RSS Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

Three non-tendered players the Washington Nationals should consider signing

The non-tender deadline has come and gone. With teams making cuts, there are some new additions to the free agent market. While most teams, including the Nationals decided to tender contracts to many of the players seen as non-tender candidates, there are a few interesting new additions to the free agent pool. I am going to take a look at three players that fit the Nats.

The first player we will talk about is a former All-Star and the starting catcher of the World Series champion Texas Rangers. Back in 2023, Jonah Heim was one of the best catchers in baseball. He played Gold Glove defense while being an above average hitter in Texas.

Heim also had some big moments in the Rangers playoff run. Most notably he smashed the go-ahead homer in Game 6 of the ALCS. That helped the Rangers overcome the mighty Astros and reach the World Series. However, Heim has fallen on hard times the past couple years. His glove has gone from elite to average and the bat has fallen off a cliff.

Jonah Heim hit a huge home run in Game 6 of the 2023 ALCS to give the Rangers a lead they would not relinquish. pic.twitter.com/cvJDHoJ4rI

— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) November 21, 2025

Heim is still only 30 years old and the Nats need catching help. A lot of Rangers hitters have had tough to explain fall offs since 2023, so this could be a Texas thing rather than a Heim thing. The Rangers home ballpark has also become extremely pitcher friendly over the past couple of years.

Heim could be a bounce back candidate and he also has a connection to the Nats now. Paul Toboni and Blake Butera hired Bobby Wilson from Texas to be the team’s catching coordinator. Obviously, Heim has a lot of familiarity with Wilson, so that connection could be useful. Heim does not even have to get back to his 2023 form. If he can get back to being a solid starting catcher that would be a win for the Nats.

The next player I am going to discuss is also a Texas Ranger. Jacob Webb was one of the more surprising non-tenders this year. Despite posting a 3.00 ERA across 55 outings, the Rangers decided to cut bait with the reliever. Over the last three years, Webb has been one of the most reliable and consistent relievers in baseball, with a 3.22 ERA in 169 outings.

In a pretty surprising move yesterday, the Rangers non-tendered Jacob Webb, who will certainly garner interest on the open market. There are two changes I think he needs to make, but Webb is one of the better relievers available in free agency. pic.twitter.com/NHwNNPAJZX

— Matthew Knauer (@matthewk36711) November 22, 2025

So why did the Rangers cut bait? Well, the advanced numbers are much more split on Webb. His FIP and xFIP were 4.30 and 4.55 respectively. However, his xERA of 3.09 is much more in line with his ERA numbers. Webb is not a hard thrower, but he generates a lot of soft contact. His 86.6 MPH average exit velocity is in the 95th percentile.

That ability to produce weak contact is why his BABIP has been below .250 each of the last three years. A low BABIP can be seen as lucky, but when you do it every year and produce a lot of soft contact, it is skill not luck.

Webb is now one of the better relief arms on the market. He may not be a closer, but he could easily be a setup man for the Nats. Webb could be one of those players that the Nats sign and then flip at the deadline. I don’t think it made much sense to non-tender him and the Nats should take advantage.

The last player I will discuss also played in Texas, but Ramon Urias played for the Astros. At least he played for the Astros in the second half of the season. For the last few years, Urias was a mainstay for the Orioles. He was a solid player in Baltimore, but not a star.

Since 2021, Urias has been average or slightly above average on both sides of the ball. He had a real breakout year in 2022 which he has not been able to replicate, but he has still been a quality player. Urias can also play multiple positions.

What a catch by Ramón Urías! pic.twitter.com/2FUs01yHTe

— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025

He was a good defender at second and third base last season. Urias is also a steady offensive producer. He has a similar appeal to Willi Castro, though he is not as versatile. Last season the Nats found Amed Rosario and he was very good as a utility infielder. Urias can play a similar role, though he is more of a defensive minded player.

If the Nats trust Nasim Nunez to be their utility man this would not make as much sense. However, Urias has a much stronger track record offensively. He could also be flipped at the deadline like Rosario was. Ramon Urias is just a solid baseball player and the Nats need more of those.

There are other names that hit the market that could make sense. Adolis Garcia is a big name, but the Nats do not have much space in the outfield. Michael Toglia and MJ Melendez both have tools, but have yet to put it together. There are quite a few relievers that also make sense. However, Jonah Heim, Jacob Webb and Ramon Urias are the three names that fit the Nationals the best.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/nat...players-washington-nationals-consider-signing

 

[Washington Nationals]

Riley Cornelio can be the next Brad Lord for the Washington Nationals

The pitching for the Washington Nationals was mostly disastrous in 2025, but Brad Lord was a bright spot. There is a pitcher in the Nats system with a lot of similarities to Lord and could make the same kind of impact in 2026. That guy is Riley Cornelio, who had a breakout year in the minors in 2025.

After being drafted in the 7th round out of TCU in 2022, Riley Cornelio struggled in his first couple years of pro ball. He had two seasons in A ball where his ERA was over 4.50 both seasons. However, a switch flipped for Cornelio in 2025 and he looked like a different pitcher.

He went all the way from High-A to Triple-A and was highly impressive. Cornelio posted a 3.28 ERA across 134.1 innings, winning Nationals Minor League pitcher of the year in the process. He was so good that Paul Toboni decided to add him to the 40-man roster rather than risk exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. By adding him to the 40-man, Paul Toboni is indicating that Cornelio will play a role in the big leagues at some point in 2026.

Nationals select the contract of RHP Riley Cornelio.
2025 MiLB Pitcher of the Year, 3.28 ERA, 135 K.
A breakout arm the Nats weren’t risking in Rule 5. pic.twitter.com/pr4VLAhvUf

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) November 18, 2025

This is very similar to what Brad Lord did in the past. Both were older, unheralded prospects who had ordinary starts to their pro careers. Then both took a leap and became some of the most productive arms in the Nats Minor League system. It is easy to envision Cornelio filling a similar swingman role as Lord did last season.

However, Cornelio’s mix makes me think he could be more of a reliever. His best pitch by far is his slider, which fangraphs gave a 70 grade to. It has sharp, late break, and gets a ton of swings and misses. In Triple-A, Cornelio’s slider had a 50% whiff rate. He only threw it 23% of the time, but in a bullpen role, he can let it rip 40 to 50% of the time.

Riley Cornelio struck out five in 5.0 scoreless innings last night for the @HbgSenators

Last five starts
3 ER
3-0
0.94 ERA
26 Ks
.158 OBA pic.twitter.com/0kyjKCyLka

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) July 11, 2025

Another reason the bullpen could be a better home for Cornelio is that his velocity falls as he gets deeper into starts. He can start games sitting in the 96 to 97 MPH range, but it ticks down to 93-94 as the game goes on. Cornelio needs that velocity because his fastball shape is not anything special. He does not get much swing and miss on his 4-seamer or sinker.

Despite not having a great fastball, he was throwing it over 50% of the time in AAA. That is one easy change that Paul Toboni can make to his repertoire. It would even be tempting to make the slider his primary pitch because of how good it is. Cornelio also has a decent changeup.

I am pretty confident that we will see Cornelio in the MLB at some point in 2026. He will turn 26 in June, so there is not much of a reason to waste bullets in the minors if he is ready. Cornelio may not be favored to make the team out of camp, but it is something to keep an eye on.

There are a few paths he could take. He has been very durable in recent years, so he could continue on his path as a potential 5 starter. Cornelio could also be a long reliever who can go in the rotation when injuries hit, much like Brad Lord. However, I also like the idea of Cornelio being a slider heavy middle to high leverage reliever. We know the slider is big time and if he can sit at 96-97 in short bursts, the fastball will play too.

Every year there are arms that seemingly come out of nowhere. However, these guys always start somewhere. Riley Cornelio is one of those guys and I think 2026 can be a breakthrough campaign for the former 7th round pick.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...an-be-next-brad-lord-for-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals legend Anthony Rendon is expected to retire

Anthony Rendon’s disastrous Angels tenure is finally over. Reports have come out that Rendon and the Angels are in talks to buyout the final year of his 7-year $245 million contract. He was such a great player with the Nats, but things did not work in LA due to injuries and Rendon’s prickly attitude.

NEWS: The Angels and Anthony Rendon are in talks about buying out the final year of his contract, according to a source. The expectation is that he will retire. …https://t.co/4aDKHzZvzk

— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) November 26, 2025

Unfortunately, this disastrous chapter in LA will make most people forget about how great Rendon was. However, Nationals fans will always remember Rendon fondly even while the rest of the baseball world chatters about his awful Angels contract.

After being drafted sixth overall in the loaded 2011 draft class, Rendon quickly made his way through the Minor Leagues. He made his debut in April of 2013 and immediately showed promise. After a solid rookie season, Rendon had a true breakout in 2014.

At just 24 years old, Rendon posted a 6.5 WAR season and finished 5th in NL MVP voting. Nats fans fell in love with his gap to gap power and chill demeanor. He became affectionately known as Tony two bags for his ability to lace doubles. In fact, Rendon led the league in doubles in both 2018 and 2019.

From 2017 to 2019, Rendon was a top 10 player in baseball, posting three straight 5 win seasons, including two six win campaigns. He was such a well rounded player. Rendon could hit for contact, hit for power and played great defense at third base.

However, 2019 was the crowning season of his career. That year he finished third in MVP voting and just had ridiculous numbers. He hit .319 with a 1.010 OPS while hitting 34 homers, 44 doubles and drove in 126 runs. The craziest part of it all was how easy Anthony Rendon made it all look. It was just another day in the office for Tony two bags.

Anthony Rendon in 2019: 7.3 rWAR, 34 HR, 126 RBI, 44 2B, 1.010 OPS, 3rd in NL MVP, WS. pic.twitter.com/UtewX3HRTR

— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) November 26, 2025

Of course, that mindset would get him into trouble later in his career, but in DC that was accepted. Baseball was always just a job to Rendon, but when he was with the Nats he was having fun at work. I remember during Spring Training one year I saw Rendon and Trea Turner just goofing around playing basketball one on one together. He was prickly with the Angels, but he never had any clubhouse problems with the Nats.

What truly cemented Rendon’s legacy in DC though was his 2019 playoff run. He was truly captain clutch for the Nats. Rendon just came through time and time again in clutch moments. He was just automatic and the stats prove it. His numbers after the 7th inning of the Nats elimination games were just stupid good.

Anthony Rendon's plate appearances in the 7th inning or later of the Nationals' five elimination games this season:

Walk, double, home run, double, home run, double, home run

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 31, 2019

His homers off of Clayton Kershaw in the NLDS and Zack Greinke in Game 7 of the World Series were what started the Nats rallies. Rendon’s walk against Josh Hader in the Wild Card game is one of the better at bats I have ever seen as well. He just casually took some great pitches from Hader and passed the baton.

I know it is not his style, but I really hope that Rendon signs one of those one day contracts with the Nats just for some closure on his career. Knowing him, Anthony Rendon will probably never be heard from again but it would be cool if he came back to DC.

Sure, Rendon made mistakes with the Angels and his personality rubbed people the wrong way. However, I still do not think that Rendon is a bad guy. He was more involved with the Nats foundation than anyone when he was on the team and always had friends on the team in DC.

He just seems like a misunderstood character who did not quite put his best foot forward in LA. Injuries also plagued him with the Angels and it took away the traits that made him special. The spotlight that his contract created was also something Rendon did not like. He just wanted to stay in the shadows and do his job.

The rest of the baseball world may hate Anthony Rendon, but DC will always love him. There is not a World Series title in DC without Anthony Rendon. He was the best player on the team that 2019 season and his efforts will always be remembered fondly here. Thank you Anthony Rendon and congratulations on a wonderful career.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...nals-legend-anthony-rendon-expected-to-retire

 

[Washington Nationals]

What should Washington Nationals fans expect from Eli Willits in 2026

In July, the Nationals made a bold move by making 17 year old Eli Willits the youngest first overall pick of all time. Willits still has not turned 18 yet, with his birthday coming up on December 9th. However, the type of game Willits plays is very mature. That means he can move quicker than most high school prospects.

Willits has stated that one of his goals is to be in the MLB by age 20. For most players, that would be a pipe dream, but not Willits. As a 17 year old straight out of high school he hit .300 in Low-A. With that kind of production out of the gates, he is tracking to be a big leaguer at some point in 2028, which would be his age 20 season.

The thing that stands out the most about Willits’ game is how polished he is on both sides of the ball. He is such a smooth operator at shortstop and projects to be a strong defender there. Willits is a good athlete and has a strong arm for his age. He has the ability to use a bunch of different arm angles, which is very valuable at shortstop.

Easy to forget that Eli Willits is just 17 years old when you watch him operate at shortstop. One of the several athletic plays he made in his brief 15 game pro debut. pic.twitter.com/MOzpAHbNfQ

— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) November 2, 2025

Eli Willits polish should not come as a surprise. His dad is former big leaguer Reggie Willits who had a successful career by playing the game the right way. Reggie Willits had to be fundamentally perfect because he had no power and his tools were limited. Eli has much better tools than his father, but still plays the game with such great fundamentals. His brother Jaxon is also the starting shortstop at Oklahoma, where Reggie Willits is an assistant coach.

It is all ball all the time for the Willits family. That makes me confident that Eli will tap into every last drop of ability he has. He has already been working hard this offseason. One thing Willits needed to do was get stronger. His exit velocities were very low, which is not super surprising given his age. However, he has been in the weight room a lot this offseason.

Eli Willits knows what he needs to do to improve. If he puts on some strength, there are no holes in his game pic.twitter.com/Oar4d6BpPO

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) October 23, 2025

Hopefully that added strength will result in more power. That is the only tool that Willits is missing right now. If he can even become a 15 homer guy, Willits has a very clear path to being a 5 WAR player in the big leagues someday. He is an above average defender at shortstop and a great baserunner as well.

Offensively, Willits is a smooth swinging switch hitter. He has elite bat to ball skills as well as strong plate discipline. The combination of bat to ball skills and plate discipline can be quite rare. A lot of players that are great at making contact fall into the trap of swinging at everything just because they can hit those pitches. Willits can hit those pitches, but instead decides to be selective.

"WHAT A DEBUT FOR #1 OVERALL!"

Eli Willits has his second hit and second RBI of the night! pic.twitter.com/gsAgMMxmTz

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 22, 2025

How fast should Nationals fans expect Willits to move? Well, given his age we won’t be seeing him in the MLB anytime soon, but he should move pretty steadily. He performed well in Low-A and will probably start there again next season. However, if he gets off to a fast start, a promotion to High-A could come quickly.

That is not just due to performance though. The Nats have a lot of middle infielders at the lower levels right now. Coy James, Luke Dickerson, Angel Feliz, Ronny Cruz, Marconi German and Brayan Cortesia are all going to need to play, but there will be a log jam.

A lot of those guys should be in Low-A, but not all of them can be because there is not enough room. If Willits is super impressive in Spring Training, there is a chance he starts the season at High-A because of this. Willits should spend most of the season at High-A in my opinion. It is a good way to get him going in pro ball.

While Wilmington is known as a pitcher friendly environment, it should not matter as much to Willits as others. He is not a home run reliant player and his bat to ball skills should translate anywhere. Due to his lack of present physicality, moving him up to Double-A should not be on the cards unless he really goes off.

However, Willits should be in Double-A in 2027 and could even reach Triple-A by the end of that season. This timeline would put him on track to be a big leaguer by the time he is 20 years old, just like he wants. Of course, Willits has to perform for this timeline to work but I am confident in him.

As long as he continues to gain strength, the rest of his game is super well rounded. In the past, the Nats have taken a lot of athletes who needed to become better at baseball. Willits is not like that at all. His baseball skills are elite, he just needs to get stronger. I am excited to follow his journey because I think he will be the next great Nats prospect.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-fans-expect-eli-willits-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals hire Grant Anders as MLB player development coach

The Washington Nationals just made an interesting coaching hire. They made Grant Anders the bullpen catcher, but also an MLB player development coach. That last title is very intriguing and not a position the team had in the previous regime. However, given the youth on the roster it is a worthwhile addition to the coaching staff.

Grant Anders will be joining the Washington Nationals as an MLB development coach and bullpen catcher, per sources.

Spent the last six years with the Baltimore Orioles. Role, broadly speaking, is to work on player development at the major league level.

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) November 29, 2025

Anders is not new to this role either. He was an MLB player development analyst with the Orioles from 2021 until 2024. Then in the 2024 season he became an MLB player development coach for the O’s. After a difficult season in 2025 and staff turnover, Anders was out in Baltimore.

However, Paul Toboni has seen enough in Anders to put him on the MLB staff. Like most people in this new regime, Anders is young. He graduated from Radford in 2018, where he was the director of player development. After that, he immediately started working for MLB organizations. Anders worked for the Royals and Reds before taking a job with the O’s.

He is the epitome of that new school coach that Toboni and Butera seem to love. It is something the Nationals have needed for a while now. The coaching staff was much maligned over the last few years and these changes are the ones many fans have wanted. By making these changes, we can truly evaluate how good the players on the roster are.

While not every team has a full time MLB player development coach, they are becoming more common. Given the youth of the Nats roster, hiring a development coach makes a lot of sense. After all, player development does not just stop when you hit the MLB.

Also worth mentioning that this role does not exist in every org — but given what the Nationals need in the bigs, it makes a lot of sense to add. https://t.co/BP7SMFSkgz

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) November 29, 2025

This is just another sign that this is a new era in DC. Mike Rizzo’s way worked for a long time, but things went stale towards the end. The new leadership is bringing in a totally different philosophy and I am excited to see it.

For years my biggest complaint is that the Nats were not operating like a modern organization and were stuck in the past. Now, they are trying to innovate or at least catch up to where the smartest teams in the league are.

On the surface, this is a fairly insignificant hire. However, Grant Anders is not going to be your average bullpen catcher. He will be in the lab with the players showing them ways to get better. This kind of hands-on coaching is exactly what our young players need. Only time will tell if this experiment works out, but I love the direction Paul Toboni is taking this franchise.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...ire-grant-anders-mlb-player-development-coach

 

[Washington Nationals]

Victor Caratini is an obvious fit for the Washington Nationals

The catcher position remains one of the Washington Nationals biggest needs. Despite bringing back Riley Adams for 2026 and having Keibert Ruiz under contract long term, that is not good enough. There have been suggestions the Nats could run it back with the same catching core, but I do not think that would be a good idea. For me, veteran Victor Caratini would be a perfect fit in DC.

I know Paul Toboni has talked a lot about how players on the roster have another gear to reach, but it would be irresponsible not to make changes behind the plate. The Nats two primary catchers last year, Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams combined for -1.6 fWAR last year. Fangraphs wrote about the catastrophe that was the Nats catching position at one point last year.

Simply put, it was a total disaster last year. Adams and Ruiz were liabilities on both sides of the ball and did not play big league caliber ball. Toboni can talk about internal improvement all he wants, but not all the answers are coming from within. With that in mind, Victor Caratini would be a very good target for the Nats.

Unlike the Nats current crop of catchers, Caratini is solid on both sides of the ball. He has been an above average hitter each of the last two seasons, with wRC+ figures of 112 and 104. Caratini also hit a career high 12 homers despite only playing 114 games.

Victor Caratini has been among the most steady and useful players all year for the Astros. I would prioritize bringing him back in free agency. pic.twitter.com/7Ktyqph39L

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) September 28, 2025

Caratini is far from a star, but he has some strong attributes. He is a switch hitter who is solid from both sides of the plate. Last season, Caratini had a .740 OPS as a right handed hitter and a .726 OPS as a lefty. For his career, he has not had large platoon splits either. Most switch hitters are better from one side, but Caratini is solid from both sides of the plate.

That means he can play against righties or lefties. His suitability to a variety of matchups is a very useful skill. Caratini also has versatility on his side as well. He has split time between catcher, first base and DH over the last couple years. That is not because he is a bad defender either. It is more about getting his bat in the lineup while the Astros play their starting catcher Yainer Diaz.

His ability to fill in at first base or DH is valuable for a Nats team that could use help at both spots. However, Caratini would be brought in mainly to catch. He had a bit of a down year defensively in 2025, but that was the first time he graded out negatively as a defender since 2021. Even in 2025 he was much better defensively than either Ruiz or Adams.

While Caratini was a slight negative as a framer last year, he has historically been very good. Given his track record, he should get back to being at least an average framer which would be a massive upgrade for the Nats.

Victor Caratini’s pitch framing is a work of art pic.twitter.com/nXlvpzIhTl

— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) August 14, 2020

The Nats catcher room is crowded with bodies right now with Drew Millas, Riley Adams and Keibert Ruiz. However, it is not filled with quality. Adams was a non-tender candidate, but he was brought back due to his offensive tools like his bat speed. However, he did come back on a split deal, so it is possible he could be in the Minor Leagues next year.

Ruiz is also a major question mark. His on the field play has been poor, but he is also a major injury risk now. The 27 year old spent the second half of last season battling a nasty concussion. Ruiz suffered two concussions in the matter of a couple weeks. Those head injuries put his future behind the plate at risk.

While Drew Millas has shown promise when he has played, he has never been given a real shot despite the Nats catching woes. Maybe that happens under the new regime, but the fact they brought back Adams is telling. He is also coming off an injury and his production in AAA has not been stellar.

The Nationals need a starting catcher, end of story. Whether it is this offseason or down the road, I have a hard time believing that the future of the position is currently on the roster. At 32, Caratini is unlikely to be the future either, but he will be a good stopgap. He would likely provide the best catching the Nats have had since Yan Gomes.

While I trust Toboni’s plan, I really hope the new regime does not run it back behind the plate. We have seen Ruiz and Adams underwhelm for so long now. At 27 and 29, neither are youngsters anymore either. This is a position the Nats desperately need to upgrade and Victor Caratini would be a good option.

He would not be overly expensive either. A 1-year deal at $10 million or a 2-year deal for about $17 million feel like fair proposals for him. Victor Caratini is far from an elite player but he is so much better than what the Nats have had in recent years. I just want to know what average catcher play looks like again.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/87634/victor-caratini-obvious-fit-for-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals beef up their scouting staff with Desmond McGowan

Paul Toboni is continuing to bolster his front office staff with a heavy emphasis on the draft. He has hired Desmond McGowan from the Mets to lead the Amateur Scouting Department. McGowan comes from an analytics heavy background and will continue the overhaul of the front office.

NEWS: The Washington Nationals are hiring Desmond McGowan to lead their amatuer scouting department. His formal title will be Director, Amateur Acquisitions.

McGowan comes over from the New York Mets where he was the Manager of Data Science with his focus being on the MLB Draft. pic.twitter.com/Y0dZu86SqM

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) November 29, 2025

McGowan actually has a very interesting background that reminds me of Mike DeBartolo. Out of college he worked for the KPMG accounting firm for six years before going into the sports world. He worked as an analytics intern for the NHL before working for the Yankees. After working for the Yankees for a year, he joined the Mets where he worked his way up the organization.

Under David Stearns, McGowan was the analytics voice in the MLB Draft room. Over the past few years, the Mets have actually been very successful in the draft. They have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball at the moment. Guys like Jett Williams, Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Carson Benge are just a few of the top prospects the Mets have drafted in the last few years.

Desmond McGowan was an important member of the Mets draft operation. He led the organizations analytics presence in the MLB Draft https://t.co/yRPok3YkHA

— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) November 30, 2025

They have been getting these top prospects despite not usually picking at the top of the draft. The Mets took McLean in the third round and Tong in the seventh round. AJ Ewing and Jacob Reimer also look like successful fourth round steals as well. The Nats have struggled to find this kind of value in the draft, so poaching a mind like McGowan is very helpful.

While McGowan is technically running the amateur scouting department, he is going to have a lot of help. This front office is heavy on people with experience in the draft room. Of course, Paul Toboni himself comes from an amateur scouting background. Devin Pearson and Justin Horowitz were also scouting directors before coming to DC.

The draft is clearly going to be this front offices baby and something they are going to take a lot of pride in. Given how the last decade of drafts have gone for the Nats, this is something that really excites me. The Nats need to build through the draft first and foremost. Then they can supplement around their homegrown core.

The draft misses are what doomed Rizzo in the end. With the Juan Soto trade, he should have had enough talent to really build something special. However, there is not a ton else around those guys he got in the Soto trade. Instead, there are a lot of maybes. Maybe Dylan Crews or Brady House break out, but that has not happened yet.

This process the new regime is embarking on will take a year or two to fully get rolling, but I am confident that the farm system will look a lot better in 12-18 months. That is where we will see the results first. The farm system will start rolling and then that success will come to the MLB roster. Welcome to DC Desmond McGowan!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ionals-beef-up-scouting-staff-desmond-mcgowan

 

[Washington Nationals]

Does A Slow Moving Market Help Or Hurt The Washington Nationals?

We’ve officially reached the month of December, the busiest month every offseason in terms of free agency signings and high-profile trades. So far, there’s been just one major free agency signing, Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays for 7 years and $210 million, and a cluster of other notable ones, such as Josh Naylor back to the Mariners and Ryan Helsley to the Orioles, but overall, the majority of the best free agent talents are still available for anyone to grab. Like most other clubs, the Nationals have not yet struck on the hot stove, sticking so far to minor league deals, such as RHP Tyler Baum most recently.

Pretty soon, we will have a better understanding of what kind of market it’s going to be this offseason, as early December and the Winter Meetings, which start on December 7th, are often when the offseason really kicks off. Will it be a fast-moving market, where teams are willing to pony up money to grab the top players on their wishlists, and often players will get somewhat overpaid?

Or will it be a long, drawn-out offseason, which can be very frustrating for fans and players alike as teams are unwilling to meet players’ contract demands, and a stalemate ensues? Most importantly for the Nationals, which scenario benefits the most this offseason, as they will look to add talent to the big league roster, but not at the risk of future financial flexibility.

While oftentimes the pace of the market won’t affect the low spending clubs much, as they don’t face much competition for the players they sign anyway, what can happen is that a slow-moving market allows them the opportunity to pounce on a higher-profile player who isn’t getting the contract they are looking for. Take, for example, Kris Bryant signing with the Rockies for 7 years and $182 million in March of 2022, after a work stoppage that went all the way until mid-March and left players desperate to reach deals and get ready for the season.

Another example is Carlos Correa landing with the Twins in March 2022 for 3 years, $105 million, and again in January 2023 after opting out, but having contracts with the Mets and Giants fall through due to failed physicals. Extenuating circumstances can often cause prime opportunities for smaller market clubs to make their moves in free agency, and with a potential slow market as a lockout next offseason looms, the Nationals have a chance to shock the baseball world and make some higher-profile signings than they have in the past few years.

So if the market is moving at a crawl, who could the Nationals potentially target, and when would these signings happen? The names to keep the closest eye on would be tier 2 and 3 free agents who will need to wait for the superstars, such as Kyle Tucker, to find their homes before their market truly develops. Examples of these kinds of players are Ryan O’Hearn, Ha-Seong Kim, and Eugenio Suarez on the hitting side, and Michael King, Lucas Giolito, and Zach Eflin on the pitching side. All of these players will be waiting for the top players on the market to find their homes, but if those players are taking until January or longer to sign a deal, it could lead to the others striking deals earlier in order to prevent waiting too long and not getting their desired contract.

If I were Paul Toboni, my ideal target in a scenario such as this would be Michael King, one of the top right-handed pitchers on the free agent market. While in all likeihood King is going to find a home with a contender of a hefty contract this offseason (Fangraphs projects a 4-year, $88 million deal for him), there is also a plausible scenario where a market fails to materialize for him and a sneaky club such as the Nats is able to snag him on a short term, high AAV contract that would allow him to retest the market next offseason.

If we make it through December and King remains unsigned with little movement in his market, the Nats could make it interesting with a 2-year, $26 million AAV contract with an opt out after year 1, giving the Nats a frontline starter that they can ride for half a season and then either flip at the deadline for prospects, or hold onto if they are surprisingly contending.

From the perspective of a baseball fan, a slow-moving free agency market is no fun, as it is drawn out and lacks the chaos that makes the average winter memorable. From the perspective of Nats fans, however, a slow-moving free agency market could be exactly what the ballclub needs in order to make some surprise signings they otherwise would not be able to. Nothing is guaranteed, but the longer it takes for the top free agent dominoes to fall, the higher the likelihood of one of the bigger dominoes falling in the Nats’ favor.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ving-market-help-or-hurt-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Can Washington Nationals Daylen Lile carry his 2025 momentum into 2026?

Daylen Lile just celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday. This past year has been a big one for Lile, who has gone from a sleeper prospect to a foundational piece of the Nationals future. His ridiculous second half run this season captivated fans and gave him a top five finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Daylen Lile finished 5th for NL Rookie of the Year. He's the first Nationals player to receive ROY votes since Victor Robles in 2019, the first Nationals player to receive votes for any BBWAA award since Juan Soto (MVP runner-up) in 2021.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) November 11, 2025

Going into 2025, Daylen Lile was just another prospect competing for a spot in the crowded Nationals outfield. Honestly, he was on the outside looking in. Lile had a decent season in 2024, splitting time between High-A and Double-A. However, he was nothing special, with a .262 average and a .735 OPS. He was looking like a tweener, who was a nice hitter, but did not really have a standout skill.

That changed in 2025 though. He came out of the gates red hot in Double-A, hitting .319 with an .845 OPS in 21 games at the level before getting promoted. Lile had become a top 10 prospect in the system and put his name firmly on the team’s radar.

The crazy thing was that he got even better when he was promoted to Triple-A. In the 17 games he played in Rochester before getting promoted, Lile was hitting an insane .361. When Jacob Young and Dylan Crews went down in late May, he gave the Nats no choice but to promote him.

However, things were bumpy at first. Lile played in 11 games, where he only hit .194 before being demoted back to AAA. The at bats looked solid and he did not look overmatched, but the results were not there. With not much AAA seasoning, it made sense to send him back down.

That second stint in AAA was short lived though. He was only there for a week before coming back to the big leagues for good. Again, it was a slow burn at first, but Lile started to get better and better. Even when he struggled, the underlying numbers suggested a turnaround was coming.

That turnaround came in a big way during the second half of the season, especially in September. Lile was just mashing in his second half run. He hit .333 with a .956 OPS after the All-Star Break.

Daylen Lile also became the king of the triple. He hit 11 of them this season, which tied the Nats franchise record. In the Minors, he was also a triple master, hitting 25 of them in his MILB career. This ability makes a lot of sense given his play style. The 2021 second round pick has a knack for hitting balls in the gap and his 92nd percentile sprint speed allows him to fly around the bases.

With his 11th triple of the year, Daylen Lile has tied Denard Span for the most triples in a season in Nationals history (2005-pres.). pic.twitter.com/dmf9lXS2Ol

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) September 20, 2025

I would not be surprised at all if Lile breaks the Nats single season record for triples and could break the franchise record if he is around long enough. Right now Trea Turner has the most triples in Nationals history with 32, so Lile is already over a third of the way there. If you include the Expos, the record is 82, which is held by Tim Raines.

That 82 is a lofty goal, but if Lile plays for the Nats over the next decade, this could be possible. It is so exciting to see him fly around the bases and use that crazy speed. The next step for Lile is to translate that speed into defensive ability. Despite that athleticism, Lile posted -8 OAA last year and looked uncomfortable in the outfield.

However, given his youth and athleticism, I have faith that he can become at least an average defensive outfielder. That will be a big task for the next regime. Despite all of his offensive greatness, Lile posted a good but not great 1.4 fWAR last year.

Speaking of that offensive greatness, Lile’s numbers looked great by the end of the season. He was agonizingly close to .300, hitting .299 on the season and posted an .845 OPS. Lile’s average was actually above .300 before falling below it on the last day of the season. He is still young and has all the skills to be a .300 hitter though.

That final day of the season might have been Lile’s only underwhelming game all month in September. He was a menace down the stretch, winning NL Rookie of the Month and player of the month. The only player with a higher wRC+ than him in September was Aaron Judge. Lile was also third in WAR for the month behind Judge and Cal Raleigh.

The only player with both a higher wRC+ and fWAR than Daylen Lile in September? Aaron Judge.

What a breakout for the Nationals rookie! pic.twitter.com/xauORJDAVl

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 28, 2025

His September stats are just absurd. Lile hit .391 with 6 homers, 7 triples and a 1.212 OPS. Just night after night, Lile was a hero for the Nats. It was the most exciting month by a Nats player since at least Kyle Schwarber’s June in 2021.

Going forward, I have faith that Lile will be an excellent hitter for the Nats. While that September is not sustainable, his success from this year is no fluke. His xWOBA of .347 was in the 80th percentile of all hitters and not much lower than his .360 wOBA. So maybe Lile is due to cool down a bit, but the numbers suggest he is a very good hitter.

That .299 batting average should be where Lile lives as well. His expected batting average was actually higher than his real batting average at .305. That is due to his elite angles. Lile’s launch angle sweet spot percentage is in the 100th percentile. What that means is that he is hitting the ball at an optimal angle super often. He hits a ton of line drives and can pull flyballs as well.

While Lile’s exit velocities are far from elite, he still has some power due to those angles. He pulls the ball in the air over 20% of the time, which leads to him outslugging his exit velocities. Lile is likely never going to be a 25 plus homer guy, he has the skills to hit 18-20 as he matures.

However, Lile’s game is not about home runs. At his core, Lile is a line drive hitter who makes a ton of contact. He can drive the ball all around the yard, but is also a threat with that power. His style of hitting makes him so exciting to watch. This is only the beginning for Daylen Lile and I hope he is a National for a long time.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ationals-daylen-lile-carry-2025-momentum-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals stars CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore among Jeff Passan’s top trade candidates

There have been rumblings about the Nationals potentially making big moves to shake up their core this offseason. The two names that are mentioned most often as trade candidates are MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams. Jeff Passan, the top MLB insider, put both on his most recent trade board and gave some interesting information about both.

In this board, Passan also put percentages on whether a player gets moved. Interestingly, Abrams is seen as having a slightly higher chance of being moved than Gore. Passan put Abrams trade odds at 35%, while Gore is seen as having a 30% chance of being moved.

New Jeff Passan article said that Gore has a 30% chance of being traded, mentioning the trade deadline as potentially being a more likely time for him to be moved. Surprisingly, CJ Abrams had a higher 35% chance of being moved.

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) December 2, 2025

This is surprising to me because it has always felt like Gore has been the more likely of the two to be moved. He is closer to free agency than Abrams and is also represented by Scott Boras, making an extension less likely. Despite this, Passan is relatively bearish on his chances of being moved in the offseason.

However, Passan does believe that Gore will be traded at some point, but pointed out that a lot of executives think the move could happen at this upcoming trade deadline. This makes sense, but it would be a risky decision for the Nats.

There are a couple benefits of waiting until the deadline to move Gore. Paul Toboni may believe that his development team could unlock a new level in Gore’s game which would raise his value. Also, as pitchers go down and teams push for the playoffs, the desperation to make a move intensifies. Gore also tends to start seasons well, which would raise his value because the end of last season likely gives other teams a bad taste.

There are also plenty of other pitchers that are better than Gore on Passan’s trade board. Names like Joe Ryan, Hunter Greene and Freddy Peralta are on his list. If you wait for the deadline and Gore has a strong start, he could be the biggest name on the market at the deadline.

The % chance of top players being traded this offseason according to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel:

10% – Tarik Skubal / Hunter Greene
25% – Freddy Peralta / Steven Kwan / Yandy Diaz
30% – MacKenzie Gore / Kris Bubic
35% – Byron Buxton / CJ Abrams
40% – Ketel Marte
50% – Joe… pic.twitter.com/O9vLwqIcsg

— AT (@YankeeWRLD) December 2, 2025

This is also risky though because pitchers are volatile. If Gore gets hurt, that value just goes up in smoke. He has also been an inconsistent pitcher in his career, so betting on him being good is another risk. You can get value right now if you trade him. However, if you wait and things go poorly, that value can really depreciate.

Passan also mentioned that the potential of a lockout could impact Gore’s market because 2027 is his walk year. The teams he mentioned as fits are the O’s, the Yankees, the D-Backs, the Rangers and the Giants. He also said that Paul Toboni has also held discussions with teams already.

On the CJ Abrams front, I am actually quite surprised that Passan said he has a 35% chance of being moved. That feels a bit high to me, but hey, I am not a well-connected MLB insider. It is a surprise because Abrams has three years of team control remaining and could be an extension candidate.

However, if a move were to happen those two things would be enticing for teams. That cheap team control is why smaller market teams like the Pirates, the Royals and the Guardians are mentioned as candidates for Abrams.

One thing that really fascinated me was just something that Passan mentioned in passing in his writeup on Abrams. He floated the idea of moving Abrams to center field, which I had not really thought about much before. Abrams is an obvious position change candidate due to his poor defense at shortstop. However, the position I had always thought about moving him to was second base. The Nats crowded outfield is probably why the idea of moving him to center field never really occurred to me.

At 35% though, Passan still thinks there is a good chance Abrams does not get moved, so this is no slam dunk. He mentioned in the piece that the Nats are in no rush to move him. However, he did indicate that if a team were willing to pay a premium for him the Nats would pull the trigger. In the end, I don’t think he gets moved, but this will be an interesting storyline to follow.

The totally insane scenario would be Paul Toboni packaging Abrams and Gore in the same package. Earlier in the offseason Passan actually floated that idea. He did not mention it in this story, but crazier things have happened. After all, it would be much less surprising than when the Nats packaged Scherzer and Turner.

Rival execs expect the Nationals to trade MacKenzie Gore this offseason, per @JeffPassan. Teams are also gauging the cost for CJ Abrams. A Gore/Abrams package? The Nats could be at the center of a major shake-up. pic.twitter.com/xiIb9GKpKy

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) November 18, 2025

The Giants were mentioned as fits for both Gore and Abrams, but I do not think they have the prospect capital to get both players. With how much it would take to get both, a double deal probably does not happen but it is worth keeping in the back of your mind.

So far the Nats offseason has been eerily quiet. However, this could just be the calm before the storm. Jeff Passan seems to believe there is a solid chance that the Nationals really shake things up this offseason. Based on how last season went, I would not blame Paul Toboni for doing that.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/nat...-mackenzie-gore-jeff-passans-trade-candidates

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals hire a first base coach with an interesting back story

The Washington Nationals made another coaching hire and like the previous ones, this hire is fascinating. Corey Ray was hired to be the team’s first base coach. At 31 years old, he continues the Nats trend of hiring young. Before this, Ray was the Cubs base running coordinator.

Coaching staff news: Corey Ray will be the Nationals first base coach, per source.

Comes from the Chicago Cubs player development system, where he was their ACL manager and the org’s baserunning coordinator.

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) December 1, 2025

However, this is not the most interesting part about Corey Ray. I am more fascinated by his backstory. If you are a real baseball nerd, the name Corey Ray might ring a bell. It should, because Ray was the 5th overall pick by the Brewers out of the University of Louisville. He was seen as a potential five tool star coming out of college.

The bat never quite came around for Ray, which made him a first round bust. He consistently struck out over 30% of the time in the Minors. Despite that, Ray still made the MLB, but only for one game. In that game, he went 0/2 with a walk. Now as a coach, Ray finally has a chance to make his mark in the MLB.

Despite the strikeout problems, Ray was always known as a smart player. He was one of those guys who teammates could see going into coaching one day. Ray did just that after he ended his coaching career. He became a manager in Rookie Ball for the Cubs and then also took over as base running coordinator.

Corey Ray was a top draft prospect. A speed & power guy at Louisville. During his college days, he was known to keep detailed notes and was considered a real student of the game. Curtis Granderson was a mentor and offseason workout partner when Ray was in college. Many people… https://t.co/MiC07cRxmi

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) December 1, 2025

Last season, the Cubs were actually third in base running runs with a positive 8. The Nats were neutral at 0 base running runs, which feels high to me given all of the base running mistakes the team made.

Being part of the base running plan tends to be a big part of the first base coach’s job. A good example of that actually came from the Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson. He helped the slow-footed Juan Soto steal 38 bases last year.

It is my belief that there is a lot of meat left on the bone for Nats players as base stealers. There is no reason someone as fast as Jacob Young should have 15 steals to 11 caught steals. When JY came into the league he was impossible to catch, but that part of his game has regressed. CJ Abrams best base stealing season came in 2023, before Gerardo Parra arrived as well.

Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews are other players who I think can steal a lot of bases given their speed. The Nats actually have a lot of team speed, but it has not been harnessed properly. They were either overly aggressive or just did not pick their spots properly on the bases. It also seemed like they were getting poor jumps a lot last year. In 2024, these guys started getting caught a lot and it caused them to start second guessing themselves.

Maybe Corey Ray, the first round bust can help change things on the bases for the Nats. With a lack of true star power on the roster, this team is going to have to win on the margins. Base running is one way they can do that. Hopefully Corey Ray can help the Nats win on the margins.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...-hire-first-base-coach-interesting-back-story

 

[Washington Nationals]

Three Washington Nationals prospects who could bounce back in 2026

The top guys in the Nationals 2024 draft class had a rocky season last year. Seaver King and Luke Dickerson were major disappointments, while Caleb Lomavita was fine, but nothing special. However, with a new player development team coming in, these guys have another chance to prove themselves and could reach new heights in their development.

Let’s start with King, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2024 class. In my opinion, this is probably going to be a pick that the Nationals regret due to some of the names they passed on. Bryce Rainer, Cam Smith and Trey Yesavage are among the notable names taken in the next 10 picks. However, I still believe King has a chance to be a useful big leaguer despite the .631 OPS he posted in his first full professional season.

Seaver King is a tremendous athlete who can run like the wind and has strong secondary tools. He can play a number of positions, though he has settled in at shortstop in pro ball. King has actually done a nice job at shortstop and projects to be at least an average defender there.

There are offensive tools here as well. King has good raw power and bat to ball skills. However, his poor approach and ground ball heavy diet undercut a lot of these strengths. After a fantastic stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he tweaked his swing with the help of top prospect Kevin McGonigle, there is more hope for King heading into 2026.

Former Nationals first rounder Seaver King lines one at 101 to the RCF gap and hustles into 3B for a triple. King has displayed an impressive combination of power and speed this fall. Chance to develop into an everyday player for WAS down the line. #PLiveAFL @ProspectsLive pic.twitter.com/RyXdfUgCJm

— Jacob_Maxwell (@Jacob_Maxwell14) October 31, 2025

However, this is a massive year for the former first rounder. King needs to prove he can hit high minors pitching and that his stint in the AFL was more than a flash in the pan. Hopefully the new regime can also help him cut down on the chase and ground balls. The offensive warts likely prevent Seaver King from being a star, but the new regime and the AFL give me more optimism. He should start next season back in AA.

Coming into the 2025 season there was a ton of buzz around Luke Dickerson. The Nats made Dickerson the richest second round pick of all time when they paid him $3.8 million to buy out his UVA commitment.

Dickerson is another high end athlete with a ton of tools. He has big time power and speed. Dickerson has also shown a feel for hitting at times as well. Early in the season things were going well for him in rookie ball and early in his Low-A stint.

My 8th pick in the #ToolshedMock Industry Prospect Mock Draft:

8.13: SS Luke Dickerson (WSH)

Signed for first round money in the 2nd round in 2024 draft, Dickerson's pro debut was underwhelming, but he has an exciting power/speed combo if the contact can improve

Took a bet on… pic.twitter.com/4McSGF96VY

— Owen Hurd (@Owen_FBB) October 23, 2025

However, after being rushed back from a hand injury and also having some holes in his game exposed, Dickerson’s stats went downhill. He only hit .208 with a .641 OPS for the season. Obviously that is not good enough and things will need to pick up for the 20 year old.

However, with a new development team there is still reason to hold out some hope here. Dickerson was not a full time baseball player until turning pro. He was a high level high school hockey player who spent his winters doing that. It makes sense why he would be on the raw side.

This is a big year for Dickerson though. There are a lot of young middle infielders in the system. If he does not perform next year, he will be passed by guys like Coy James, Angel Feliz and Marconi German. He has swing and miss in his game, but the strikeout rate is not totally out of control either, sitting just under 25% for the season. Dickerson also walked at a 12.5% clip last season. We will need to see his raw power translate into more home runs, but experience and further development should help with that.

He plays shortstop right now, but should move to either second base or the outfield. Right now, Luke Dickerson is very much a project. However, he is still a fairly exciting project despite the down year in 2025.

Out of the Nats top 3 picks in the 2025 draft, Caleb Lomavita put up the best numbers. He hit .275 with a .714 OPS across two levels. The athletic catcher makes a lot of loud contact, but like King, he hits the ball on the ground a lot.

The .714 OPS may not sound overly impressive, but he played in a very pitcher friendly environment for most of the season. His OPS in High-A was .703, but his wRC+ was 112. In his 9 game sample in AA, Lomavita actually hit the ground running, hitting .273 with an .836 OPS. He also hit two homers in AA, compared to only hitting 4 in 99 High-A games.

Caleb Lomavita solo homer

@braddahcaleb pic.twitter.com/ks4U3P8WAZ

— Wilmington Blue Rocks (@WilmBlueRocks) May 23, 2025

Lomavita is another guy who the development team will be trying to unlock more power from. The raw exit velocity data is there for him, but that has not translated to over the fence power.

As a catcher, defense is even more important than the bat. Right now that is a mixed bag for Lomavita. He has the tools to be a good catcher and has a big arm, but the consistency leaves a lot to be desired. Lomavita made 21 errors behind the plate last year. For him to stick at the position, that simply has to get a lot better.

By all accounts, he has the leadership skills teams love from their catchers. However, there is a lot of refinement that is still needed. Like all of these guys, there is an intriguing tool kit here, but there are still a lot of big holes.

The big question for all of these guys is how much will this new regime be able to help them. Are these three players just a tweak away from breaking out or were they just bad evaluations from the previous regime? 2026 will be the year where we get a much clearer idea of the answer to that question.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...on-nationals-prospects-could-bounce-back-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

What Washington Nationals fans should watch for from Paul Toboni at the Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings start this Sunday, and it could kickstart the Nationals offseason. Every year the most powerful baseball figures meet for a few days in a sunny location (this year it is Orlando) and discuss what is going on in the offseason. This is often where we see some major fireworks and big time deals.

The Winter Meetings are less than a week away!

Drop your predictions below pic.twitter.com/sZRSNULihV

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 1, 2025

Every year there seems to be a major splash at the Winter Meetings. Last year, it was during the meetings when Juan Soto signed with the Mets. This year we could see names like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette come off the board, though likely not to the Nats.

However, we could see plenty of Nats action at the meetings. This is the first Winter Meetings for Paul Toboni, at least as the main man in DC. He has a lot of things on his plate entering this next pivotal week. The Nats have yet to sign an MLB free agent, so this could be the chance for him to get on the board. We have discussed names like Willi Castro, Victor Caratini and Emilio Pagan as potential fits.

There is also the matter of the trade market. Yesterday, we got an update on the MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams market from MLB insider Jeff Passan. This next week could be when we see a potential Gore trade. Passan said the Nats have been talking to multiple teams about Gore, though the asking price remains high. However, the Winter Meetings could be the time where we see them pull the trigger.

Nationals Have Discussed MacKenzie Gore With Multiple Clubs https://t.co/BHkQZV9eiD pic.twitter.com/fRtBwIi5ev

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) December 2, 2025

Another part of the Winter Meetings is the Rule 5 Draft. That comes on Wednesday, the 10th, towards the end of the meetings. Given the state of the Nats roster, it is highly likely that the Nats make a pick. We wrote about a few names they could consider selecting.

For an analytics guy like Toboni, the Rule 5 Draft is a real chance for him to show off. It is a great way to find diamonds in the rough. Executives love nothing more than finding hidden gems. There are a few relievers Toboni is probably looking at closely. Catcher Daniel Susac is also a name to watch.

Zach McCambley's performance in the upper minors this year could prompt a club to consider him for 2026

His slider produced a 51% miss rate with a 34% chase rate

More players to keep tabs on in this year's Rule 5 draft: https://t.co/cb7JLV4tMG pic.twitter.com/ZE0VDcdw7q

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) December 3, 2025

It has been a quiet offseason for the Nats so far, at least on the player side of things. There has been a continual drip of coaching and front office hires. However, not much has happened on the player acquisition side of things.

I have a feeling that will change either at the Winter Meetings or in the days following the event. At the end of the day, the Nats need to improve their roster. The team went 66-96 last season and the payroll is still very low. At least some money should be available and I am interested to see how Toboni allocates it.

Given the lack of player acquisitions, there are still a lot of unknowns with Toboni. He has talked about building a scouting and player development monster, but what kinds of players is he looking for? We still are not totally sure how he values the players currently on the roster either.

He has talked about how a lot of players on the roster have another gear to reach, but there still needs to be an infusion of talent. This team is not close to good enough, even if you project internal improvement. I am excited to see how Paul Toboni improves this roster externally. The Winter Meetings should give us a better idea of how he wants to go about doing that.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ionals-fans-watch-paul-toboni-winter-meetings

 

[Washington Nationals]

Could Ryan O’Hearn solve the Washington Nationals first base problem?

It is no secret that the first base position has been a problem for the Washington Nationals. The team thought they had solved their dilemma, at least for two years when they brought in Nathaniel Lowe. However, that move did not work out, which means the Nats are back to the drawing board at the cold corner.

One name that was brought up by MLB.com as a perfect fit is Ryan O’Hearn. That is a name that really intrigues me. I agree that he would be a very good fit in DC for a few reasons that I will get into. O’Hearn has been one of the more underrated players in baseball over the last three seasons and is hitting the market coming off of a strong 2025 campaign.

O’Hearn set career highs in home runs and RBI’s, but this was no fluke season. He has had an OPS above .760 in each of the last three seasons and has been a baseball savant darling. His underlying numbers are always very strong, and this year was no different.

Really hope the #Dbacks take a good, hard look at Ryan O'Hearn.

Versatile, solid bat who can play 1B/OF/DH. pic.twitter.com/PZG98LQaYm

— SleeperDiamondbacks (@SleeperDbacks) November 3, 2025

The biggest thing that changed this year was O’Hearn getting more opportunities to face left handed pitching. In Baltimore, he was used almost exclusively against right handed pitching. This year things changed a bit though. He had 97 at bats against lefties, more than the last two seasons combined.

O’Hearn took advantage of those chances, hitting .278 with an .832 OPS against southpaws. His OPS against lefties was actually higher than it was against righties. This ability to play every day makes O’Hearn much more valuable than he would otherwise be. That ability to be in the lineup everyday led to O’Hearn being an All-Star for the first time in his career.

While the bat is the big selling point for him, O’Hearn also provides value in the field. He posted 5 outs above average last season and has done well in the field for two of the last three seasons. O’Hearn mostly plays first base, but has shown he can hold his own in the corner outfield as well. Last season, he played 75 games at 1B, 49 at DH, 21 in RF and 2 in LF.

For the Nats, O’Hearn would be an everyday first baseman, but that versatility is an added bonus. At 32 years old, he would also be a veteran in the clubhouse. Most of his success has come recently, but he would be a good role model for young players. O’Hearn struggled in the MLB for a while before finally breaking through in Baltimore at 29 years old. He would be a good player to learn from.

The offensive production is what the Nats would be buying though. O’Hearn is one of four first baseman with at least a .270 average and 10% walk rate since 2024. The other three are Bryce Harper, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Freddie Freeman. Obviously, he is not on the level of those other three, but it shows you how solid O’Hearn has been in recent years.

The only 1B with at least a .270 AVG and 10% BB rate since 2024:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Freddie Freeman
Bryce Harper
Ryan O’Hearn pic.twitter.com/ifE0j5CWB1

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) November 17, 2025

Like a lot of the free agents we have discussed, O’Hearn wouldn’t be overly pricey. It would take more than the Nats have spent in recent years, but it also would not be a mega-deal either. A 2-year $28 million deal or 3-year $36 million deal would make sense for both sides.

Ryan O’Hearn is not a flashy option like Pete Alonso, but he is a realistic target. This is still a highly productive player and should be the best first baseman the Nats have had in a while. Then again, we did say the same thing about Nathaniel Lowe. First baseman without truly elite power can be risky as we saw with Lowe. However, I am willing to bet that O’Hearn’s production continues to stay strong. That is why I think he would be a good option for the Nats.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...solve-washington-nationals-first-base-problem

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals hire Grayson Crawford from the Mets to be Director of Pitching

There has been a steady flow of front office and coaching staff hires over the last few weeks. As these positions get filled, we get an idea of how things will be run under Paul Toboni. This latest hire caught my eye though. The Nationals hired Grayson Crawford from the Mets to be the Director of Pitching in the organization.

The Washington Nationals are hiring Grayson Crawford as director of pitching, league sources said. Crawford has worked for the Mets the last couple of seasons, first as Triple A pitching coach and most recently as assistant pitching coordinator.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) December 4, 2025

This is a hire that really fires me up because pitching development is something I love to explore. There is so much information about pitchers and different ways organizations can unlock their talent. At the end of the Mike Rizzo era, the Nats were starting to become sharper on the pitching development side of things, but this hire will take it to the next level.

Crawford is very highly respected in the industry as a pitching mind. He has worked in the Mets and Yankees organizations. Both are very good at developing pitchers. People who are tapped into both organizations love this hire for the Nats.

Might be my favorite hire so far. Crawford has gotten to work under the very best in the industry, Sam Briend, when he was with the Yankees. Mets as well are in the upper echelon of pitcher development. This is huge for the farm. https://t.co/uhxqn47aj8

— Aaron Lichstrahl (@AJ_Lich) December 4, 2025

Over the last couple of years, the Mets have really stepped up their Minor League pitching development. Nolan McLean went from a two-way player drafted in the third round to a future front of the rotation arm in just a couple years. Jonah Tong went from a 7th round pick to a top 50 prospect. There have been a lot of success stories on the farm while Crawford has been with the Mets.

Crawford spent his first season in the Mets organization as the Triple-A pitching coach. After impressing in that role, he was promoted to assistant pitching coordinator. Now he is coming to DC to be the director of the Nats pitching development.

Before coming to the Mets, Crawford was a Minor League pitching coach with the Yankees for a couple years. He left a strong impression while he was there. The Yankees actually picked him up from the college ranks. Crawford was a pitching coach at Lipscomb University for a couple years.

Like a lot of these new Nats coaches, Crawford played baseball, but not at the highest level. He played at both Southern Arkansas University and Stillman College before starting his coaching career. Crawford is a grandpa compared to most other Nats coaches, graduating college in 2010.

Grayson Crawford played for Southern Arkansas University's baseball team before transferring to Stillman College as a catcher. Most recently, he was the New York Mets' Triple-A pitching coach for the Syracuse Mets in 2024 then the Mets promoted Crawford to Minor League… https://t.co/elT6gaTQ3x

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) December 4, 2025

This could be a hire that pays immediate dividends for the Nats. Seemingly small tweaks in a pitcher’s arsenal or mechanics can make them a totally different pitcher. Given his track record, Crawford should be very helpful for the Nats Minor League arms.

Not only will Crawford help the top arms like Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora, but he could unlock some hidden gems. The Nats took two high upside high school arms in Landon Harmon and Miguel Sime. I am very excited to see what Crawford can do with those guys. There should also be a couple more under the radar prospects that break out because of this hire.

There have been a lot of young, but inexperienced people hired by the Nats under Paul Toboni. However, this hire is different and seems like a home run. Crawford is a guy who has risen quickly through the Mets and Yankees organizations. Make no mistake about it, this is not a cheap hire.

For so long I have been begging for the Nats to be innovators. Now that finally seems to be happening. Hires like this are going to improve the Nats farm system drastically. The big league success may not come right away, but I feel confident that the organization is heading in the right direction.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...ayson-crawford-from-mets-director-of-pitching

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals’ Beltway Rivals May Actually Be A Perfect Fit For MacKenzie Gore

With the Winter Meetings fast approaching, the big question that looms for the Nationals is the fate of LHP MacKenzie Gore, and whether he will start the 2026 season in DC, or with another ball club. So far, rumors have been kept to a minimum, with the possibility of a Gore trade still being about 50/50 according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post.

A while back, I explored what a potential MacKenzie Gore to Milwaukee trade would look like, with the Nats getting 2 top 100 prospects and 2 other solid prospects in return. While I may have overshot Gore’s value a little, something which just about every Brewers fan on Twitter let me hear about, I do think the headline of that package, SS Cooper Pratt and RHP Logan Henderson, was just about right: a backend top 50 prospect and a backend top 100 prospect.

With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at another potential landing spot for MacKenzie Gore this offseason, this one a much shorter trip for him just up the Beltway. The Orioles have already gotten to work this winter building a playoff contender after a disappointing 2025 season in which they finished 75-87, last place in the AL East. While the addition of Taylor Ward in left field and Ryan Helsley in the bullpen are both strong moves, the reality for the Orioles is that to get where they want to go, the rotation needs to seriously improve.

While there are still some solid pitching options on the free agent market, such as Framber Valdez and Michael King, the Orioles may look to explore the trade market for their big fish this winter, as they may need to pocket some cash for when it’s time to offer big extensions to young core pieces such as Gunnar Henderson or Adley Rutschman. Let’s take a look at what the Orioles have to offer in terms of prospects when it comes to a MacKenzie Gore trade.

The Untouchables

C/1B Samuel Basallo (#2 in BAL, #7 in MLB)

2B Jackson Holliday

While Samuel Basallo would be a dream come true for the Nats, being able to immediately step in at either first base or catcher for them, and boasting maybe the best hit tool/power combination of any prospect in baseball, he likely is untouchable in the eyes of the Orioles, as they’ve had the opportunity for years now to move him for stud pitching and still have not.

While Holliday’s big league career hasn’t started quite as smoothly as most imagined, he showed significant strides at the plate in his second year and first full season, raising his wRC+ by 34 points, up to 96, and blasting 17 home runs. Still just 22 years old, it’s extremely hard to imagine a world where the Orioles move Holliday unless it’s for an ace better than Gore that they would have for multiple years.

The Likely Headliners

OF Dylan Beavers (#1 in BAL, #83 in MLB)

1B Coby Mayo

The issue with the Orioles as a match in a MacKenzie Gore trade is that they either have prospects too good to be traded for Gore, not good enough to be a headliner in a Gore trade, or if they are a fit, like outfielder Dylan Beaver is, they play a position already filled to the brim with young talent on the Nats. Beavers, the 2nd-ranked prospect in the Orioles system and the 83rd-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, showed great promise in his first cup of coffee at the big league level, posting a 125 wRC+ in 35 games.

Beavers is set to be the starting right fielder for the O’s in 2026, but with the addition of Taylor Ward moving Tyler O’Neill to the bench, they could afford to move Beavers for pitching, as they have someone to immediately take his place. The issue of Beavers as a headliner for the Nats is that there simply isn’t room in the outfield for all the talent they have, with James Wood, Dylan Crews, and Daylen Lile all locked into spots. Perhaps Beavers could take over RF and move Lile to DH, but it would seem unwise to relegate any of the young outfielders to a hitting-only role this young in their careers.

AAA hitters u24 with a >10% BB%, .800+ OPS, & .200+ ISO in '25:

– Owen Caissie
– Dylan Beavers
– Kevin Alcántara

Each of their Steamer projected HR totals:

– Caissie (9)
– Beavers (10)️
– Alcántara (3) pic.twitter.com/FxQc1KoKQH

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) December 4, 2025

Coby Mayo, like Holliday, looked abysmal in his first big league stint in 2024, but made significant strides in year 2, posting a 95 wRC+ and hitting 11 home runs in 85 games. He’s continued to struggle with strikeouts in the majors, posting a 28.6% strikeout rate in 2025, but was able to tap into his power much more consistently, offsetting the issue at least somewhat. The 24-year-old Mayo has serious power potential, but also real bust risk because of the swing and miss, and the Orioles may be in a position where they would rather roll with the more sure thing, 1B Ryan Mountcastle, than the volatile Mayo.

The Packages Finishers

RHP Trey Gibson (#12 in BAL)

C/OF Ike Irish (#3 in BAL)

SS Wehiwa Aloy (#5 in BAL)

RHP Esteban Mejia (#7 in BAL)

LHP Boston Bateman (#9 in BAL)

C Caden Bodine (#10 in BAL)

With Beavers or Mayo as the headliner in a return for MacKenzie Gore, it still would require likely 2 or so prospects from this list to get a deal across the finish line. It’s hard to know what Toboni is targeting in Gore trade talks, but a mix of pitching and catching would be what I expect. On the pitching side, Gibson may seem out of place at the top of this list as the Orioles #12 ranked prospect, but in reality, he’s a borderline top 100 prospect on many publications (including 95th on my own list from back in August). His struggles in his short stint at Triple A to end the year prevent him from being in the headliner category, but Gibson has flashed mid-rotation upside and could debut as soon as 2026.

Full article on Trey Gibson coming this weekend. Unbelievably nasty stuff – this is the sinker he mentioned having added a mere 2 months ago! Perfectly placed backdoor paint, making Jacob Amaya look absolutely foolish. https://t.co/nJnRaoa89w pic.twitter.com/CVKXGDpHrF

— Prospect Savant (@ProspectSavant) August 22, 2025

Esteban Mejia and Boston Bateman have one thing in common on the mound, and it’s that they have an intimidating presence and big-time potential. The 18-year-old Mejia stands at 6’3” and throws 102 MPH, immediately reminding me of how Jarlin Susana looked when the Nats first acquired him. Bateman, a second-round pick out of high school last year by the Padres who was traded to the Orioles at this year’s trade deadline, stands at 6’8” and attacks hitters with a gross fastball/slider combination. Neither is as close to the big leagues as Gibson is, but both have ceilings maybe just as high or higher.

As for the bats, Irish, Aloy, and Bodine were all taken in this year’s MLB Draft by the Orioles with their record-high bonus pool, and there’s a good chance one of them could join the Nats in a potential Gore to Baltimore trade. Irish is the highest rated of the trio, and could be a target for the Nationals if he is able to stick at catcher. Unfortunately, he is likely destined for a corner outfield spot, and he struggled at the plate in his first stint of professional baseball after the draft.

Aloy, the 2025 Golden Spikes winner in college baseball, looked sharp in his first pro ball stint, posting a 147 wRC+ in 20 games at Low A. He grades out as a solid defender at shortstop and has plus power potential, but his ability to limit strikeouts will determine how far he goes, as he struck out nearly 28% of the time in his time at Low A.

Bodine doesn’t have the offensive potential of the first 2, but he may be the most impressive defensively, grading as a plus defender behind the dish. He also wasn’t a slouch at the plate in college or his first chance in the minors, posting a 133 wRC+ in a short 11-game stint at Low A. What worries me about Bodine is that his best defensive skill in college was his framing ability, but with the ABS challenge system on the way to the major leagues, that skill is no longer as valued as it would have been. Still, Bodine could be a huge boost for an organization with a severe lack of catching talent.

Mock Trade 1

Orioles Receive:

LHP MacKenzie Gore

Nationals Receive:

OF Dylan Beavers (#2 in BAL, #63 in MLB)*

RHP Trey Gibson (#3 in BAL, #96 in MLB)*

C Caden Bodine (#10 in BAL)

Mock Trade 2

Orioles Receive:

LHP MacKenzie Gore

LHP Jose A. Ferrer

Nationals Receive:

1B Coby Mayo

RHP Trey Gibson (#3 in BAL, #96 in MLB)

RHP Esteban Mejia (#7 in BAL)

C Caden Bodine (#10 in BAL)

*MLB Top 100 Rankings for this portion via Just Baseball due to it being more recently updated than MLB Pipeline’s list

This time, I’m going with 2 mock trades, one with just Gore heading to Baltimore, and another with Jose A. Ferrer joining him on the trip. Ferrer has true closer potential and is close to unlocking it, but the Nationals are not at the point in the rebuild where they need to hoard good relievers, and the Orioles could use all the pitching help they can get.

If the Nats send only Gore in the deal, I think Dylan Beavers and Trey Gibson are the most likely package headliners. Beavers could slot into RF or DH for the Nats on Opening Day in 2026 and be an immediate lineup boost, while Gibson could be in the Nats rotation as soon as mid-2026. Bodine rounds out the deal as a defence-first catching prospect who would compete with Caleb Lomavita for the title of Nationals’ future catcher.

With Ferrer in the deal, I think the Nats could steal Mayo away from the Orioles, as they would be boosting both their rotation and bullpen and have a backup plan at first base to take his place. I think Gibson is a must in any Gore to Baltimore trade, and thus, he makes his way into this package as well. Bodine is in this deal as well for me, but the other new addition is Esteban Mejia, who I think has the potential to blossom into a top 100 prospect the same way Susana did after joining the Nationals.

While the Orioles aren’t my preferred destination for MacKenzie Gore, as I think some other farm systems stack up better for the Nats, I do believe they are one of the most likely landing spots for him. The talent the Orioles have to offer isn’t bad either, as Beavers and Mayo both could become middle of the lineup sluggers, and Gibson looks like a sure-fire mid-rotation starter to me. What we know for sure is that Gore’s future in DC is about to become much more clear at this years Winter Meetings.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...-may-actually-be-a-perfect-fit-mackenzie-gore

 

[Washington Nationals]

MLB Draft 2026: MLB Pipeline releases their initial top 100 draft prospects

The MLB Draft is one of my favorite things to cover here at Federal Baseball. Every year, there is an infusion of talent coming into pro organizations. It is fun to keep up with that and follow the names in the draft. The draft is not until July, but MLB Pipeline released their first top 100 rankings for the 2026 draft.

DRAFT RANKINGS ARE OUT

Here are the Top 100 prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft, headlined by a consensus No. 1: https://t.co/56KWtcwhhy pic.twitter.com/5d5QDk589D

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 4, 2025

Due to the draft rules, the Nationals are locked into the 11th pick this year. That means they likely will not have access to the top ranked guys like Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson. However, with a whole spring season to play, it is hard to say who will rise and fall. We are going to look at some intriguing names and talk about their scouting reports.

After selecting high school players with four of their first five picks in the 2025 class, the focus should be on college players this year. College pitching is a demographic I want the Nats to explore early in this upcoming draft. We will brush through a few of the top college players that could be available, as well as one high schooler that stands out.

Since there is only one high schooler to discuss, we will start with him. Tyler Spangler is a high school shortstop who ranks 11th on the Pipeline board. That is exactly where the Nats will be picking, so he is certainly in range.

Spangler is a really well rounded player with a tantalizing hit/power combination. He has a smooth swing that scouts love and at 6’3 195 pounds, it is easy to envision at least above average power. Pipeline mentions that scouts have compared him to Corey Seager and even Cal Ripken Jr. Those comparisons come a lot when discussing talented shortstop prospects who are taller than most who play the position. However, it is still high praise.

At that size, Spangler is not a lock to stick at shortstop, but has good instincts and can make all the plays. For the Nats, he does not need to stick at shortstop with Eli Willits in the system. If they want to go the high school route, Spangler is my guy.

On the college side, we discussed a few of the prospects in the Nats range already last month. We talked about Drew Burress, Jackson Flora, Cameron Flukey and Chris Hacopian in that piece. Those are all still options, but we are going to discuss a few others here today.

One pitcher we did not discuss was Liam Peterson because I thought he would go before the Nats selection. However, MLB Pipeline has him ranked 13th. The right hander from the University of Florida has a prototypical frame and prototypical stuff.

His fastball lives in the mid-90’s and he can crank it up to 99 MPH. He also throws a pair of above average breaking balls with a slider and curveball. Peterson threw more sliders but some scouts think the hook is even better. There is a changeup that is improving and could be at least an average pitch.

Peterson is not an elite strike-thrower, but his command is not bad either. He walked 4.2 batters per 9 innings last year at Florida, which is not amazing. However, for a sophomore it is not terrible. Despite all of this potential, Peterson posted an ERA of 4.28 last year. This has a chance to be a breakout season for the Gators ace though.

On the offensive side of the ball, Sawyer Strosnider is a name that intrigues me. The TCU outfielder is a draft eligible sophomore and has all the tools in the world. He is a tremendous athlete with a sturdy 6’2 200 pound frame. Despite that size, he projects to be a center fielder in pro ball.

Strosnider has plus speed and power. There are some hit tool concerns, but they are not extreme. He did hit .350 in his freshman year at TCU last season. The one thing he will need to solve is left handed pitching. He only hit .204 against lefties his freshman year. Even if you have all the tools, being unplayable against left handed pitching limits the ceiling.

Right now, MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the 10th best prospect. There is real 5 tool upside here. If he solves his issues against lefties, the Nats may not have a chance to take him due to his upside. However, if he falls to pick 11, he is a name to watch.

Interestingly for Nationals fans, there is a catcher who is ranked 12th on the Pipeline big board. That would be Vahn Lackey from Georgia Tech. He is an athletic catcher with promise on both sides of the ball. Lackey is an above average hitter, who had a .347 batting average last year for the Yellow Jackets.

He also has a plus arm and Pipeline grades him as a 55 defender. There is also power potential here, but he only has 10 homers in his two college seasons. That is mostly due to hitting the ball on the ground too much. This is a slight red flag for me, but this new regime could help Lackey optimize his angles.

The Nats desperately need a catcher of the future. They took Caleb Lomavita in the 2024 draft, and while he did not have a bad season, the former Cal star still has warts on both sides of the ball. Lackey is a much better prospect than Lomavita and would slide in as the Nats catcher of the future.

You do not draft for need, but if Lackey is near the top of your board, that positional value could be a tiebreaker. He was not great as a freshman, so Lackey only has one real year of production. This junior year will tell scouts a lot about him.

Lastly, I want to discuss AJ Gracia from UVA. The slugging outfielder played his first two seasons at Duke before transferring to UVA to follow his coach who took that job. If you want a pure hitter, Gracia is your guy. He has tremendous power, good enough bat to ball skills and an advanced approach.

Gracia walked 57 times while only striking out 36 times last year. He has also hit 29 homers in his 120 career college games, which is highly impressive. Gracia is a top 5 talent purely on the offensive side of the ball in this draft.

However, he does not provide a ton of value on the bases or in the field. Right now he plays center field, and he has a chance to stick there, but his lack of athleticism is likely to move him into a corner. His fringy arm makes left field more likely than right field.

Gracia has good instincts, so he could be an above average left fielder, but he is not the traditional up the middle profile that teams crave. However, the Nats could use a middle of the order bat and that is what Gracia projects to be.

I am excited to see how he does at UVA. Despite the Nats having a lot of outfielders, they still need to add talent. Gracia could be the most talented player on the board when draft day comes. For Paul Toboni to create the scouting and player development monster he wants, he will need to bring talent to the MLB in waves.

This 2026 draft projects to be very strong. While it is a bummer that the Nats can’t pick in the top 10, there will be a very good player that will fall to them. I am very confident that Paul Toboni can make the right pick. After all, the draft is his wheelhouse. It is not for a while, but I am very excited to see what Paul Toboni can do in his first draft in DC.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/mlb...line-releases-initial-top-100-draft-prospects

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals trade Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners for Harry Ford

Paul Toboni pulled off his first trade as Washington Nationals GM and it is a big one. He sent closer Jose A. Ferrer to the Mariners for top catching prospect Harry Ford and pitching prospect Isaac Lyon. There had been some buzz that the Mariners were interested in the left hander, but this was unexpected.

The Seattle Mariners are acquiring reliever Jose Ferrer from the Washington Nationals for catcher Harry Ford, according to sources familiar with the deal.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 6, 2025

Heading into his age 26 season, Ferrer was expected to be the Nats closer. He put up a 4.48 ERA last season but the underlying numbers suggested he was very unlucky. His ground ball heavy approach was not the best match for the Nats poor infield defense.

Ferrer should be a very important piece of the Mariners bullpen for years to come. He is not even in arbitration yet and is a flame-thrower who gets a ton of ground balls. It makes a lot of sense why the Mariners would want him.

However, the package the Nats are getting back for him is substantial. The key piece here is catcher Harry Ford. The 2021 first round pick ranks as the 42nd best prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. There are other rankings like Just Baseball that have him in the 60’s, but he is a consensus top 100 prospect.

NATS HAVE ACQUIRED HARRY FORDpic.twitter.com/oGrvPhQf3U

— Kev (@klwoodjr) December 6, 2025

He also fills the Nats biggest need, which is catcher. It simply has not worked out for Keibert Ruiz since signing that extension. This move signals that the Ruiz era could be coming to an end.

Ford hit .283 with an .868 OPS in Triple-A last year, so he is big league ready. He also got a cup of coffee in the MLB last September. However, Ford’s path to playing time was blocked in Seattle due to the presence of Cal Raleigh. With the Big Dumper locked up long term, Ford was always going to be a trade candidate.

He was a guy I would have wanted in a potential MacKenzie Gore package, but getting him in a deal for a relief pitcher is very exciting. Ford could be the Nats Opening Day starting catcher next year. He does not have much left to prove in the Minors and the Nats have a glaring hole behind the plate.

Defensively, Ford has improved over the years and projects to be a solid defender, but not necessarily a Gold Glover. Interestingly, Ford is a plus runner, which is very rare for a catcher. That is a nice added bonus for the Nats.

Lyon is more or less a throw-in. He was a 10th round pick last year for the Mariners. The right hander has a funky arm slot, so maybe there is something Paul Toboni likes there. However, this is pretty much a Ford for Ferrer deal.

This should benefit both teams, at least in my opinion. Ford projects as a starting catcher, which the Nats desperately need while Ferrer should flourish in the back end of Seattle’s bullpen. It will be very interesting to see how this trade pans out over the next several years. Paul Toboni has made his first big splash in DC.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...rade-jose-a-ferrer-to-mariners-for-harry-ford

 

[Washington Nationals]

What Washington Nationals fans need to know about Harry Ford

As most Nationals fans know by now, the team traded for top catching prospect Harry Ford. This is a huge move because Ford has a good chance of solving the Nationals long standing catcher problem. I wanted to give Nationals fans a look at who Harry Ford is, both as a person and as a player.

Of course, the biggest reason the Nats acquired Ford is because of who he is as a player. MLB Pipeline has Ford as their 42nd ranked prospect in all of baseball. That is definitely on the high end of his range, but Ford is a consensus top 100 prospect. Baseball America is more bearish on him, but he still ranks 74th in their top 100.

So what makes Ford a top 100 prospect? Well, he has a bit of a unique tool kit, especially for a catcher. Ford’s stand out trait is his plate discipline. He has walked at least 14% of the time in all four of his full Minor League seasons. Last season, he only chased pitches out of the zone 16.57% of the time in AAA, which is an elite mark. Ford also manages to do this while not being overly passive, swinging at pitches in the zone at a 64% clip, which is just below the AAA average.

Harry Ford (acquired by WSH) is a catching prospect with a great sense of the zone and solid power. Scouts believe he has the tools to be an above-average catcher, yet his framing and blocking results have been well below average

Ford is my #62 Prospect in MLB https://t.co/vKhwN6XUs9 pic.twitter.com/FXtILXoya4

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) December 6, 2025

Ford’s ability to draw walks gives him a strong offensive floor, especially for a catcher. Interestingly, Ford will not be a liability once he is on the base paths. Most catchers are slow runners, but not Ford. Pipeline considers him a 60 grade runner and he has the potential to be a base stealing threat.

While he did not run as much in 2025, Ford stole at least 20 bases in his first three MILB seasons. He projects to steal double digit bags for the first few years of his career, before the rigors of catching slow him down. When I think of fast catchers, my mind goes to J.T. Realmuto, and hopefully Ford can be that good one day.

At the plate, the batting eye is his best trait, but he has a solid hit/power combination. Both the hit tool and the power project to be about average. With plate discipline being a plus tool, Ford has the potential to be an above average offensive producer.

Harry Ford hits his second career GRAND SLAM! pic.twitter.com/otRMcHxurO

— Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) June 12, 2025

Defensively, it is a bit of a mixed bag for Ford. That athleticism has always given him the chance to be a good defensive catcher. However, he is still a work in progress on that side of the ball. He has shown the ability to get better though. In 2023, he had an insane 20 passed balls. Ford did not have any passed balls in 2025, despite catching more innings. He is a solid thrower who does a good, but not elite job at controlling the running game.

The framing is a bit of a work in progress according to scouts though. It will be interesting to see how the value of framing is affected by the new ABS challenge system. I am also excited to see if new catching coach Bobby Wilson can help Ford defensively. Wilson did a good job improving Jonah Heim’s defense in Texas and hopefully he can do the same with Ford.

Harry Ford has been slowly but steadily working his way up the Minor Leagues over the years. He was the Mariners 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft, and like most high school catchers, Ford slowly climbed through the system. The Nats have a lot of high schoolers from that 2021 class now, with Ford joining James Wood, Daylen Lile and Brady House.

Harry Ford has played full seasons in Low-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. He has performed well in his 454 MILB games, hitting .266 with an .833 OPS. His Minor League on base percentage is .405. All of this is to say that Ford is MLB ready.

He made his debut at the end of last season after posting an .868 OPS in Triple-A. Given the Nats catching situation, he will probably be the starter right away. There is not much else for him to prove in the Minors. If it weren’t for the presence of Cal Raleigh, Ford would have been in the big leagues sooner.

Now that we have discussed Ford as a player, I want to talk about the person. When researching Ford, I constantly was seeing stuff about how great of a human being he is. Given how much Paul Toboni talks about winning with people, I wonder how big of a role that played.

Happy for Harry Ford. A true 80-grade human being who deserves every opportunity to carve out a Major League role.

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) December 6, 2025

In his scouting report for MLB Pipeline, he was praised for his leadership skills and work ethic. Leadership is a very important trait for a catcher and it seems to be something that Ford has in spades. He should be able to take command of this pitching staff, despite being just 22 years old, though he will turn 23 before the season.

One thing that stuck out to me was the Mariners post about him after he was traded. They mentioned his work on the field, as well as in the community. It was overall a very nice post. You do not usually see a player with six career at bats get that kind of love, so that tells you a lot about who Harry Ford is.

From the farm to the bigs, to your work on the field and in the community, thank you for everything, @harry_ford! Wishing you the best of luck with the Nationals. pic.twitter.com/CGDRfmO5i2

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 7, 2025

Mariners fans seem to really have a soft spot for the guy. Though most understand why he was dealt, they were gutted to see him go. This overall makeup gives me belief that Ford will be able to unlock all the potential he does have.

There are also a couple interesting facts I found about Ford. Both of his parents are actually from the UK. For that reason, Ford represented the UK at the last WBC and should be their starting catcher again this spring. Despite playing for the UK, Ford grew up in Georgia.

Another ironic fact is that Ford plays the saxophone. This is funny because the man he was traded for, Jose A. Ferrer also plays the sax. This must be the first trade in MLB history where both sides are getting a saxophone player.

Did you know Harry Ford knows how to play saxophone?

You can catch the @Mariners prospect in #SpringBreakout at 4:10 PM ET on MLB digital platforms, @MLBNetwork and ESPN+. pic.twitter.com/neY1ZCLXG3

— MLB (@MLB) March 15, 2024

This is a super exciting move for the Nats, despite giving up a talented reliever in Ferrer. Ford has a good chance of being the Nationals catcher of the future. We thought the same about Keibert Ruiz, but I have hope that this will be different. Ford has a very exciting set of tools and a good head on his shoulders.

Going to the Nats is probably very exciting for him as well. He was never going to have a chance to be the starting catcher in Seattle due to Cal Raleigh. Now he has a much clearer path to playing time and will be given a chance to develop at the MLB level.

For a second, I was worried the Nats would run back the same horrific catching room they had last year. However, that is not going to happen now that Ford is here. Harry Ford is MLB ready and should be playing a lot.

I wonder what this means for Keibert Ruiz. He has that long term contract, but his play and injury concerns are a real problem. Will he even be on the Opening Day roster now? The team tendered Riley Adams and has Drew Millas, who is solid. No team can carry four catchers, so I am interested to see what Paul Toboni does here.

Get excited Nats fans because Harry Ford is a very fun player. Yes, he has his flaws and is not a sure thing. However, he is an exciting player that will be in the MLB in 2026. The Nats have been starved for good catcher play, and Harry Ford could be the man to bring competence behind the plate back to DC.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ton-nationals-fans-need-know-about-harry-ford

 

[Washington Nationals]

Why have the Washington Nationals not hired a hitting coach yet?

Since taking over in DC, Paul Toboni has slowly been assembling a staff. He hired Blake Butera to be the manager, Michael Johns to be the bench coach and Simon Mathews to be the pitching coach. Toboni has also filled a number of other organizational positions. However, one role he has not filled yet is hitting coach.

Given the young offensive talent on the roster, hitting coach is one of the positions Nats fans were most eager to see filled. Darnell Coles took a lot of heat during his time in DC and Nats fans want to see what the young talent on the roster can do without him. We are almost at the Winter Meetings and there is no hitting coach though.

Given the timing of some of the other staff hires, this is a bit odd. Pitching coach Simon Mathews took the job nearly a month ago now. You would think that a hitting coach would not be far behind, but that has not been the case. It has been mostly quiet on that front.

Nationals have announced Simon Mathews, 30, as new pitching coach. Prior to joining Reds in 2021, he was director of pitching at Push Performance in Tempe, Ariz. and an online trainer at Driveline Baseball.

Statement from manager Blake Butera: pic.twitter.com/ZSPgFN8d5t

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) November 11, 2025

It makes sense for Paul Toboni to do his due diligence on this hire. The Nats young core is very hitter heavy, so nailing this hire is crucial. For the Nats to be good anytime soon, their young bats need to develop. Players like James Wood, CJ Abrams and even Luis Garcia Jr. have shown flashes at the plate, but have been highly inconsistent. All of these guys being so up and down makes me think coaching was at least part of the problem.

However, it is still curious that this is taking so long. I am sure they have done a lot of interviews, but there is still no hire. Have there been a lot of rejections, or are they just taking their time?

While it has been mostly quiet, there have been some rumors about some names in the mix. Former Twins hitting coach Matt Borgschulte has been mentioned as a candidate. He seems like their type as well. Borgschulte is only 35 years old and spent a lot of time in the analytically minded Orioles organization.

Source: Nats made an offer to Matt Borgschulte to be their hitting coach. https://t.co/PkiyeMkEv7

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) November 23, 2025

It would not be surprising if he was their guy, but why hasn’t it happened yet? Is Borgschulte having cold feet or are they just sorting things out. I have been hesitant to go too deep into this speculation, but as the days go on without a hitting coach, it is tough for me not to discuss this.

One other curious thing is that the Nats hired an assistant hitting coach a couple weeks ago. It was reported that Andrew Aydt of Driveline would be the assistant hitting coach. I am very excited about that hire because of Aydt’s innovative ideas. However, the fact he was hired before the main hitting coach is confusing.

The Nats are hiring another young, analytical coach in Andrew Aydt of Driveline. Love to see the Nats link up with a forward thinking place like that https://t.co/0hxNogFCGP

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) November 22, 2025

What if the guy they hire does not like Aydt for whatever reason? Usually the main guy is hired before the assistants. That made me think that there was a hitting coach on the way very soon. However, it has been about two weeks since the Aydt hire and still nothing.

Obviously they will hire a hitting coach before too long, but this is becoming a little bit strange. This is one of the most important hires Paul Toboni and Blake Butera have to make and it is becoming a strange process.

Hopefully we can get some clarity soon on this situation. This should absolutely be a question that is asked to Toboni during the Winter Meetings though. I still have faith in this regime to make the right hire, but this is getting a little weird.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...hington-nationals-not-hired-hitting-coach-yet