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[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals finalize their 2026 coaching staff

After a couple months of information slowly dripping out, the Nationals have finally announced their 2026 coaching staff, or at least most of it. At the Winter Meetings, Paul Toboni told reporters what the staff will be for 2026. Most of these names were already known, but there were a couple new faces in there.

Though they could still add a few more positions, the Nationals' 2026 coaching staff is mostly complete: pic.twitter.com/6R2vJwWuaG

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) December 8, 2025

It will be a 12 man staff, with a few new roles compared to last season. We have already covered a few of these names, so I am mostly going to touch on the members of the staff we haven’t talked about. The biggest news here is that Matt Borgschulte will be the hitting coach.

The other day, we discussed how it was taking a long time for the Nats to name a hitting coach, but we have one now. Despite being only 35 years old, Borgschulte has a relatively long MLB coaching track record. He was the Orioles co-hitting coach from 2022 to 2024. Then he was the Twins hitting coach last season.

However, after the Twins fired manager Rocco Baldelli, Borgschulte was not retained by the new staff. He remains a respected hitting mind and is clearly a sharp guy. This interview he did about Gunnar Henderson’s swing when he was with the Orioles interested me.

Darnell Coles was the subject of a lot of scrutiny last season. Now we will get to see how much of a difference a new hitting coach can make. Hopefully Borgschulte can help elevate some of the Nats young hitters like James Wood, Dylan Crews, Brady House and the newly acquired Harry Ford.

Another new name is third base coach Victor Estevez. He was a Minor League manager in the Brewers organization the last few seasons at the High-A level. Over the past few years he has gotten to manage a lot of elite talent. A couple examples of players that played for him this past season are top prospects Jesus Made and Luis Pena.

Estevez has been in the Brewers organization since 2013. He coached in the Dominican Republic for a lot of that time. The bilingual element that he brings is definitely a positive. In 2024, Estevez was the Midwest League manager of the year. Interestingly, Estevez will also be the infield coach. He will have a big job on his hands there because the Nats infield really struggled defensively in 2025.

Another name that was reported on yesterday is bullpen coach and assistant pitching coach Dustin Glant. He has a unique background, though one that has become more common to see recently. Glant has been the pitching coach at the University of Indiana since 2022.

We have seen more of these college to pro moves in the coaching ranks this offseason. Obviously, Tony Vitello’s move to the Giants has been the most notable, but there have been others around the league. Glant will be one of two assistant pitching coaches, with the other being Sean Doolittle, who is the only carry over from last year’s staff.

Despite being in the running for a job, it does not look like assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson will return to the staff. For a while it looked like he and Doolittle would return to the staff, but as of right now, Johnson will not be back.

Another interesting note is that first base coach Corey Ray will be in charge of the outfield defense and base running. Given he was a speedy outfielder with a good glove, this is not overly surprising.

Overall, it is a 12 man coaching staff. Last year it was only a 10 man staff. Another big talking point has been the youth of the staff and that shows up in the numbers. Last year, the average age of the coaching staff was 51. This year it is just 36 years of age. Welcome to the new Nats!

Nationals head into 2026 with a 12-person coaching staff. There were 10 coaches on staff last year.

The average age on this staff is about 36. Last year, it was 51. Will be a definitive change. https://t.co/dhp8sG7mxY

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) December 8, 2025

Last season there was a lot of anger directed towards the coaching staff from sections of the fanbase. Now those fans will get their wish with pretty much a whole new staff. It is a clean slate here in DC. There will likely be some bumps in the road, but I am excited for the start of this new era.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/87799/washington-nationals-finalize-2026-coaching-staff

 

[Washington Nationals]

CJ Abrams trade rumors are heating up at the Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings are now underway and the idea of the Nationals trading their young stars is a big talking point. After having a fire sale just a few years ago, the fact we are here again is disheartening. However, moving off of players like MacKenzie Gore and maybe even CJ Abrams could be best for the long term future of the franchise.

We have talked at length about a potential MacKenzie Gore trade, so today I wanted to focus on Abrams. Ken Rosenthal just put out a report saying the Nats are drawing heavy interest for Abrams, but have a high asking price.

It’s not just MacKenzie Gore. Nationals also drawing heavy interest in CJ Abrams. With @WillSammon. https://t.co/hQB3wApTxK

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2025

That asking price is high for good reason. The Nats should not be in any sort of rush to move on from Abrams. He has 3 years of team control remaining and is not a Scott Boras client. If Paul Toboni sees Abrams as a long term building block, he should try to extend him rather than trade him.

Abrams has a very exciting blend of speed and power at the shortstop position. In fact, he is one of five shortstops in MLB history with at least 55 homers and 100 steals before turning 25 years old. It would be a real shame if Abrams was yet another star the Nats let away.

CJ Abrams is 1 of just 5 shortstops in MLB history with 55+ HR and 100+ SB before turning 25

The Nationals’ young star is becoming one of the most coveted players on the trade market. pic.twitter.com/6EByMvKzj6

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 8, 2025

However, there are reasons that Toboni would listen to calls on Abrams. The 25 year old is a poor defender at shortstop, posting -11 outs above average last year. Abrams has also posted OPS marks of .634 and .586 in the second halves of the last two seasons. He is a very exciting player, but also a flawed one.

In 2025, Abrams posted a career high 3.1 fWAR. That is really solid, and the Nats need more players like that, not less. However, that is not the kind of production that is irreplaceable. With Paul Toboni wanting to shake things up, it makes sense why Abrams is available.

It would be a tough pill to swallow though and Toboni will have to nail the return for this move to make sense. Abrams has become a fan favorite, especially among younger Nats fans since he arrived in the Juan Soto trade. This fanbase has been kicked in the teeth a lot in the last five years, and trading Abrams would be another gut punch.

Gore is fine for me but trading away CJ Abrams would be a tough pill to swallow for me personally.

Don’t think he’s played his best ball yet and he still could be an extension candidate given he’s not a Boras guy.

The next few days in Orlando are going to be VERY interesting… https://t.co/livh4WQO4q

— Bennett Lehmann (@DCBerk) December 8, 2025

If Toboni were to trade Abrams, there would be no shortage of suitors. Abrams’ three years of fairly cheap team control make him an attractive target for big or small market teams.

One trade partner that makes a lot of sense is actually the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates desperately need hitting and are trying to make a splash this offseason. Paul Skenes trade rumors have been bubbling at the surface ever since he arrived in Pittsburgh. The only way the Pirates can make those go away is by building a competitive team around their ace.

Abrams makes a lot of sense for them either as a shortstop or a second baseman. The Nats could take advantage of the Pirates surplus of pitching talent both in the Minors and at the MLB level. Guys like Seth Hernandez, Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, Hunter Barco, and Braxton Ashcraft are all young arms I could see the Nats coveting.

That is just one example, but there are plenty of teams that could use Abrams. I could see teams like the Royals, Yankees, Reds and Red Sox all potentially being interested. A move for Abrams is definitely possible at these Winter Meetings. I still think Gore is more likely to be moved because of Abrams having more team control. However, there is a decent chance that both are moved.

Paul Toboni wants to make the Nats in his image. Moving those two guys would be one heck of a statement. They were two of the prizes of the Juan Soto trade, which was the crown jewel of the previous regime. Now, with the team looking further away than ever, Paul Toboni looks like he is pulling the trigger on rebuilding the rebuild.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/nat...ms-trade-rumors-heating-up-at-winter-meetings

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals POBO Paul Toboni had a busy first day at the Winter Meetings

While no moves were made, Paul Toboni had a busy first day at the Winter Meetings. The Nats and their potential trade targets were the talk of the town in Orlando with plenty of rumors surfacing about MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams. There were also updates about the coaching staff and new technology that will be integrated into the organization.

Let’s start with some of the trade rumors because those are the biggest talking points. As we have discussed there has been a lot of buzz around the Nats trading MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams. Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal put out a report that said teams were pushing the Nats hard on Abrams. The Gore stuff has been around for a while, but the idea of an Abrams trade is fresher for Nats fans.

It’s not just MacKenzie Gore. Nationals also drawing heavy interest in CJ Abrams. With @WillSammon. https://t.co/hQB3wApTxK

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2025

The Abrams news also seemed more surprising for Paul Toboni as well. When he was asked about it yesterday, Toboni said that he did not see the CJ Abrams stuff until today. He looked a bit taken aback when he was asked about it as well. Does that mean a trade is less likely or that a leak came out before Toboni anticipated? I guess we will find out with his actions over the coming weeks.

Paul Toboni seemed surprised by CJ Abrams trade talk. pic.twitter.com/B7o1FdRR6t

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) December 8, 2025

We wrote about how an Abrams trade would be more complicated and tougher to sell than a Gore move. Abrams has an additional year of control and is not represented by Scott Boras. At just 25 years old, you would think that he is a player to build around, not move. However, with his questionable defense and streaky bat, this could also be the perfect time to sell high. If they move off Abrams, it has to be for a massive return.

The trade buzz was not the only thing that went down today for Toboni. He also finalized the staff, which we covered. Matt Borgschulte was finally named the hitting coach and Victor Estevez was named the third base coach. Toboni also wrote an open letter to the fans, which we will link to below.

to our fans. to our city.

from Paul Toboni → https://t.co/OD5d17nSd1 pic.twitter.com/VThD3B1WQ4

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) December 8, 2025

There were no moves, but the Nats seem to be setting the stage for something big. It would not come as a surprise if MacKenzie Gore is moved in the coming days. With the Jose A. Ferrer for Harry Ford trade, Toboni has already made it clear he is going to reset this operation. Trading your best reliever when the bullpen is already bad shows that Toboni is thinking long term rather than building for 2026.

One thing that Toboni did talk about that Nats fans will love is how the Nats are upgrading their technology. Last season, the Nats not having a Trajekt Arc pitching machine became a major source of controversy. Whether it was ownership or the front office, the organization missed the boat on having the most up to date technology.

In their media availability yesterday, both Devin Pearson and Toboni told reporters that the team is investing in the most up to date technology. Part of the appeal of Toboni is that he will modernize the organization. Bringing in these tools will help them achieve that goal.

We just talked to Devin Pearson and Paul Toboni. Their answers about technology stood out to me among other things: pic.twitter.com/X7OQ2jHLN6

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 8, 2025

However, these fancy tools are only as good as the people with the plan. It is up to the front office and coaching to implement this tech in a way that helps the players. If they can do that, the new technology could be a real game changer for the Nats.

Not much happened at the Winter Meetings yesterday, but the Nats were at the tip of everyone’s tongue. Do not be surprised if we see a big move from Paul Toboni in the coming days. Now that he has a coaching staff and front office ready to roll, it is time to help the Nats get back to prominence.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...-toboni-had-busy-first-day-at-winter-meetings

 

[Washington Nationals]

What Does Keibert Ruiz’s Future With The Washington Nationals Look Like?

The Nationals made their first big roster move of the offseason on Saturday when they acquired catcher Harry Ford, a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball and one of the best catching prospects in the sport, in exchange for left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer. The move signaled a multitude of things, including a possible signal of a retooling of the current rebuild, as relievers are the least important asset on a ballclub not looking to be very competitive. The other major thing this move signaled was a changing of the guard at the catching position for the Nationals, who had relied on Keibert Ruiz for the majority of the past 4.5 seasons.

With Ford now in the Nats organization and having a taste of big league experience already, Keibert Ruiz has seemingly already lost his starting catcher position on the roster. That leaves him competing with Riley Adams and Drew Millas for the backup catching spot on the big league roster.

Millas still has minor league options, making sending him down easier as they don’t have to test waivers with him, while Adams and Ruiz do not. However, neither seems very likely to be claimed if placed on waivers, especially Ruiz and his contract, which would tie him to any club that claims him until 2030.

So, with the option of another club taking him either via trade or waiver claim being practically nonexistent, what do the Nationals do with the switch-hitting catcher? If the decision were mine, I would designate him for assignment, allowing every other club to claim him and take that contract away from the Nats. When he ultimately is not claimed by anyone else, you can then send him to Rochester, where he will get the consistent reps he needs, but can’t slow down the big league club with his struggles. I’d then let Riley Adams and Drew Millas compete for the backup catcher position, with my preference as of now being Millas due to his high-quality defense.

One possible benefit of keeping Ruiz on the big league club is to see the improvements he could make with the new coaching staff, specifically the new hitting coaches and new catching coach Bobby Wilson. Ruiz has progressively declined the past few seasons, and while a large part of that blame falls on Ruiz himself, it certainly doesn’t help that he’s been working under a coaching staff that failed to unlock a sizable portion of the club’s young hitters.

Keeping Ruiz around as the backup catcher to Harry Ford gives him the opportunity to learn and grow in ways he hasn’t had the chance to in his career, and perhaps even revitalize his game. If he is able to do so, perhaps there is a future for him on the roster at first base, designated hitter, or even with another ballclub.

While Keibert Ruiz is the big loser of the Jose A. Ferrer, Harry Ford swap, it could be an opportunity for him to improve his game in the lower-stress setting of Triple-A Rochester, splitting reps with one of Riley Adams and Drew Millas. If he proves enough in his time in the minors or as a backup to Ford, he could earn himself another shot at a big league starting role, either at a new position or with a new team.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...keibert-ruizs-future-with-nationals-look-like

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals select Griff McGarry from the Phillies in the Rule 5 Draft

The Rule 5 Draft just wrapped up and for a fourth straight year the Washington Nationals made a selection. This time they took Griff McGarry, a pitcher from the Phillies system. The 26 year old has elite stuff but has pretty major control questions.

For the fourth straight year, the Nationals take a player in the Rule 5 Draft. This time around, it's Griff McGarry, a right-handed pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 10, 2025

If McGarry can throw enough strikes he will be a strong piece of the Nats bullpen. However, there is a chance that this ends up being similar to what happened with last year’s Rule 5 pick Evan Reifert. Like McGarry, Reifert had big time stuff but he showed up and was unable to throw strikes in Spring Training. That forced the Nats to return Reifert to Tampa Bay.

This could happen with McGarry, but the great thing about the Rule 5 Draft is that even if that is the case, it is not a big deal. You just return the player back to their old organization with no penalty. That is what makes the Rule 5 Draft so fun.

Despite walking almost 14% of batters last season, the Nats selected McGarry for a reason. When he is on, McGarry can be totally dominant. His pitches pop on stuff models and he gets a ton of strikeouts. McGarry’s big extension and low release height help his mid-90’s fastball play up. He also has a sweeper, a slider and a curve with nasty movement.

The Nationals draft Griff McGarry in the Rule 5 draft

I like this pick McGarry is nasty, just needs to work on his commandpic.twitter.com/1aLzslngWe

— Kev (@klwoodjr) December 10, 2025

McGarry was a starter in the Phillies system last year, but he is an obvious bullpen arm. Maybe in shorter bursts that velocity can go up a tick or two. Even as a starter, McGarry still struck out just over 35% of hitters. The pure stuff can just totally overwhelm hitters.

Interestingly, McGarry played his college ball at UVA. He was then drafted by the Phillies in the 5th round of the 2021 draft. After a lot of bumps in the road, McGarry had his best pro season this year. He was the Phillies Minor League pitcher of the year and struck out 124 batters in 83.2 innings.

Nationals select right-handed pitcher Griff McGarry.

In 2025:
️Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Year
️4th in @MiLB with 13.34 SO/9.0 IP (min. 80.0 IP)
️4th in the PHI system with 124 SO https://t.co/yKOpx6CXNw

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) December 10, 2025

It will be interesting to see what the Nats do with McGarry. The stuff is there, it is all about harnessing the control. I am also curious to see what McGarry’s role will be if he makes the team. Given his starting experience, he could be an option as a swing man.

However, with his dynamic stuff, I can also see him being more of a one inning guy. Honestly, this is a very similar profile to Clayton Beeter, who the Nats picked up at the trade deadline. Beeter’s command is still a question mark, but he threw enough strikes to be effective down the stretch last year. The hope would be that McGarry can do the same thing.

Griff McGarry has the chance to be a big piece of this bullpen, but he also has a chance to not make it through Spring Training. There were safer options available, but Paul Toboni decided to swing for the fences and bet on McGarry’s upside.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...select-griff-mcgarry-phillies-in-rule-5-draft

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Winter Meetings provided excitement, but not for the Washington Nationals

The Winter Meetings just wrapped up and the stove was hot down in Orlando. There was a lot of action around the league, especially relating to the NL East. However, the Washington Nationals did not get in on that action. I wanted to discuss this busy week of activity, as well as what is next for the Nats.

Going into the week, there was a lot of buzz around the Nats. A MacKenzie Gore trade felt imminent and rumors were swirling around CJ Abrams. However, the only move the Nats made at the Winter Meetings was selecting Griff McGarry in the Rule 5 Draft. Plenty of questions still remain about what this Nats roster will look like on Opening Day.

There are even more questions about what the rival New York Mets will look like. The Mets lost a pair of very familiar faces this week in Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz. It will be interesting to see what the deep pocketed Mets will do to replace these two stars. They also traded longtime left fielder Brandon Nimmo before the Winter Meetings. The 2026 Mets are going to look very different to previous iterations of the team.

Let’s dive deeper into Alonso first because he is going from one Nats rival to another. Ever since David Rubenstein became owner, the Orioles have been rumored to make a big splash. That finally happened when they signed Alonso to a 5-year $155 million deal yesterday. After a down year last season, the O’s look determined to get back to the postseason.

BREAKING: First baseman Pete Alonso and the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a five-year, $155 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Alonso leaves the Mets to make a loaded AL East even better.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 10, 2025

As Nats fans know all too well, Alonso is one of the game’s premier sluggers. His 264 home runs with the Mets are the most in team history. Now he is bringing that light tower power to Baltimore. That lineup is going to be loaded with talent. They still have some holes on their pitching staff, and could potentially make a run at MacKenzie Gore.

It will be interesting to see how the Mets try to replace Alonso. He has been a huge part of their team for a long time. They have internal options such as Mark Vientos, but how would the notoriously emotional Mets fanbase react to replacing Alonso internally? There has been some buzz about the Mets trading for Willson Contreras of the Cardinals as well.

The Mets also lost their long-time closer Edwin Diaz, but they have already signed Devin Williams to replace him. Williams is coming off a rough year, but was excellent for many years with the Brewers and the underlying numbers were still strong despite poor results with the Yankees.

Speaking of Diaz, he decided to go to the Dodgers in a move that makes the rich even richer. He signed a 3-year $69 million deal to play for the back to back World Series champions. Despite spending big on Tanner Scott last year, the bullpen was a problem area for the Dodgers last year. Like the Nats did in 2019, the Dodgers found just the right mix for the bullpen to work in the postseason. However, when you can go out and sign the best closer in baseball, why not go for it.

Breaking: Edwin Díaz and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a deal, a source tells @jorgecastillo. The contract is for three years and $69 million, sources tell @JeffPassan.

The back-to-back champs are adding one of the best closers in baseball. pic.twitter.com/JsBaCVU9D6

— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2025

The Mets are going to have to make a lot of moves to replace the talent they let out of the door and satisfy their fanbase. After last season’s collapse, GM David Stearns is really shaking up that core. He is truly getting the chance to build the team in his image. I am curious what they do from here.

While the Mets are making big changes, the Phillies are running it back. They re-signed Kyle Schwarber on a 5-year $150 million deal. The hulking slugger hit 56 homers last year and got paid for that performance. It is crazy that Schwarber was non-tendered going into his age 28 season and the Nats were able to pick him up. Since the Cubs let him go, Schwarber has hit 219 home runs.

BREAKING: Kyle Schwarber is returning to the Phillies on a 5-Year, $150 Million Contract, according to @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/AJdryoyqzB

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) December 9, 2025

This Phillies core is aging a bit and they seem to be getting further and further away from their goal of a World Series. However, they could not afford to lose Schwarber. They need to make shakeups to their roster, but Schwarber is the heartbeat of that team. The Phillies will need to make adjustments to get over the top, but keeping Schwarber ensures that they will be a contender, at least for the next year or two.

The Braves also made a smaller splash late in the Meetings, signing veteran Mike Yastrzemski to a 2-year $23 million deal. He has been one of the most consistent players in the league over the past few seasons, but he is 35 now. I am curious to see what the Braves do to re-establish themselves as a force in the division.

For the Nats, plenty of questions still remain. They have a ton of holes on the pitching staff, though it sounds like Paul Toboni will pursue pitching reinforcements. It remains to be seen how much money he will spend on those reinforcements, but it sounds like they won’t be shopping at the top of the market this year. There is also a hole at first base which needs filling.

The futures of MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams remain up in the air. Rumors have been swirling around both with Toboni looking to re-set this rebuild. If I had to bet, I would wager that Gore is traded while Abrams stays. However, anything can happen and there are still plenty of unknowns with this new regime.

It was a very interesting week for the NL East. Plenty of moves were made in the division and the stage was set for further activity. The Phillies still need to shake up their aging core a bit. The Mets need to replace all the production they have lost this past week. We will see how the Braves respond to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Most importantly for us, we still need to see what Paul Toboni has up his sleeve in his first offseason as the Nats President of Baseball Operations.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/mlb...vided-excitement-not-for-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Should the Washington Nationals sign the polarizing Luis Arraez?

Luis Arraez is a player of extremes. When you look at his Baseball Savant page, all of his stats are either in the top 5 percentile of the bottom 5 percentile. His outlier skillset has made him a polarizing player and a guy fans love to talk about.

He has won three batting titles in his career and is only 28 years old, but his market will not be as strong as you would think. That lesser market could be an opportunity for Paul Toboni and the Nats, who are in need of a first baseman. We will talk about why Arraez is so polarizing, and discuss his strengths and weaknesses. At the end, you can all decide if he is a fit for the Nats.

The first reason why his market might be slow is that he is coming off a down year. His .292 batting average and .719 OPS were both career lows. While .292 is a great batting average for most hitters, Arraez needs to be over .300 to have value due to the rest of his profile. Arraez was making as much contact as ever, but he was hitting more ground balls and using the middle of the field less.

Luis Arraez's case is so interesting as a FA:

– All-time low BA (.292)
– All-time low BABIP (.289)
– Slowest bat speed in baseball.
– 3.1% K% (!)
– Chase% up to 34.1%.
– 95.8% Z-Contact%. (!)
– Very poor defender.

Regressed or bad luck?

Notably: 32.8% Cent% is a career-low. pic.twitter.com/Wx9MCsNCYM

— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) November 8, 2025

Don’t get it twisted, Luis Arraez is the best pure contact hitter in all of baseball. He struck out only 3.1% of the time last season, which is totally bonkers. Striking out 21 times in 620 at bats is just totally nuts in an era where pitchers are throwing harder than ever. Arraez also whiffed just 5.3 percent of the time. To put that into context, Daylen Lile, who is a good contact hitter in his own right whiffed 18.9 percent of the time.

One crazy fact I found out about Arraez is that he has gone to bed a .300 career hitter every night of his career. Only 11 guys in MLB history can say that. He is a .317 career hitter and it is easy to see why based on his approach.

Every night of his MLB career, Luis Arráez has gone to bed a .300 hitter — he's 1 of 11 players since 1901 who can say that pic.twitter.com/ABc5oVSgCH

— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) June 4, 2024

With all of this in mind, as well as the fact he is a young free agent, why is he not getting more interest? Well, he is pretty much a one trick pony. It is a cool and valuable trait, but Arraez is as one dimensional as you can get in the MLB.

Arraez is not a power guy, with just 36 career homers in 840 MLB games. He will occasionally run into a homer, with 8 dingers last year, as well as a 10 homer campaign in 2023. Power is not a big part of his game though. However, the lack of power is not the real issue with Arraez. His biggest problem is his lack of speed or defense.

Luis Arraez keeps it fair, and the @Padres are up big early on! pic.twitter.com/IEKsnfg2Zl

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2025

Luis Arraez started his career as a second baseman, but has been playing more first base over the last couple years. He has never graded out well at either position and is probably a better fit for DH. For a guy who makes so much contact, it is a shame that Arraez can’t really run. His sprint speed is in the 25th percentile.

If Arraez were fast, he would be much more highly sought after. Due to his lack of speed, he cannot take advantage of his contact skills as much. He cannot run out many infield hits and his career high in steals is only 11. Arraez is pretty much a clogger, but most of his hits are singles. It really is a tough profile to wrap your head around.

Paul Toboni is an analytically minded guy, so there is a chance he just would not touch Arraez due to his one dimensional skillset that does not generate a ton of WAR. However, innovators love to zig while others zag. There is a chance that Toboni and his staff could unlock something in Arraez.

Arraez does not have much power, but given his wizardry of the barrel, there could be a couple tweaks that might make him a 15 homer guy. When Daniel Murphy came to DC, he was not much of a power guy. However, he emphasized turning on mistake pitches and it made him a 25 homer bat.

I also think Arraez has gotten to a point where he might not be striking out enough. That may not make sense, but follow me. Just like how power hitters can sell out for power too much, I think Arraez might be selling out for contact.

He knows he can hit basically any pitch, so he is swinging at everything. Earlier in his career, Arraez was not like this. In his last year in Minnesota back in 2022, Arraez had a 24.1% chase rate, which is very good. However, that number was above 34% in 2025.

Could a slow market be a wake up call for Arraez to make changes? Arraez is a solid hitter in his current state, but not good enough to overcome his deficiencies. If he can get back to what his approach was in Minnesota, it would make him more effective in my opinion. In the last two seasons, Arraez has been making more contact than ever, but the quality of contact is a lot worse.

So would I sign Luis Arraez? Well, it depends on the price. I would love him on a one year deal, but I think he probably still gets a multi-year deal. Anything more than two years is pretty dicey for me. At 2-years $20 million, I would probably give it a shot though.

Arraez would also be a clunky fit with the Nats. The Nats are already a very poor defensive team and Arraez would not make that better. Even at first base, he is not good with the glove. He would get some time at DH, but he does not have the power of a prototypical DH. The Nats also need power in the lineup. Over the last couple years, the Nats have been towards the bottom of the league in homers, something Arraez would not help with.

There are so many weaknesses in the profile, but at the end of the day, the dude can hit. The Nats could do way worse at first base. I would prefer him over Josh Bell due to the fact Arraez is not as streaky of a hitter. Maybe the Nats could sign both and play one at DH and the other at first base.

The Nats are going to sign a first baseman of some sort this offseason. Both Paul Toboni and Blake Butera have hinted at it. There is no obvious in house solution, so the need is clear as day. He is an enigmatic player, but I would certainly be intrigued by the idea of Luis Arraez on the Nats.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...hington-nationals-sign-polarizing-luis-arraez

 

[Washington Nationals]

Will the Washington Nationals get creative in how they deploy the pitching staff?

It is no secret that pitching is a major concern for the Washington Nationals. As a team, they posted a 5.35 ERA, the worst mark since the franchise moved to DC. There is also a strong possibility that the Nats trade their best pitcher, MacKenzie Gore. This made me wonder about how Paul Toboni and Blake Butera will manage the pitching staff.

Well, one thing they are going to do is add some free agent talent. Mark Zuckerman reported that the Nats met with some agents at the Winter Meetings and that pitching is the top priority for Paul Toboni. However, it is unlikely that the Nats will be shopping at the top of the market. A lottery ticket like Dustin May or a proven innings eater like Zack Littell feels more likely than an expensive ace.

It's not yet clear how the Nationals' new front office will approach free agency this winter. But if Paul Toboni and Co. do take that route, they appear most inclined to pursue pitching.https://t.co/jcXe23MojW

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) December 10, 2025

However, additions are not the main thing I want to talk about today. Right now I am more intrigued about how Paul Toboni and Blake Butera will deploy their pitchers. Last season, the Nationals used a traditional pitching set up. They had five starters and a bullpen. Those five starters would change, but they had five guys they used as traditional starters.

There is a chance that this changes in 2026 though. Over the last half decade or so, the idea of bullpen games have become more popular. Teams use an opener to go one or two innings before turning to a long reliever who goes about four innings.Th Ideally that pairing would get you through five or six innings and then you can turn to the rest of your bullpen.

This idea was popularized by the Rays back in 2018. Ironically, both Blake Butera and bench coach Michael Johns come from the Rays organization, so maybe they could help bring that idea to DC. The reason I bring this up is because I think this would help get the best out of the arms the Nats have.

Brad Lord and Andrew Alvarez are two players that would be well suited in the bulk man role. Both seem best suited to multi-inning relief work. Once hitters see them a third time, they start to get figured out. Mitchell Parker and Jake Irvin could also be candidates to be used in this role.

Lord is a pitcher I think would absolutely thrive in this role. He was solid in the rotation, but he did his best work out of the bullpen. Lord was excellent in two to three inning spurts. He does not have a very deep pitch mix, so he is not very well suited to seeing a lineup for a third time.

Brad Lord impressed everywhere he pitched in 2025
2.79 ERA out of the ‘pen, solid as a starter too.

Now the question: rotation piece or bullpen weapon in 2026? #Nats #Natitude #MLB pic.twitter.com/a92fOiK5u2

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) November 14, 2025

Obviously, you cannot do this every game. It would put too much strain on the bullpen. The Nats will need starters who can consistently deliver six innings. If Gore sticks around, he will be relied upon to go deeper into games. Cade Cavalli is another guy who is going to have to step up as a true starter.

The Nats will also need to acquire an innings eater or two as well. Chris Bassitt or Zack Littell would be perfect for that role. Bassitt has thrown at least 170 innings in each of the last four seasons and has posted a sub-4 ERA in three of those years. Littell has also been very durable the last two seasons as a starter.

In the Paul Toboni era, the Nats are not going to be afraid to try new things. Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez mostly played it by the book in how they deployed pitchers. I have a feeling that this will be different in 2026. The Nats are not going to trot out Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker every fifth day, expecting five or six innings.

Hopefully the Nats get to a point where they have enough quality starting pitching to be more traditional. However, they are not at that point right now and Blake Butera will have to get creative. Even for this approach to work, the Nats need more arms in the rotation and bullpen.

However, when you have lesser talent, it is more effective to operate this way than to use a traditional five man rotation. The Nats have a lot of names that can pitch, but not many exciting options. This could be a way to get guys like Parker, Irvin, Lord, Alvarez, Josiah Gray and Trevor Williams involved.

How Blake Butera uses this pitching staff will be a good test of his managerial chops. As a 33 year old manager, most of the questions have naturally been about how he will lead the clubhouse. However, he also has a lot to prove as a tactician as well. He has a lot of pieces on this pitching staff, but he does not have an ace up his sleeve. Let’s see how Blake Butera plays his cards.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...et-creative-in-how-they-deploy-pitching-staff

 

[Washington Nationals]

Why Clayton Beeter Is A Prime Breakout Candidate Under New Washington Nationals Coaching Staff

With the losses of Robert Garcia, Kyle Finnegan, and, most recently, Jose A. Ferrer, in the past year, the Nationals’ bullpen is in much worse shape than it started the year, though the farm is better off for it. Pending any free agent additions or other trade subtractions, the Nats will enter 2026 with an incredibly young bullpen unit, with just one arm projected to be in the bullpen over the age of 29, being the 30-year-old Julian Fernandez. This leaves a lot on the shoulders of the returning arms to carry a unit that was the worst in all of baseball last season, and at the forefront of the cast of returning arms is righty Clayton Beeter.

Acquired for Amed Rosario at the trade deadline this season, Beeter made 24 appearances for the Nats in August and September, and was perhaps the Nationals’ best reliever during that time. Across 21.2 innings, he had a 2.49 ERA, 2.72 FIP, struck out over 13 batters per 9 innings, and posted 0.5 fWAR. The strikeout stuff was the key for Beeter, as he posted one of the best whiff rates among all relievers in baseball at 32.9%. Beeter also excelled at limiting hard contact, as he allowed an expected batting average of just .200, and an average exit velocity of 88.3 MPH.

One of the most impressive parts of Beeter’s success was the fact that he was getting it done with just 2 pitches: his fastball, which averages 96.5 MPH, and his slider, which gets an impressive 41 inches of vertical drop. The fastball is a sturdy pitch, often setting him up well for his breaking ball later, but the slider is his best offering, as it had devastating results in 2025, such as a .098 opponents’ batting average, 49.1% whiff rate, and .216 opponents’ slugging percentage. Similar to Kyle Finnegan and his splitter, Beeter can throw hard and will do so, but he’s looking to get hitters out with his slider.

The main issue for Beeter in 2025, and practically his whole career, has been allowing free passes at a high rate. Part of the reason the Yankees were willing to let an arm like Beeter with impressive stuff and solid results go was the fact they couldn’t count on him to throw strikes consistently, and while his strike-throwing improved in his short first stint in DC, it still is the major flaw in his game. While you could live with his 16.7% walk rate if it meant continued results in the future, the reality is an inability to consistently find the zone lowers Beeter’s floor compared to other relievers and makes him hard to count on in high-leverage situations.

So what can the new Nationals coaching staff do to turn Beeter from a high upside arm currently to a future setup man or closer? For starters, they should do as much tinkering as possible in the offseason and winter to find tweaks in Beeter’s game to throw more strikes. Whether it’s an arm angle change, changing up his timing, or a mindset change on the mound, they should explore all avenues they can to get Beeter to fill up the zone as much as possible, as when he does, he’s proven he is very difficult to hit.

The next step I would take is exploring a third pitch that Beeter can add to his arsenal. Having 2 pitches works when both are working for you on a given day, but when you’re having a bad day and one of them is off for you, you become very predictable as hitters sit and wait for that other pitch, a tale we saw told with Kyle Finnegan many times. Ideally, he adds a pitch to give him a boost against lefties, such as a changeup or splitter, as that was the side that gave him the most trouble in 2025, posting a .345 wOBA against him versus righties who posted a .195 wOBA.

Lastly, an easy step the new Nationals coaching staff can take towards improving Beeter’s performance is just tweaking his pitch usage so that he is throwing his best pitch most often. Like practically all Nationals pitchers under Jim Hickey, Beeter was throwing his fastball more than any other pitch, despite his slider being the substantially better offering.

Beeter’s slider has the ability to terrorize right-handed hitters, and yet for some reason, he was throwing it 49% of the time against them, with the other 51% being his heater. Nationals fans saw this story play out when Kyle Finnegan left the Nats for the Tigers and immediately saw improvement due to increased splitter usage and less fastball usage, and Beeter could see the same kind of jump in results if he is simply allowed to use his best pitch the most.

I am excited to see all the little changes and improvements the new Nationals coaching staff is able to make with all the current players on the roster, and Beeter is near the forefront of that when it comes to arms I want to see changes made to. I believe with the right tweaks and additions to his repertoire, Beeter will be ready to take over the closer’s role one day for the Nationals.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...idate-new-washington-nationals-coaching-staff

 

[Washington Nationals]

Five under the radar relievers the Washington Nationals should take a look at

It is no secret that the Washington Nationals need bullpen help. The Nats 5.59 bullpen ERA was comfortably the worst in baseball. However, most of the top free agent relievers have already found new homes. To improve the bullpen, Paul Toboni is going to have to find diamonds in the rough rather than signing proven commodities. Here are five potential hidden gems he could explore.

The first name I want to explore is a guy Nationals fans should know. Ironically it is because the Nats seem to have a ton of success whenever they face this pitcher. That would be Ryne Stanek, who spent last season with the Mets. On the surface, Stanek’s numbers look unimpressive, but I think he would be a worthwhile project.

In each of the last three seasons, Stanek has posted an ERA over 4. At 34 years old, Stanek had his worst season in 2025, posting a 5.30 ERA. So why would he be an interesting option for the Nats? Well, his stuff is still very good and there are a few tweaks that could be made.

Last season, Stanek threw his fastball over 57% of the time despite allowing a lot of damage on the pitch. His fastball is a quality offering, averaging 98.5 MPH with good life. However, the pitch got overexposed and hitters were able to sit on it. Stanek has a good slider and splitter, he just did not throw them enough.

Tigers nailed this change, one that for a couple years so many have been calling for.

The Ryne Stanek blueprint is similar. Fewer fastballs. More splitters. More sliders. Think he's a pretty easy unlock in terms of performance. https://t.co/tpQnBbgfaH

— FullCountTommy (@FullCountTommy) December 11, 2025

The Nats could do what the Tigers did with Kyle Finnegan and just have him throw fewer fastballs. Stanek’s slider was by far his best pitch last year, but he only threw it 21% of the time. He should be throwing it a lot more, especially to right handed hitters. With that adjustment, Stanek could be a valuable member of a Nats bullpen. He has experience in high leverage roles and has been very durable in his career, making at least 55 appearances in every non-COVID season since 2018.

The next pitcher I want to talk about is also a former Met in Drew Smith. He is a player fans might have forgotten about because he has missed most of the last two seasons following Tommy John Surgery. However, from 2021 to 2023, Smith was a reliable option out of the Mets bullpen. He was pitching well in 2024 as well before he got hurt.

Thank You Drew Smith aka "Drew Chainz" https://t.co/HVE1UJ8eEY pic.twitter.com/cUFKVmvYyy

— Mets'd Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) November 4, 2025

Reports indicate that Smith should be ready to enter 2026. Paul Toboni will have to do his due diligence about how Smith looks following the surgery, but if the stuff has not diminished, he is an interesting option. Before getting hurt, Smith had a strong fastball, cutter, slider combination. He generates plenty of whiffs on all of those pitches.

Smith has his flaws though. His control can be suspect and when he does allow contact, it tends to be hard contact. However, his swing and miss stuff gives him a home in a big league bullpen. He has a career 3.48 ERA and if he can bring those results to DC, Nats fans will be thrilled.

Since Paul Toboni came from Boston, it is only natural that I include a former Red Sox arm on this list. That arm would be Josh Winckowski. At 27 years old, Winckowski is comfortably the youngest player on this list. He also has a history of big league success.

Winckowski was fantastic in 2023, posting a 2.88 ERA in 60 appearances spanning 84.1 innings. He took a step back in 2024, but was still decent, posting a 4.14 ERA in 76 innings. Last year was an injury riddled campaign for Winckowski, who dealt with elbow issues. He should be ready to go for Spring Training, but it is unclear. Coming from Boston, Toboni should be very aware of what Winckowski’s timeline looks like.

As a pitcher, Winckowski is a versatile arm who relies on getting ground balls. He has posted ground ball rates over 50% every year of his career. In Boston, he has mostly been used as a long reliever. However, he has the ability to start games as well.

He throws a 4-seamer and a sinker, both of which sit at around 95 MPH. Winckowski’s secondary offerings are a cutter, a slider and a changeup. The cutter is probably his best secondary pitch, but all of them are decent.

Josh Winckowski, 27, is SP depth.

He's out-of-options and recovering from an elbow injury, but the arsenal has some interesting traits.

The SI deviates quite a bit from his slot w/ good SSW, and he has a hard CH and hard gyro SL.

He also threw the 4S way more this year. pic.twitter.com/uXRcCW2yoA

— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) November 19, 2025

If Winckowski is healthy, I like him as an option. He can perform in a number of roles, is young and has proven MLB success. You can argue that he is a bit redundant with guys like Brad Lord, but you can never have enough pitching. At just 27, Winckowski is a very intriguing option.

The next arm we will discuss played for the Red Sox arch rival, the New York Yankees. Ian Hamilton has been a solid reliever in the Bronx for the last three seasons, but has never been the star of the show. His best season came in 2023, when he posted a 2.64 ERA in 58 innings.

The last couple seasons have been so-so and injury plagued. However, Hamilton’s ERA marks of 3.82 and 4.28 would be helpful for the Nats bullpen. There is also a chance he can recapture his 2023 form at just 30 years old. His 2-seam fastball is nasty and is a thing of beauty at its best.

Ian Hamilton, Vicious 95mph Front Hip Two Seamer

24 inches of Run. pic.twitter.com/yFYg7nW3pU

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 14, 2025

While the 2-seamer is his most visually appealing pitch, Hamilton’s slider is his out pitch. He got hitters to whiff at his slider 50% of the time last season. Each of the last three years, he has generated whiff rates over 40% on the pitch.

Hamilton does have control issues, with walk rates over 10% in two of the last three seasons. However, he has struck out at least 25% of hitters in the last three seasons as well. Hamilton would be a clear upgrade for a Nats bullpen that needs help.

The last arm I want to talk about is Dauri Moreta. After a strong 2023 season, Moreta missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John Surgery. He came back in the second half of last season and showed he was still the same guy. Moreta posted a 3.24 ERA in 18 outings last year.

Moreta’s signature pitch is his slider which has unusual movement. Instead of moving away from right handed hitters, it has almost a screwball type of action. This throws hitters off and gets a lot of swings and misses.

#1: Dauri Moreta, RHP

Recently Non-Tendered by the Pirates, Moreta is a 29 year old right hander. Moreta has a slider that is very intriguing, as seen in the video below. It's got legit results, with a 22.8% swinging strike rate and a good zone rate even coming off a torn UCL. pic.twitter.com/SoT8paa8Ye

— Boston (@BallByBoston) December 6, 2025

Despite throwing the slider well over half of the time, he generates whiffs at around a 40% clip on the pitch. While the slider is his primary pitch, he is not totally a one trick pony. At 95 MPH, Moreta has enough heat on his fastball to keep hitters honest.

He is entering his age 30 season, so Moreta should have plenty of solid years ahead of him. It was a surprise that the Pirates DFA’d him given the fact he looked strong in his return. This should be an opportunity that Paul Toboni explores.

While these are not the biggest names and probably won’t close games for you, all five of these guys are solid options. They will all come quite cheap as well given their flaws or lack of experience. However, all five of these names have a good chance of being upgrades in the Nats bullpen.

If Paul Toboni and his player development team can make some tweaks to these players, they could reach new heights as well. The big name relievers may be off the market, but there are still quality options that will be affordable as well.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...relievers-washington-nationals-should-look-at

 

[Washington Nationals]

What will the Washington Nationals do with their bullpen?

The Nationals bullpen was a major problem in 2025 and the issue is even bigger now that Paul Toboni traded away the team’s most promising reliever Jose A. Ferrer. If Harry Ford becomes a quality starting catcher, the trade will be worth it. However, losing Ferrer makes the Nats bullpen even more of a question mark.

More on the trade that's now official: Nats acquire top catching prospect Harry Ford and right-hander Isaac Lyon from the Mariners for Jose A. Ferrer. https://t.co/khq9BDohVE

— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) December 6, 2025

Last season, the Nats had the worst bullpen in all of baseball, with the unit posting a 5.59 ERA. Now that Kyle Finnegan is in Detroit and Jose A. Ferrer is in Seattle, the Nats are without the two most reliable members of last year’s bullpen. That means Paul Toboni is going to have to largely rebuild this unit from scratch.

Building bullpen’s, at least in the offseason, was never one of Mike Rizzo’s strengths but with Toboni in the door hopefully better bullpens are built. A bullpen is one of those units that you can build on the cheap if you know what you are doing. Teams like the Guardians and the Rays have mastered the art of building cheap bullpen’s.

Toboni came from the Red Sox, who actually had the second best bullpen ERA last year. Outside of Aroldis Chapman, that unit was mostly made up of unheralded guys. Garrett Whitlock, who was the team’s second best reliever came via the Rule 5 Draft. Greg Weissert was a secondary piece in the Alex Verdugo trade and Justin Wilson was a 37 year old who posted an ERA well above 5 the previous season.

Those three guys were the bridge to Aroldis Chapman for the Red Sox. Hopefully Toboni can help bring those kinds of hidden gems to DC. He can actually start that process today in the Rule 5 Draft. The Red Sox have been good at finding bullpen talent in the Rule 5 Draft in recent years. Both Whitlock and Justin Slaten have been quality relievers for them in the last few years.

There are a few relief arms I would like to see Toboni take in the Rule 5 Draft. The one I like the most is Zach McCambley. He was left unprotected by the Marlins, but has proven himself at the AAA level and can slide right into the bullpen. His fastball is not overwhelming, averaging just over 94 MPH, but he can really spin the ball. McCambley’s breaking balls make him a great target for the Nats.

Zach McCambley (RHP, 26)

I expect to McCambley to be selected after very strong showing in the minors in 2025. He posted a 2.60 FIP with a 33.1 K% in 47 relief appearances between AA/AAA.

McCambley features a nice sweeping slider with both a FC and FF that have ELITE spin. pic.twitter.com/mdP6iLAz1q

— Ray Ballstein (@RaysRanter) November 30, 2025

We went over some other Rule 5 candidates in detail, including a couple more relievers. With all the holes in the bullpen, I think it is almost inevitable that the Nats select some sort of reliever today. The Rule 5 pick will not be a high leverage guy in all likelihood, but given the situation, whoever they pick will likely play a pretty big role.

Toboni can also go down the free agent route, which he will likely have to do. I do not think he is going to make some massive splash, but Toboni will likely bring in a couple arms. On the pricier end, Pete Fairbanks or Tyler Rogers would be fun. There are plenty of options still available on the market though.

Internally, the Nats have a few guys who should slot into their bullpen already. Clayton Beeter, PJ Poulin and Cole Henry all showed promise last year and will likely be on the team in 2026. Jackson Rutledge, Orlando Ribalta and Konnor Pilkington had their struggles, but are still on the roster and showed some flashes.

The Nats 2026 bullpen will not be star studded, but hopefully it is more effective than last year. After all, it is tough for the unit to get a whole lot worse. With new coaching, hopefully the unit can punch above its weight. Every year we see previously anonymous relievers around the league break out. Hopefully that can happen for a few of these Nats bullpen arms.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/87816/what-will-washington-nationals-do-with-bullpen

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals lose Josh Bell to the Twins in free agency

In their hunt for a first baseman, the Nats are no longer going to be able to have Josh Bell as a fall back option. According to multiple reports, Bell will be signing with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year $7 million deal with a mutual option for a second year. We will break down what options remain for Paul Toboni.

First baseman Josh Bell and the Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a one-year contract with a mutual option, sources tell ESPN. Bell, 33, is a switch hitter who will play at first and DH for a Twins team making its first big league signing of the winter.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 15, 2025

Last offseason, Mike Rizzo decided to bring back Bell for a second stint with the Nats. He gave Bell a 1-year $6 million deal. For the most part, Bell held up his end of the bargain. He had a brutal April, but played some of his best ball in years after that. After May 1st, Bell hit .267 with 18 homers and an .812 OPS.

Bell was also a strong clubhouse presence for the Nats last year. He was always giving advice to young hitters or doing his great work in the community. Unlike most other additions last offseason, Bell lived up to his deal.

However, he is gone now. The well traveled Bell is checking another team off of his list with the Twins. He is somebody I will always be rooting for regardless of where he plays. Both of his stints with the Nats he started slow, but found a way to turn things around which I love.

With Bell gone, the Nats are going to have to find a new first baseman yet again. We have discussed a couple of the options already. With Josh Naylor and Pete Alonso off the board, Ryan O’Hearn is probably the most ambitious option. He has been very reliable for the last three seasons and was an All-Star last season.

Another guy we discussed is the polarizing Luis Arraez. He is a three time batting champion, but he is a very one dimensional player. There is not much power, speed or defense with Arraez. If the market for him just is not there, he is a guy to consider. For all his flaws, .300 hitters do not grow on trees.

Another player I would throw into the mix is Rhys Hoskins. As most NL East fans know, Hoskins had some great years with the Phillies. He has hit at least 25 homers five times in his career. The Nats have been missing that kind of pop from the first base position for a long time.

Hoskins also draws a ton of walks. Every year he has played in the league, Hoskins has posted a walk rate over 10%. Since tearing his ACL and leaving the Phillies, Hoskins has not quite been the same player, but he has not been bad either. He is entering his age 33 season as well.

This is a player you can bring in on a 1-year deal for a fairly cheap price. In a lineup full of left handed hitters, Hoskins’ righty power could also provide balance to the lineup. He is probably the most realistic option and is a good fit.

A younger, more under the radar option could be Michael Toglia. The 27 year old had a brutal season in 2025, but hit 25 homers for the Rockies in 2024. He had great quality of contact that season and looked like a breakout candidate. However, the wheels really came off for the switch hitter last year.

He would be very cheap, but is also a boom or bust player. Strikeouts have been a big problem for Toglia over the years. However, he could be a guy that Paul Toboni thinks he can unlock. The Rockies have not exactly been known for their player development in recent years.

We will see what happens, but the Nats need a first baseman pretty badly. Unless they decide to make Luis Garcia Jr. a full time first baseman, there is no internal solution right now. Andres Chaparro is a Quad-A player and Yohandy Morales is not ready yet.

The Nats badly need a stop gap first baseman and one of their clear options is off the board. Josh Bell is a player I have a real soft spot for, but given his defense and inconsistency, it makes sense why Toboni would want to go in another direction. It is time for Paul Toboni to dive into the free agent market though.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/mlb...nationals-lose-josh-bell-to-twins-free-agency

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals trade Jake Bennett to the Red Sox for Luis Perales

In what should not come as much of a surprise, Paul Toboni made a trade with his old club, the Boston Red Sox. The trade itself is a bit surprising and a bit random. It is a prospect for prospect swap, with the Nationals trading Jake Bennett to the Red Sox for Luis Perales.

Pitching-prospect trade: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring left-hander Jake Bennett from the Washington Nationals for right-hander Luis Perales, sources tell ESPN. A 1-for-1 deal.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 15, 2025

Both Bennett and Perales are pitching prospects who have had Tommy John Surgery within the last couple years. Perales is ranked as the number 7 prospect in a deep Red Sox system, while Bennett is the 11th ranked prospect in a weaker Nats system. Based on the rankings, this is a win for the Nats.

Based on pure stuff, it is also a win. Perales has some of the loudest stuff in all of the minor leagues. His fastball sits in the upper 90’s and routinely hits triple digits. It is one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues. Perales also has a slider, cutter and changeup that all pop on stuff models. In terms of raw stuff, not many pitchers can match Luis Perales.

Luis Perales (acquired by WSH) is a flame-throwing pitching prospect who returned to the mound this season after undergoing TJS in 2024

Perales has been lauded for having one of the best fastballs in MiLB and the metrics back it up. His stuff looked excellent in the AFL pic.twitter.com/2WNMOAKhy0

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) December 16, 2025

However, there is some volatility here. He had Tommy John Surgery in June of 2024. Perales came back late this season and pitched in the Arizona Fall League. The stuff was as loud as ever, but he had some trouble with control. That command is often the last thing to come back after TJ, so that is not a red flag yet.

Even before the surgery, Perales had some walk issues, but they were getting better in 2024 before he blew out. Before that surgery, Perales was trending towards being one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. He had a 2.94 ERA in 33.2 innings with 56 strikeouts to 12 walks. Toboni also knows this player very well due to his time in Boston.

Breaking: Red Sox are acquiring left hander Jake Bennett from the Washington Nationals for right hander Luis Perales

Here’s Perales throwing 100 mph pic.twitter.com/fPlq66Zabt

— Kev (@klwoodjr) December 16, 2025

Both Perales and Jake Bennett have pitched at AA, but at 22 years old, Perales is three years younger than Bennett. One reason why the Red Sox may have traded Perales though is that he is already on the 40 man roster even though he is not big league ready yet.

This is a classic floor for ceiling swap. Bennett is a high floor prospect who can contribute at the MLB level very soon. He may not be more than a number 4 starter, but he has a good chance of reaching that ceiling.

Jake Bennett was the #6 ranked prospect for the Nationals.

6-6 lefty. 2nd round pick back in 2022. Made 9 starts at Double-A this past season with a 2.56 ERA/3.20 FIP. That included a 6.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9.

Plus control. Funky low 3-quarter arm slot.pic.twitter.com/JzEFZdOooL

— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) December 16, 2025

Perales is much more of a mystery box. If everything clicks, he could be a dynamic arm, potentially at the top of a rotation. He also has the stuff to be a weapon out of the bullpen. However, he still needs to prove he can stay healthy and produce following his Tommy John Surgery.

For the Nats, this is a good gamble to take. The Nats need high upside arms and Perales gives them just that. I am very excited about this trade and I wonder what else Paul Toboni has up his sleeve.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...ls-trade-jake-bennett-to-red-sox-luis-perales

 

[Washington Nationals]

Who will be the Washington Nationals closer in 2026?

With Jose A. Ferrer being dealt to the Mariners for Harry Ford, it is no secret that the Nationals need help in the back end of the bullpen. Even before the Ferrer trade, the Nats bullpen was the worst in all of baseball and needed help. Now the Nats have very few established relievers and even fewer with closing experience.

However, free agent relievers are flying off the board and the market is becoming thin. The Nats were never going to be in on the top of the market guys like Edwin Diaz, Devin Williams, or even Robert Suarez. It is not just those top guys who are off the board though. More realistic targets have found homes as well.

We wrote about the Nats potentially signing Emilio Pagan to reunite him with pitching coach Simon Mathews. However, he decided to go back to the Reds. Kenley Jansen was another veteran name that made some sense as a stop gap closer, but he signed with the Tigers. A Kyle Finnegan reunion is also off the table, as he also signed with the Tigers.

So where does this leave the Nats? Well, it seems like there is a chance that the Nats roll with an internal option as the closer. We discussed Clayton Beeter and his big upside. Of all the in-house guys, he is probably the most likely to close. He has a nasty fastball-slider combination and gets a ton of strikeouts. When Beeter is on his game, he can be unhittable. He does have pretty major control issues though.

The other internal option to close games would be Cole Henry. After a bunch of injuries slowed Henry’s development, he broke through in 2025 as a bullpen arm. His season ERA of 4.27 is not overly impressive, but that number was below 4 for most of the season. Towards the end of the year, Henry hit a wall and ran out of gas.

Henry had not thrown more than 35 innings since 2021, so it makes sense why he faded. With a full season under his belt, Henry should be able to handle the innings better. In a bullpen that was very bad, Henry was one of the best things the Nats bullpen had going on. He even saved two games last season.

Henry’s arsenal is very interesting. His two primary pitches are a 4-seam fastball and a curveball. The heater has a very interesting movement profile due to his low slot and the life on the pitch. It is comparable to some of the best fastballs in the game on pure movement.

Tatsuya Imai's fastball comps really really well to Joe Ryan's once you account for arm angle and movement. But it's faster. pic.twitter.com/NH6yPwYJp9

— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) November 19, 2025

His curveball has a ton of movement and looks almost like a sweeper. It has more side to side movement than a traditional 12-6 curve. Both the fastball and curveball generated whiff rates over 29% last season. Henry also threw a sinker, a cutter and a changeup. However, none of them were great and all were used less than 10% of the time. Finding that third pitch could take Henry’s game to the next level. If Toboni and the development team can unlock Henry, he could be a fun closing option.

Despite the options being limited, there are a couple free agent relief options I would trust to close. The first name is Luke Weaver. He has spent the past couple years in the Yankees bullpen and was very good. Weaver posted a 2.89 ERA in 2024 and a 3.62 ERA last season.

Weaver struggled a bit down the stretch and was awful in the playoffs, but he is still a fun arm. He is primarily a fastball/changeup guy and both pitches are excellent. The fastball averages 19 inches of carry, which is well above average. It also has good velocity at 95 MPH. That is why he can throw the pitch almost 60% of the time and it is still highly effective.

Luke Weaver could be a solid bullpen target for the Cubs.

Projected Contract: 2 years, $18M

2025:
64.2 IP | 3.62 ERA | 1.02 WHIP | 72 K

He paired a 31.0% whiff rate with a 32.8% chase rate, which led to a 27.5% K%. pic.twitter.com/s2qWHgHVsZ

— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) November 15, 2025

Weaver’s out pitch is a devastating changeup that he will throw to righties or lefties. Last season he generated whiffs at a 43.9% clip on the changeup. In 2023, it was even better, with hitters whiffing 48% of the time. Opponents only hit .129 against the changeups last year.

He will mix in a cutter and a slider, but Weaver is mostly a two pitch guy. Weaver should get a deal around what Emilio Pagan got, which was 2-years $20 million. If the Nats want to, they could try offering him a higher AAV one year deal. Weaver could be a valuable asset to flip at the deadline.

The other potential closer on the market is Shawn Armstrong. He is coming off an excellent season with the Rangers, where he posted a 2.31 ERA in 74 innings. Despite the last name, Armstrong does not have great velocity for a righty reliever, sitting around 93-94 MPH with his fastball.

Shawn Armstrong has ICE IN HIS VEINS

: @RangersSNtv pic.twitter.com/WtgOcMASfi

— Rangers Nation ️ (@Rangers__Nation) September 7, 2025

He makes up for that by using a balanced four pitch mix. Armstrong throws a 4-seamer, a cutter, a sinker and a sweeper. He uses all four pitches between 23 and 29% of the time. Batters hit under .200 against all four pitches last year.

His .169 BABIP was unsustainably low, so there will be some built in regression here. However, he was very good at generating soft contact, so he should still be solid. While BABIP is volatile, it is not totally luck based either. Pitchers who keep the ball off the barrel and generate soft contact like Armstrong does tend to have lower BABIP’s.

Armstrong should get a one or two year deal. A two year deal wouldn’t feel great, but the Nats need bullpen help from somewhere. I understand that 2026 is a rebuilding year, but the Nats owe it to the fans to at least put out a semi-respectable product. Armstrong would help with that.

Names are coming off the board quicker now, so Paul Toboni is going to have to act. The Nats are one of only three teams not to sign a free agent and they have not been publicly linked to any.

This will need to change and hopefully soon. The Nats need help badly at first base and in the pitching staff. Bringing in players at those positions would not block any young players either. It is time to get this party started!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/87895/who-will-be-washington-nationals-closer-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

Could Luis Perales be the Washington Nationals closer of the future?

Just Yesterday, we wrote about how the Nats do not have a ton of options to close games with Jose A. Ferrer gone. Well, Paul Toboni might have made a trade that landed the Nats their closer of the future in Luis Perales. The Nats should continue to develop Perales as a starter, but if he ends up in the bullpen, he has the stuff to close.

If you missed it, Paul Toboni called up his old team to make a deal. It was a rare prospect for prospect swap. The Nats sent the high floor lefty Jake Bennett to Boston for flamethrowing righty Luis Perales. If both guys hit their ceilings, the Nats will comfortably get the better of this move, but Perales is a higher risk prospect.

If everything totally clicks for Perales, he could potentially be a number 2 starter. He has the stuff to accomplish that. Back in 2024, he was trending in that direction when he posted a 2.94 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. However, his arm gave out on him and he underwent Tommy John Surgery.

He came back at the end of this season. The stuff was very much intact, but his command was not. That is not too unusual for a prospect freshly off of Tommy John. Command is usually the last thing to come back. The stuff was electric though. Out of the 43 triple digit fastballs in the Arizona Fall League, Perales threw 20 of them.

There were 43 pitches thrown at 100 mph or harder during the 2025 Arizona Fall League. @RedSox prospect Luis Perales was responsible for 20 of them.

Here's how Perales and the rest of Boston's AFL crop fared in the desert: https://t.co/aoWv0sQgmH pic.twitter.com/Nw0uVCsHVk

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 21, 2025

Given his insane velocity, his injury history and his smaller 6’1 frame, the bullpen feels like a real possibility. Signed out of Venezuela for only $75,000, Perales was a big hit for the Red Sox, but has only thrown 163.1 pro innings. Obviously it would be ideal for him to stick as a starter, but if he has to go to the bullpen he has special upside. Perales’ fastball, cutter, slider and splitter can all be electric when he is on.

The fastball averages 99 MPH and has a ton of life as well. He generates so much arm speed with his smaller frame. However, his fastball command can be spotty. A lot of the time Perales actually commands his cutter better than his fastball. Luckily for him, the cutter is also nasty. It sits at 91 MPH and can get whiffs as well as soft contact.

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

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

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) October 15, 2025

He also throws a traditional slider at around 86 MPH to go along with it. Most evaluators like the cutter more, but the slider gives him another option. Against lefties, he deploys a nasty splitter as an out pitch. It can be inconsistent, but when he has a good feel for the pitch, it can be untouchable.

Trade Breakdown

Luis Perales | RHP | 22 yo | AAA

Perales only logged 2.1 IP this year following his return from TJS he underwent in 2024.

Here’s a 2024 start

Strikeouts come easy for Luis with his excellent FB/SL/SPL combo, but command is an issue.pic.twitter.com/dJdxDs2LGr

— Nats Of The Future (@NatsOfTheFuture) December 16, 2025

This profile just screams closer to me. A smaller guy with insane stuff, control question marks and durability concerns is best suited to a relief role. Perales’ career high in innings is only 89.2 and he has only thrown more than 50 innings once.

However, given Paul Toboni’s knowledge of the Red Sox farm system, I am confident in his evaluation of Perales. Despite not throwing a ton in the Minor Leagues, Perales should be in the big leagues relatively soon. He is already on the 40-man roster and only has one option year left.

With that in mind, he will probably get some run in the big leagues at some point this season. He is going to have to stick in the big leagues in 2027 due to the lack of option years. With his stuff, I am confident that he will be able to stick in some capacity.

The stuff is truly world class and can overwhelm even MLB hitters. Before going down with Tommy John, Perales showed improved strike-throwing, only walking 8% of hitters in 2024. The command was not there in a very small sample size in 2025, but as he gets further removed from Tommy John, that should improve.

Sure, this is a risk, but it is a risk worth taking for the Nats. There are not many pitchers who can do the things that Luis Perales can do. Jake Bennett is a nice prospect, but his ceiling is capped. He does not have the kind of swing and miss stuff that Perales does. Bennett can be a nice back of the rotation piece, but it is tough to see much more than that.

If everything works for Perales, he can be in the middle or even at the front of a rotation. However, the more I look at him, a high leverage relief role seems like Perales’ most likely role. If the control does not bounce back, there will be issues. However, Paul Toboni was with the Red Sox during Perales’ recovery, so he knows more about him than most.

This is a real swing for the fences from Paul Toboni. There is risk but I really think that Luis Perales has a chance to be the Nats closer as soon as 2027. Not many pitchers have 99 MPH heaters with elite ride as well as a plus cutter, a potentially plus splitter and a solid slider. Perales is doing all of this at just 22 years old. Pitchers like this do not grow on trees.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ales-be-washington-nationals-closer-of-future

 

[Washington Nationals]

Will the Washington Nationals continue to add to the starting rotation?

Yesterday, Paul Toboni made his first free agent addition, signing left handed pitcher Foster Griffin from Japan. Griffin should bolster the back end of a rotation that needs help after a rough 2025. With Griffin in the fold, will Paul Toboni continue to attack the starting pitching market?

Nationals are signing LHP Foster Griffin to a 1-year, $5.5 million deal, pending physical, source confirms. 30-year-old starter made 7 MLB appearances with KC/TOR from 2020-22 but spent last 3 seasons in Japan, where he had a 2.57 ERA, 1.033 WHIP. (@ByRobertMurray reported first)

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) December 16, 2025

Well, this could really go either way. On the one hand, the Nats have plenty of guys who can start games now. MacKenzie Gore, Cade Cavalli, Foster Griffin, Brad Lord, Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and Andrew Alvarez are all options to start games. However, they do not have much proven quality and a potential MacKenzie Gore trade still looms large.

If a Gore trade does come and the package does not include MLB ready pitching, the Nats will likely be forced back into the starting pitching market. It is likely to be a rebuilding year, but you still need to have enough innings to get through a season. Without Gore, the options begin to get very light.

I still think a Gore trade is likely despite the noise around the move calming down in the past week. The Gore market is being held up by the logjam of high end free agent starting pitchers. Once guys like Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, Michael King and Ranger Suarez find homes, the Gore market will get hot again. Right now, the pitching market is in a holding pattern.

If Gore does end up leaving, the Nats are going to have to find a way to replace his innings. While Foster Griffin is an intriguing pickup, he has not been the most durable guy in Japan. He has not thrown more than 121 innings in any of his three seasons in the NPB. While Gore is not a 200 inning workhorse, he has thrown 166.1 and 159.2 innings in the last two seasons.

There are a couple free agent innings eaters I would explore in this scenario. The first one is a guy that new pitching coach Simon Mathews is familiar with in Nick Martinez. Since coming back from Japan in 2022, Martinez has thrown at least 100 innings in each of the last four seasons.

He has done this in a hybrid role where he alternates between being a starter and a swingman. Over the years, his role has been similar to what Brad Lord did last year. In 2025, Martinez made the majority of his appearances in the rotation for the first time since coming back from Japan. He made 40 appearances, with 26 of them being starts.

In that role, he logged 165.2 innings while posting a 4.45 ERA. He was much more successful in 2024, posting a 3.10 ERA in 142.1 innings for the Reds. Martinez relies on generating soft contact to get outs. That is why he had success despite pitching in the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark.

nick martinez is a master at limiting hard contact pic.twitter.com/5OjbyMZg9A

— Michael Rosen (@bymichaelrosen) November 18, 2024

At 35, Martinez would get a good veteran to put in the rotation to eat innings. The Nats could promise him a role as a full time starting pitcher, something Martinez would probably covet. That swingman role is valuable, but most pitchers prefer being a real starting pitcher.

Martinez could come in on a one-year deal and eat about 165 innings. It will not be anything flashy, but Martinez has a deep six pitch mix that can fool hitters. He can eat innings while being more effective than guys like Parker or Irvin. His deal would probably be about 10-12 million for one year.

There is another innings eater who played for the Reds that also intrigues me. Zack Littell is likely in the market for a multi-year deal, but I think he is worth pulling the trigger on. Littell spent most of his career as a reliever, but has transformed into an innings-eating starter over the last two seasons.

Last season Littell ate 186.2 innings while posting a solid 3.81 ERA. That was a solid follow up to his first season as a full time starter in 2024, when he posted a 3.63 ERA in 156.1 innings. Again, he does not do anything flashy, but Littell gets the job done.

FREE AGENT TARGET

SP – Zack Littell

2025 Regular Season:
10-8
32 GS
3.81 ERA
186.2 IP
130 K
1.10 WHIP
3.2 WAR pic.twitter.com/vemMioU1eC

— SleeperPadres (@SleeperPadres) December 16, 2025

Zack Littell is a command specialist. Last season, he only walked 4.2% of hitters, which ranked in the 98th percentile. He pounds the zone, but also generates plenty of chase outside the zone. The stuff is not great, so he can get hit around at times. Littell also has a pretty big home run problem, allowing over 30 in each of the last two seasons.

In 2025, he pitched in two hitter friendly parks in Cincinnati and the Rays temporary home which has the same dimensions as Yankees stadium. Nationals Park can play small in the summer time, but it is more of a neutral stadium.

Like Griffin and Martinez, Littell has a deep and unpredictable pitch mix. A deal for Littell would likely come in the two-year $24 million range. Even if the budget is not huge, there is no excuse for not being able to make that deal if you want the player.

There is no guarantee that the Nats add starting pitching. It would probably happen if Gore is moved, but Paul Toboni could focus on improving from within. Guys like Irvin and Parker have the potential to be innings eaters with decent results, but they were bad last year.

Both of those guys threw their fastballs way too much. If they can expand their pitch mixes, they could be those back of the rotation innings eaters. Irvin in particular is someone I really liked in 2024. If he can deepen his mix and find some of the velocity he lost, he could become a factor again.

However, that is no guarantee. Foster Griffin is a nice piece to add to the back of the rotation, but the job is not finished yet. There is a potential MacKenzie Gore trade coming that would shake up the Nats rotation in a big way. If Gore goes and Paul Toboni opts for a return led by a guy like Bryce Eldridge, the Nats will need to add more to the starting rotation.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...n-nationals-continue-add-to-starting-rotation

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals hire Ani Kilambi to be the GM under Paul Toboni

Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni just made a major move in the front office, hiring Ani Kilambi to be the GM. This is a move that came out of the blue. For a high profile position like GM, there was no buzz around the Nats hiring Kilambi. However, the move has been made, and Kilambi will be leaving the Phillies to join the Nats.

The Washington Nationals are hiring Ani Kilambi as their new general manager, sources tell ESPN. Kilambi, 31, had been an assistant GM with Philadelphia overseeing its R&D department and will join new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni in rebuilding the Nationals.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 17, 2025

At 31 years old, Kilambi fits the archetype that Paul Toboni has been looking for in the front office. In a room full of young executives, Kilambi is one of the youngest. That is not to say he lacks experience though. He has been working in baseball for nearly a decade now. Right after he got out of college, he went to work for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Even before he left school, Kilambi had an internship with the Rays organization before that turned into a full time job. Interestingly, Kilambi went to Cal Berkeley just like Toboni, but it is unclear if they had any crossover. Kilambi spent 5.5 years in the Rays organization. He worked on the R&D side of things, working his way up in one of the smartest organizations in baseball.

In 2021, Kilambi left to be an Assistant GM for the Phillies, where he has been ever since. While in Philadelphia, Kilambi ran the Phillies research and development department. When he joined the Phillies, he was only 27 years old, which shows how much of a prodigy he is.

Dave Dombrowski is seen as more of an old school guy. However, he has adapted as an executive, which is a big reason why he has been so successful for so long. Kilambi played a big role in helping Dombrowski on the analytical side. The Inquirer actually wrote an interesting profile on him about a year back.

New Nats GM Ani Kilambi is another analytics demonhttps://t.co/yvO4rMFZdC

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) December 17, 2025

This hire is both expected and unexpected. On the one hand, this totally fits the bill of a Paul Toboni hire. Kilambi is an up and coming executive who is very young. That is a profile that Toboni loves to target. He also fills a need in the organization as well. Toboni, as well as Devin Pearson and Justin Horowitz come from scouting backgrounds. They needed an R&D guy to fill their blind spots. Kilambi, and also Mike DeBartolo will help out with that.

However, this is also a bit unexpected. Back in November, Toboni said he was not planning on hiring a GM, but here we are just a month later and Ani Kilambi is the Nats GM. I am curious to know how we got here.

Back in November, Paul Toboni said, for the time being, he wasn't planning on hiring a GM.

But during his initial press conference back in October, he said he had the support to hire one if he felt it was best for the organization: pic.twitter.com/YpdyJPLQDf

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 17, 2025

This is just an educated guess, but Toboni really wanted Kilambi, but the only way to get him out of Philadelphia was to offer him this GM role. That is just my view, but it is something that makes logical sense.

With this title, Kilambi will be above the likes of Pearson, Horowitz and DeBartolo on the organizational depth chart. The only man he will have to answer to is Paul Toboni. This is another big and very interesting swing by Toboni. I am not sure how this new project will work out, but it is ambitious and I am fascinated to see how it goes.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...s-hire-ani-kilambi-to-be-gm-under-paul-toboni

 

[Washington Nationals]

How will the Washington Nationals use the DH position in 2026?

We have talked a lot about how the Nationals need pitching and first base help. However, one position we have not really talked about is DH. For most of last season, Josh Bell was the DH, while Nathaniel Lowe played first base. With both of those guys gone, what will the Nats do at the position?

Well, it seems like the Nats are not going to bring in a full time DH like they did last year. Instead, the Nats are going to have a rotation at the position. This makes a lot of sense and it was what the team did after Nathaniel Lowe got let go in August.

Teams have figured out that unless you have an elite masher at DH like Kyle Schwarber or Shohei Ohtani, having a rotation is the smart thing to do. It allows you to give players a rest without taking them out of the lineup. Also, it helps you play the matchups as well.

Mark Zuckerman reported that the new regime led by Paul Toboni seems to prefer this rotation strategy. With the Nationals glut of outfielders, this makes a lot of sense. The Nats have a lot of bodies and rotating the DH position helps get these young guys more playing time.

More from the Winter Meetings on CJ Abrams, Brady House and how the Nationals intend to use the DH position. https://t.co/l6pIrrUc0A

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) December 12, 2025

With that in mind, who are some potential candidates for this DH rotation? Well, the first one is James Wood. He actually played 33 games at DH last year and should do something like that again. Wood is not a great defensive outfielder, but he is not bad enough to make a full time DH either. With his athleticism, he should be working to improve in the outfield, but playing DH once or twice a week would not be a bad thing either.

Daylen Lile is another outfielder who could spend time at DH. Like Wood, he is a good athlete, but not a good defender. Both Wood and Lile should get the occasional DH day to get a defensive specialist like Jacob Young in the lineup. Lile is a big part of the Nats future, so keeping him fresh is a positive. However, improving his defense should also be a big goal this year.

DAYLEN LILE, INSIDE-THE-PARK HOMER IN EXTRAS pic.twitter.com/QUmqYNemFQ

— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2025

Whoever the Nats bring in to play first base will also get the occasional DH day most likely. Given first base is at the bottom of the defensive pyramid, that only makes sense. The Nats also have Luis Garcia Jr., who has been working on playing first base.

Speaking of Garcia, he is another candidate to DH. As of right now, he is the Nats starting second baseman. However, he is a poor defender and there has been talk of him playing more first base this season. Why not put him at DH as well?

A few positional notes from Paul Toboni: He views Harry Ford as a catcher. Said his hope is that in a few years, he'll be an impactful defensive catcher.

Also said Luis García Jr. will continue to get reps at 1B in the winter leagues. Believes it'll make him more versatile.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) December 8, 2025

There will probably be days where Blake Butera wants the defense of Nasim Nunez and just puts Garcia at DH. It will be interesting to see if they would ever experiment with playing Nunez at shortstop and CJ Abrams at second base on those days. Toboni and Butera have made it clear that they see Abrams as a shortstop, but giving him some defensive versatility could be interesting.

Whenever Nunez played second and Abrams played shortstop last year it made me chuckle a bit because Nunez is so much better as a defensive shortstop. Obviously, the organization was prioritizing Abrams, but it still made me chuckle.

Since the DH came to the National League, the Nats have had a full time DH. Whether it was Nelson Cruz, Joey Meneses, Jesse Winker or Josh Bell, the Nats usually had a guy who played DH every day. Like so many other things, that will change in the Paul Toboni era.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/87965/how-will-washington-nationals-use-dh-position-in-2026

 

[Washington Nationals]

Everything You Need To Know About New Washington Nationals General Manager Ani Kilambi

Paul Toboni made a surprising but exciting decision yesterday when he named Ani Kilambi the new general manager of the Washington Nationals. As the GM, Kilambi will serve as the second in command to Toboni, handling more of the day-to-day aspects, including, but not limited to, waiver claims and lower-level trades.

At just 31 years old, Kilambi will fit right in with what is becoming the youngest front office in all of sports easily. He brings with him a strong background of analytical skill, a common theme of this entire new front office, but also a great ability to explain his knowledge in ways that players and coaches can understand and apply. Let’s take a look at how he got to the point of becoming the youngest general manager in all of baseball, and the third youngest GM in baseball history, behind only Theo Epstein and Jon Daniels at 28 years old each.

Toboni Ties

Like POBO Paul Toboni, Ani Kilambi attended the University of California, Berkeley for college, where he double majored in statistics and operations research & management science from 2012 to 2016. In the summer of 2015, he got his beginnings in MLB with an AL East Team, similar to Paul Toboni, joining the Tampa Bay Rays as a baseball research and development intern for the summer.

After graduating, Kilambi joined the Rays full-time as a baseball R&D assistant. He would then spend the next 5 years working his way up the Rays front office, taking on multiple analytical roles such as a predictive model analyst and assistant director of baseball R&D, before finally becoming the Rays director of decision science in 2021. Tops Rays executives often cited Kilambi during that 2021 season as one of the reasons for their strong bullpen and ability to continually churn out great relievers.

There aren’t many better organizations in baseball to jumpstart your career than Tampa Bay, and Kilambi proved he not only fit in there, but that he was one of their brightest young minds.

Working With The Enemy

Unfortunately for the Nats, the Phillies realized what a sharp baseball mind Kilambi was before they did, poaching him from the Rays to become one of their assistant general managers in November 2021. Along with the assistant GM role, the Phillies also placed Kilambi in charge of the club’s baseball research and development, as well as the use of data throughout the organization.

While this may seem like a large responsibility to place on the shoulders of a 28-year-old, Kilambi not only handled it, but he thrived, nearly doubling the organization’s R&D department in 2 years and taking the Phillies from one of the most old-school organizations in baseball to one of the most forward-thinking.

The Phillies reached the World Series in Kilambi’s first season with the club, and his improvements to the ballclub’s analytical methods played a large part in that. Over his 4 years with the club, the Phillies have been a powerhouse in the NL, making large strides, especially in their pitching development, churning out studs such as Christopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Orion Kerkering.

New Chapter In The Nation’s Capital

Kilambi now takes on his greatest challenge yet, becoming the second in command to an organization that is one of the most old-school in the sport and coming off their 6th consecutive season under .500. I have no doubt a large reason Kilambi landed this job was the confidence of Toboni that he could turn this organization’s way of thinking around, much like he did in Philadelphia, and he will be supported by a front office which shares the same goal. Kilambi has gone to 9 consecutive postseasons as a member of the Rays and Phillies front offices, and while it would be a long shot, perhaps he can help make it 10 in a row in 2026 with the Nats.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...hington-nationals-general-manager-ani-kilambi

 

[Washington Nationals]

What the Shane Baz trade tell us about the MacKenzie Gore market

The starting pitching dominoes are finally starting to fall. After Michael King returned to the Padres last night, the Orioles made a big move that set the trade market for starting pitchers. They traded for Shane Baz of the Rays in a deal that sent five pieces to Tampa, including highly touted outfielder Slater De Brun.

Trade news: The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring right-hander Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-hander Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn as well as a Competitive Balance Round A pick, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 19, 2025

The Baz trade tells us a lot about the MacKenzie Gore market because they are pretty similar. Both Baz and Gore are former big time prospects who have shown big time flashes in the MLB, but have not put it all together yet. Gore has been the better and healthier pitcher of the two, posting a lower ERA while throwing nearly double the innings.

Last season, Baz posted a 4.87 ERA in 166.1 innings. It was also the first time he had thrown 100 innings in an MLB season. With that in mind, why would the O’s want to part with so much to get him? Well, Baz still has a very high ceiling and can be nasty when he is on his game. His fastball averages 97 MPH and he struck out almost 25% of hitters.

New Orioles SP Shane Baz's fastball velocity ranked in the 88th percentile in MLB last season. He mixes his heater with a curve, cutter and changeup.

The once-hot rising prospect underwent Tommy John surgery in Sept. 2022, missed the entire 2023 season.

Baz, 26, tossed…

— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) December 19, 2025

At just 26 years old, Baz still has the ability to become a number two starter. Gore and Baz have a similar ceiling, but Gore is more proven. However, Baz has an additional year of team control compared to Gore, which adds value. Overall, I would expect Gore to have more value, but not by all that much.

With that in mind, let’s dive into what the Rays actually got back. With five pieces in the deal, it was certainly a quantity over quality deal. None of the guys they got back are top 100 prospects, but a couple have top 100 upside.

Slater De Brun is probably the biggest piece in the deal. While he was picked 37th overall, he signed an overslot deal that paid him $4 million. De Brun is a speedy outfielder, who has a leadoff hitter skillset. He is not the biggest guy, but he has decent power as well.

Caden Bodine is another big name in the package. He was the 30th pick in the draft, but did not get paid as much as De Brun. Bodine is a catching prospect with elite contact skills and framing ability. There are questions about his power and overall athleticism, but he is a safe prospect.

The third prospect in the deal is pitcher Michael Forret. He had a great season in High-A and Double-A, posting a 1.58 ERA while striking out 91 batters in 74 innings. Forret has a deep pitch mix and a mid 90’s fastball. If he continues to roll, he could be a top 100 prospect.

The Rays also got Austin Overn and a competitive balance pick. Overall, this is a strong haul and should set the floor for a MacKenzie Gore trade. I would like to see Paul Toboni get a true headliner rather than take this quantity first approach. However, we now know what the starting pitching market looks like.

I am throwing this out into the world:

Paul Toboni knows the value of his players very well. I imagine Mackenzie Gore moves in the next few days now that he's let someone else go first

The leverage is on Toboni's side now that the price for young controllable pitching is set pic.twitter.com/XBUbh6vtbo

— Baseball Unstitched Podcast (@BaseUnstitched) December 19, 2025

With all of this movement starting to come and a GM now in place underneath Toboni, I would not be surprised to see a Gore trade in the next few days. It is something that should happen. Gore is a good pitcher with big upside, but he only has two years of control and is not an ace.

If the Nats can cash in on Gore, it would not only help them in the long term, I think it could help them as soon as 2027 if they get the deal right. It would be a bit of a disappointment if they held onto Gore given the market. Hopefully Toboni has something up his sleeve here now that the dominoes are really starting to fall.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/mlb...baz-trade-tell-us-about-mackenzie-gore-market