup. It is not a pitch he throws that often, but it showed signs of being a promising pitch. The Nats will have to help him become more confident throwing the pitch. Right now, neither of his secondary pitches are anything special, but the fastball is elite and he is very young.

If the Nats can help turn the breaking ball or changeup into an above average pitch, we will be cooking with gas. Sime and Landon Harmon are two power right-handers with insane upside. Getting both in the same draft is a major coup for the Nats.

Miguel Sime Jr. is another prep arm to watch for 2026. The 18-year-old, 6-ft-4, 235-lb RHP runs his fastball into the upper-90s consistently, and pairs it with an above-avg slider!

Between Sime and Landon Harmon, the upside of the Nationals’ 3rd/4th-round picks is sky-high.

:… pic.twitter.com/wqBUE0yaL9

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) December 28, 2025

When you see Miguel Sime Jr., it is easy to see similarities between him and Jarlin Susana. While Susana is even bigger, their builds are similar. Both are massive, intimidating right handed pitchers with triple digit velocity.

Susana developed a plus-plus slider, which Sime does not have yet. However, at just 18 years old, Sime has plenty of time to develop. The Nats know he has plenty of time, so they are likely to take things slowly. Sime should spend a lot of this season in rookie ball. His main goals will be refining his control and finding a consistent secondary pitch.

If Sime comes out with better control than expected, he could make the jump to Low-A pretty quickly though. Rookie ball will not be a challenge for Sime at all if he is throwing strikes. He would just be able to bully hitters with his heater.

As long as Sime’s control is not truly woeful, I actually think his floor is relatively high for an 18 year old pitcher. Guys who throw 100 MPH get plenty of chances, and for good reason. If things do not work as a starting pitcher, you could easily move these flame throwers to the bullpen. Sime should get a long look as a starter before we entertain those conversations though.

Right now, Miguel Sime Jr. is a moldable ball of clay with a 100 MPH fastball. The Nats will be able to test out plenty of secondary pitches and see which one he has the best feel for. They will also be looking at his mechanics to see if there is anything to tweak there. The upside here is massive though.

I actually think BA and Pipeline are undervaluing Sime a little bit. Pipeline has him as the Nats 20th best prospect and BA has him at 24. Personally, I would probably have him somewhere in the 15-20 range. I get that he is raw, but arms like this do not exactly grow on trees.

It will be a long trek to the majors for the youngster, but the sky is the limit. I am so excited to see how he looks this season. Right now, I cannot put a ceiling on Sime. With control challenged flame throwers like Jacob Misiorowski succeeding, I just want to see what Sime can do.

If his control is even fringy, he can be a very exciting prospect. Scouting can be simple sometimes. Take the chance on the giant dude who throws 100 MPH. That is what the Washington Nationals did with Miguel Sime Jr., and hopefully it pays off.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/mlb...be-breakout-prospect-for-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

What has been your favorite move made by new Washington Nationals POBO Paul Toboni this offseason?

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: The Washington Nationals formally introduce their new Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on October 01, 2025. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, Robert Tanenbaum, Paul Toboni and Mark Lerner. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

As we enter a new month, I want to make a point of posing questions to the audience. The first question I wanted to ask you guys is what has been your favorite move Paul Toboni has made this offseason? In his first winter as President of Baseball Operations, Toboni has made a few moves, which we will review. Towards the end, I will decide on my favorite.

Ford for Ferrer Swap

The first major move he made was an attempt to fix the Nats catching position. He traded reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners for Harry Ford and Isaac Lyon. Ford is the real prize here and could be the Nats starting catcher on Opening Day.

The Mariners trade catcher Harry Ford and pitching prospect Isaac Lyon to the Nationals for reliever Jose Ferrer.

Ford is the #42 ranked prospect in MLB pic.twitter.com/0T53cXA7bU

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 6, 2025

Toboni took advantage of a unique situation in Seattle. While Ford is a top catching prospect, he had no chance of being anything more than a backup catcher due to Cal Raleigh. Ford was completely blocked, and the longer he stayed in Seattle as a backup, the more his value would go down. This meant that the Mariners were looking to get rid of him.

The Nats, who have had abysmal catcher play the past couple of years, jumped on this opportunity. While I like Jose A. Ferrer, and think he will be a key piece in the Mariners bullpen, getting a starting catcher for him would be a win. Relievers, especially good, but not elite ones like Ferrer are not that hard to find. It is much harder to find a quality starting catcher.

Harry Ford is unlikely to ever be a top five catcher in baseball, but he projects as a solid starter. He has a great eye at the plate to go with solid contact and power. His defense is a work in progress, but has gotten better over the years. Ford also has the natural athleticism that makes further improvement possible. Considering where the Nats are in their build, this is a very smart swap.

The Prospect for Prospect Trade

Paul Toboni’s next move was with his former club, the Boston Red Sox. The two teams pulled off the rare prospect for prospect swap. Toboni acquired flame thrower Luis Perales from the Red Sox in exchange for Jake Bennett, a high floor left handed pitcher.

We have acquired RHP Luis Perales from the Boston Red Sox for LHP Jake Bennett.

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) December 16, 2025

You do not see this kind of trade very often, but given Toboni’s knowledge of the Red Sox farm system, this move is not overly surprising. The Nats are shooting for the stars with Perales, while the Red Sox valued the safety of Bennett.

Back in 2024, Perales was breaking into the top 100 prospect lists before blowing out his elbow midseason. He was forced to undergo Tommy John Surgery, missing the rest of 2024 and most of 2025. When Perales came back, his stuff was as good as ever, but his command was shaky.

It is pretty common to see pitchers struggle with command when they first come back from Tommy John. Control tends to be the last thing to come back after these major injuries. The stuff was absolutely filthy though. In the Arizona Fall League, his fastball averaged 99 MPH and he had a few nasty secondary pitches to go with it.

Getting that control back will be key for Perales. He was making strides with his command before going down with that injury. If he is in the zone, the stuff will play. I think Perales will end up being a nasty reliever, but he still has a chance to start. This is an upside play from Toboni, and one that intrigues me.

The Blockbuster Trade

The biggest move Paul Toboni made this offseason was trading Nats ace MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a five prospect package. Toboni decided to go with a quantity over quality package, but all five prospects have promise, even if none is a sure thing.

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Rangers get: LHP MacKenzie Gore

Nationals get: 3B Gavin Fien, SS Devin Fitz-Gerald, RHP Alejandro Rosario, 1B Abimelec Ortiz and and OF Yeremy Cabrera

A big return for the Nationals. Fien was the 12th pick last year. Evaluators love Fitz-Gerald.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 22, 2026

Gavin Fien is the biggest name in the deal. He was the 12th pick in the 2025 draft out of high school. Fien has a rare blend of hitting ability and power. While he was a shortstop in high school, third base should be his home in pro ball. Fien is years away from the big leagues, but he has the chance to quickly establish himself as a top 100 prospect.

The Nats grabbed another young infielder in the deal, with Toboni targeting Devin Fitz-Gerald. He is a switch hitting infielder with a real feel for hitting. Fitz-Gerald is likely to be a second baseman, but his bat has major potential.

In his pro debut, Fitz-Gerald walked more than he struck out and showed surprising power. His season was cut short due to a shoulder injury, but he should be good to go this season. Fitz-Gerald is another prospect with major helium entering this season.

Alejandro Rosario might have the most upside of anyone in the deal, but also has so many questions. He blew out his elbow last February, but did not undergo Tommy John Surgery for whatever reason. Rosario should have the surgery any day now. This means he will have missed two seasons.

When he was on the mound, Rosario was dominant. His fastball was in the upper 90’s and he paired it with two plus secondaries. He also had elite control to go with it in 2024. After the multi-year layoff, there is no telling if he will be the same guy. If he does return to form, the Nats got a steal.

Abimelec Ortiz and Yeremy Cabrera are also two solid pieces, but do not have the upside of the other three. Overall, I thought the package was solid, but not mind blowing. The Nats did not get a top 100 prospect in this deal, which makes things risky. There is no true headliner, but a few of these guys have breakout potential. Toboni is betting on his ability to develop these prospects.

The Lone Free Agent Signing

The Nats have not been active in free agency, but they did make one signing. They gave LHP Foster Griffin a 1-year $5.5 million deal back in December. Griffin is coming off a highly successful three year run in Japan, where he was one of the best pitchers in the NPB.

Source confirms: Free-agent LHP Foster Griffin in agreement with Nationals on one-year, $5.5M contract. First: @ByRobertMurray.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 16, 2025

The Nats are going to give Griffin an opportunity to be in the rotation. While Griffin does not throw very hard, he does a lot of things well. He is a crafty lefty with a deep arsenal. His ability to throw strikes and keep hitters off balance really worked in Japan.

Griffin added a number of different pitches to his arsenal over the past few years. It is not a flashy pickup by any means, but Griffin is an interesting flier. He posted a 1.52 ERA in Japan last season.

It remains to be seen if Griffin’s low 90’s heater will work in the MLB, but it is only a one year deal. Hopefully the Nats sign another free agent starter to pair with Griffin. The Nats have a real lack of proven commodities on the pitching staff, which is concerning even in a rebuilding year.

My Favorite Move

I am a fan of most of these moves, but my favorite is the Harry Ford trade. It is just a very smart deal to make. Toboni took advantage of a unique situation in Seattle and got his hands on a potential starting catcher. The Nats catching situation was so bad last season, and they needed to find a new option.

While Ferrer is a good reliever, he is not elite. It is much harder to find a solid starting catcher than it is to find a solid reliever. Ford has hit every step of the way in the Minor Leagues and I have faith in him. He will never be a star, but the Nats have been starving for a decent starting catcher for years.

The Ford move is my favorite, but you can make a case for a number of these deals. Let me know what your favorite move is in the comments down below. Also, if you think the Nats will regret any of these moves, you should talk about that as well. It has been an interesting first offseason for Paul Toboni, and we are not done yet.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...shington-nationals-pobo-paul-toboni-offseason