News Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals claim Joey Wiemer off of waivers

Paul Toboni has made his first move of 2026. The Nats claimed Joey Wiemer off of waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Wiemer was a former top 100 prospect in the Brewers system, but his unrefined offensive game has led to him struggling to lock down an MLB role.

Sources: The Nationals have claimed outfielder Joey Wiemer off waivers. Wiemer, a former top prospect with the Brewers, was most recently designated for assignment by the Giants.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 5, 2026

The Nats appear to be giving Wiemer a chance. He is a 6’4 226 pound outfielder with elite athleticism. However, he has big whiff and plate discipline issues. So far in his career, the 26 year old has played for the Brewers, the Reds and the Marlins. He was picked up by the Giants this offseason, but was later DFA’d. Now he is with the Nats.

Wiemer’s best tools are his legs and his glove. Last season, Wiemer posted three outs above average in just 27 games. When he got real playing time back in 2023, Wiemer had a fielding run value of +10. His range combined with an absolute cannon of an arm makes him a weapon in the outfield.

Nats have claimed Joey Wiemer off waivers

pic.twitter.com/ExLoBSUJNY

— Kev (@klwoodjr) January 5, 2026

Wiemer also has big time power. In 499 career plate appearances, Wiemer has 16 homers. His exit velocities are also very good. However, his aggression and strikeouts have made him a liability at the plate. For his career, Wiemer has a .203 average with a .638 OPS.

Last season, Wiemer was solid in a brief stint with the Marlins. He posted a .715 OPS in 61 PA’s. However, he did strike out 37.7% of the time and only walked 3.3% of the time. At the plate, you just hope Wiemer can run into one.

However, his splits do intrigue me a bit. Wiemer is much better against left handed pitching. For his career, Wiemer has a .255 average with a .779 OPS against lefties. Meanwhile, he has a .178 average with a .559 OPS against righties.

If Wiemer sticks on the roster, he will probably be a platoon center fielder. Given the volume of outfielders the Nats have, I would not be surprised if he is DFA’d again at some point. The Nats probably hope he would go unclaimed and be a part of their system.

With this move, the Nats 40 man roster is full. If/when the Nats make another move, they are going to have to DFA somebody. To be honest, there are plenty of candidates, including Wiemer himself. Hopefully Joey Wiemer can establish himself as a strong center field defender who can crush lefties.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ngton-nationals-claim-joey-wiemer-off-waivers

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals claim Blue Jays RHP Paxton Schultz off of waivers

After claiming Joey Wiemer on Monday, Paul Toboni is using the waiver wire again. This time he has claimed Blue Jays pitcher Paxton Schultz. I like this claim, and think Schultz will have a place on the roster. He is a swing man, who can fill a variety of roles and also has solid stuff.

The Nationals have claimed pitcher Paxton Schultz off waivers, per source.

Schultz pitched in 13 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. Was used as a reliever/opener in 2025. He was DFA’d so Toronto could clear space on their roster for Kazuma Okamoto.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) January 9, 2026

Last season, Schultz made his debut for the Blue Jays, making 13 appearances, with two of them being starts. He held his own at the MLB level posting a respectable 4.38 ERA in 24.2 innings. Schultz’s combination of strikeouts and solid command makes him an interesting arm.

With the Blue Jays, Schultz struck out 25.5% of hitters and walked just 7.3% of them. He does this with a strong four pitch mix. His fastball averaged a touch below 94 MPH, but the pitch has a lot of carry. That movement profile is why Schultz had a 26.3% whiff rate on his heater. His most used secondary pitch is a cutter, which also has good whiff numbers. Schultz throws a changeup, mostly to lefties and a slider, mostly to righties. It is a solid mix that can get results in the MLB.

Recently-DFA'd RHP Paxton Schultz could be worth a #Padres waiver claim.

In 2025 at the MLB level:
– 25.5% K | 7.3% BB
– 27.4% Whiff & Chase (32.7% vs FC)
– 1.46 HR/9, .333 BABIP can indicate positive regression

Has 2 MiLB options left, solid swingman addition? pic.twitter.com/fTZ3531TtD

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) January 5, 2026

He may not have a true plus pitch, but he has a solid mix and good control. Schultz gives up more hard contact and home runs than you would like to see though. He struggled with the long ball in his first MLB stint.

Schultz will be a multi inning relief option for the Nats. With guys like Schultz, Brad Lord, Andrew Alvarez and Mitchell Parker, I wonder if the Nats get more creative in how they deploy their pitchers. Do not be surprised if we see more bullpen games in 2026.

At 28, Schultz is not a youngster, but he is not old either. There could be more untapped potential, though I am not sure how much. He grinded his way to the MLB as a former 14th round pick, earning everything he has gotten.

Nats have claimed Paxton Schultz off waivers

Check out his story:

pic.twitter.com/SgQRSj7tr0

— Kev (@klwoodjr) January 9, 2026

I think Schultz has a good chance of sticking on the Nats roster for a while. He has two option years, so he can go up and down when needed. Optionable arms are something GM’s like to have. It gives them more flexibility. If the Nats just need innings to fill, they can turn to Schultz.

This claim is probably going to be more impactful than the Wiemer claim. Schultz has a clearer path to playing time and has been more productive. He may not be a flashy piece, but Paxton Schultz will fill a role for the Washington Nationals.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...ls-claim-blue-jays-paxton-schultz-off-waivers

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals have an array of hybrid arms

The waiver claim of Paxton Schultz continues an interesting trend for the Washington Nationals. They now have quite a few pitchers that profile well in a multi-inning relief role. This makes me think that the Nats may get creative in how they use their pitchers in 2026.

Last season, the Nats used a standard five man rotation and a conventional bullpen structure. The rotation changed based on who was available, but the Nats plan was to have their starters go at least five innings if possible. Based on the makeup of the pitching staff, that may change in 2026. We wrote about this concept about a month ago.

With a more analytical mind in Paul Toboni running the show, the Nats might get more creative in how they distribute innings. I have a feeling they will use two long relief types to get through six innings much more this season. They have the arms to do this and this strategy might be the best way to maximize them.

Paxton Schultz is a perfect example of this. Last season, he made 13 appearances and two starts. He got more than three outs in 8 of his 13 outings. Schultz spent most of his Minor League career as a starter, before becoming a swingman in 2024. He has a four pitch mix that allows him to go through a lineup more than once as well. Schultz is just a Swiss Army Knife type of an arm.

Nats claim Paxton Shultz

In 24.2 IP, he showed good underlying batted-ball metrics + a knack for soft contact

His biggest knock is “Stuff” sporting below average velo and movement across the board

We’d expect him to add a sinker as it fits his current arsenal (FF, FC, CH, SL) pic.twitter.com/ohT17hSXRR

— Baseball Unstitched Podcast (@BaseUnstitched) January 9, 2026

If you need three outs in the middle innings, Schultz can do that. If you need a mop up guy, Schultz can be your man. If you need a spot start, Schultz can do that as well. He will not blow you away, but in a 162 game season, you need out getters. When you do not have a great rotation, these types of arms are valuable. Paul Toboni seems to understand this well.

Brad Lord is another example of a guy who can do the same sort of stuff. He is a better option to start games than Schultz, but he also has bullpen experience. Last season, Lord made 48 appearances, with 19 being starts. His numbers were better in the bullpen, but he also held his own in the rotation.

Brad Lord's 2Ks in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/n8uxe6C8OF

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 8, 2025

Like Schultz, Lord can just be a chess piece on a pitching staff. He can float between the rotation and the bullpen, filling both roles admirably. In the modern game, this skillset is more valuable than ever. Only top of the rotation type arms tend to go deep in the game these days, so you need to find a way to fill innings.

I can envision the Nats just going into some random Tuesday night game, and asking Lord to give them four innings and Schultz deliver two innings. That is almost as good as a starter giving you six innings.

Another guy I could see doing this is Andrew Alvarez. He was very impressive in his five MLB starts, posting a 2.31 ERA. However, he did not go very deep into his starts. Alvarez relies on deception and fooling hitters. This leads to deeper counts and a high pitch count. It also makes him less effective when hitters see him more.

Andrew Alvarez impressed in 5 starts (2.31 ERA, tons of weak contact). Small sample, but he looked legit. Should he get a real shot at the 2026 rotation? pic.twitter.com/xnBRdZscpM

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) November 17, 2025

However, Alvarez is good at fooling hitters for three or four innings. If you pair him with another multi-inning reliever, you can get six solid innings. Of course, you cannot do this every game and need guys to give length.

MacKenzie Gore can do that if he is not traded. He may not deliver seven innings, but he will usually give you five or six. Jake Irvin is also a classic innings eater. Hopefully Cade Cavalli can take a step and be a difference making starter as well. He has the stuff and the frame, but has had injury and consistency issues.

Mitchell Parker and maybe Trevor Williams when he returns are also candidates to fill this bulk role as well. The Nats pitching staff is short on proven commodities, and certainly will not be a strength as currently constructed. However, I have faith in the front office to make the unit better than it was last year.

Between improved player development and creative deployment, I trust this regime to get the most out of what they have. It will be far from perfect, but I have faith that there will be steps in the right direction. Eventually, the Nats will need to go all in on acquiring top line starting pitching, but let’s cross that bridge when we get there.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/88317/the-washington-nationals-have-array-hybrid-arms

 

[Washington Nationals]

Has Washington Nationals prospect Travis Sykora become underrated?

Since he was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Travis Sykora was seen as a crown jewel in the Nationals system. Despite not being taken until the 71st pick, Sykora got $2.6 million, which was top 35 money in his class. He was a 6’6 flamethrower from Texas with an upper 90’s fastball, and more polish than expected.

Sykora idolizes Nolan Ryan, and it is easy to see that on the mound. Like Ryan, Sykora has a big leg kick and produces easy velocity. In 2024 and the first half of 2025, Sykora was trending to be a future ace. He posted a 2.33 ERA in 2024 with a crazy 39.2% strikeout rate. Sykora just overwhelmed Low-A hitters with his mix of stuff and polish.

It was more of the same to start in 2025. After a delayed start to the season due to offseason hip surgery, Sykora was dominant. He had a few tuneup outings in rookie ball and Low-A, but really got going in High-A. In six High-A starts, he posted a 1.21 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. He looked like a man amongst boys at yet another level.

Foot on the GAS! ️

Travis Sykora struck out in 6.0 scoreless innings, his 7th scoreless outing in 10 starts this season. pic.twitter.com/YBtk3uDhxq

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) June 25, 2025

However, things came crashing down very quickly. Sykora had a couple starts in AA, where he was still getting strikeouts, but was walking more guys. The more patient hitters were not chasing his pitches as much. This is something Sykora would have likely been able to adapt to, but he did not get the chance.

After striking out the side in the first inning of his second AA start, Sykora exited the game with an arm injury. A couple weeks later, Nats fans got the dreaded news that Sykora would need to undergo Tommy John Surgery. He would undergo surgery in late August.

Romans 12:2 pic.twitter.com/aEPF5PkRcc

— Travis Sykora (@travissykora1) August 21, 2025

Before the injury, Sykora was easily a top 50 prospect and was well on his way to being a top 25 prospect in the game. He was so dominant in the lower levels and had all the tools. Sykora’s fastball sits in the mid to upper 90’s. He combines that with a slider and a splitter, which both have plus potential. While his command is not perfect, it is quite advanced for a 21 year old power pitcher. He is also a smart pitcher, with the ability to mix and match well.

After the injury, Sykora’s stock has inevitably dropped. He missed the back half of 2026 and will miss most, if not all of 2026. That is a lot of development time that is now gone. Sykora was also an older high school prospect in 2023. By the time he comes back, he will be entering his age 23 season, with just 4.2 innings above A ball.

He went from a top 50 lock to a fringe top 100 prospect. Baseball America now has him as the Nats 5th ranked prospect. For me, that is a bit of an overreaction. I understand it, but still think Sykora is a top 3 or 4 prospect in the system. His results were just too good.

Prospect of the Day!
Travis Sykora
WSN, AA, SP | Rank: #62
Projection: 3.28 ERA, 11 K/9, 1.15 WHIP

The 21 year old Sykora was firmly on his way to becoming the next #1 pitching prospect in 2025, completely dominating opposing hitters with a 1.79 ERA, a 0.772 WHIP, and 15.7… pic.twitter.com/A4lLzUuYO3

— Ross Jensen (@rossjensen) December 22, 2025

For me, Sykora should be comfortably ahead of a guy like Luis Perales, who BA has ahead of him. While Perales is healthy now, he missed almost all of 2025 due to a TJ of his own. When he came back, his stuff looked better than ever, but his control was erratic. He also has much more reliever risk than Sykora.

Travis Sykora should be in the 2-4 range on the Nats prospect list. Eli Willits is the clear number one for me, but Sykora, Harry Ford and Jarlin Susana are all in the same tier. Of those three, Sykora still has the best chance of being a truly impactful player. It is easy to see him becoming a top of the rotation arm. Susana has relief risk and injury concerns of his own, while Ford has a lower ceiling.

Ranking a pitcher who won’t pitch next season is a tough exercise because of the uncertainty. Sykora is missing a lot of time to develop and it is no guarantee that he comes back the same. Most guys come back from their first TJ fine, but it is still not 100%. When Sykora does come back in 2027, he will also be on an innings limit.

The next time we are likely to see Sykora totally unleashed is 2028. He may get a taste of big league action in 2027, but he is not likely to be a full time MLB player until 2028. This surgery really pushes back his timeline and drops his stock. However, it is important not to overreact as well. A healthy Travis Sykora can still be an ace, and there are not many arms like that in the Minor Leagues.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...n-nationals-prospect-travis-sykora-underrated