RSS Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

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

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

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

Can Cavalli Put it Together:

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

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

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

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

— Corbin (@corbin_young21) January 23, 2026

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

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

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

Can Dylan Crews Live Up to the Hype:

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

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

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

2023 Dylan Crews:

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

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

— Reech (@Reech___) January 16, 2026

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

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

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

Can Luis Perales Throw Enough Strikes:

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

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

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

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

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

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) October 15, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

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

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

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

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

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

Graduating From Prospect Status

C Harry Ford

1B/DH Abimelec Ortiz

OF Christian Franklin

RHP Luis Perales

1B Yohandy Morales

OF Andrew Pinckney

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

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

Top 100 Prospects

SS Eli Willits

RHP Travis Sykora

RHP Jarlin Susana

3B Gavin Fien

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

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

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

New Additions

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

Prospects From Jacob Young Trade (Top 250ish Prospect)

11th Overall Pick (Top 100-150 Prospect)

42nd Overall Pick

78th Overall Pick

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

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

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

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

Mock End of 2026 Top 10 Nationals Prospects

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

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

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

 

[JJ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

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

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

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

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

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

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

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) January 31, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

— Jake Bargery (@JakeBarg) June 30, 2025

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

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

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

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

:… pic.twitter.com/wqBUE0yaL9

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) December 28, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

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

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

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

Ford for Ferrer Swap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Prospect for Prospect Trade

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

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

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) December 16, 2025

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

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

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

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

The Blockbuster Trade

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

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Rangers get: LHP MacKenzie Gore

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

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

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 22, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Lone Free Agent Signing

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

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

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 16, 2025

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

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

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

My Favorite Move

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

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

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

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals Still Need Bullpen Help. Here Are Their Best Remaining Options

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 26: Danny Coulombe #54 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field on August 26, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nationals figure to have an exciting lineup in 2026, with a combination of proven talent such as James Wood and CJ Abrams, youngsters who have flashed upside such as Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews, and still relatively unknown commodities such as Harry Ford and Brady House. While the lineup will certainly be worth watching this season, it’s hard to say the same about the Nationals’ pitching staff.

According to Fangraphs, the Nationals’ starting rotation and bullpen both rank 30th out of 30 in projected fWAR in 2026, respectively. While the starting rotation is only the worst by a little, the bullpen is far and away the worst in the sport according to Fangraphs, with its projected combined fWAR of 0.4 being 0.7 behind the 2nd worst unit, the San Francisco Giants.

I’ve discussed starting pitching options the Nats should be looking to bring in before pitchers and catchers report soon, now let’s take a look at some options on the bullpen side of things, to take the unit from awful to at least bearable in 2026.

LHP Justin Wilson

After a tough 2024 season in which the 36-year-old Wilson posted a 5.59 ERA and 4.73 FIP in 46.2 IP, it appeared Wilson’s career was nearing its end. After an effective 2025 in which he posted a 3.35 ERA and 2.95 FIP in 48.1 IP, it looks like the now 38 year old Wilson still has some juice left in the tank after all.

One of the things Wilson does most effectively is generate swing and miss, something Paul Toboni is looking to add to a bullpen unit that sorely lacks it currently. In 2025, Wilson posted a 74th percentile chase rate and 91st percentile whiff rate, good for a 27.5% strikeout rate, ranking in the 82nd percentile among all relievers. His fastball and slider are his go-to swing and miss pitches, both having a whiff rate over 30%, but he’ll also mix in the occasional cutter and splitter to keep hitters guessing.

While Wilson was exactly 50th percentile in average exit velocity in 2025, it doesn’t affect him as much as others because he excels at keeping the ball on the ground, with a 72nd percentile groundball rate in 2025, resulting in a strong 72nd percentile barrel rate (which accounts for both the exit velocity and launch angle of a batted ball).

The 38-year-old Wilson seems like a pitcher that a contender would have taken a chance on by now, but if his market just isn’t where he expected it to be by now, the Nationals should jump into negotiations and get a deal done. Whether he ends up closing games or being a setup man, Wilson would be a big boost for a currently very shaky bullpen.

LHP Danny Coulombe

Coulombe was dominating in the first half of 2025 with the Twins, posting a 1.16 ERA and 2.01 FIP in 31 IP with them, before seeing the results disappear in the second half after being traded to the Rangers, as well as dealing with a shoulder injury, resulting in a 5.25 ERA and 6.64 FIP in 12 IP for them. The 36-year-olds market has been quiet this offseason, offering the Nats a chance to swoop in and offer him a situation where he’ll have nearly unlimited attempts at finding what he had going on early in 2025.

Coulombe has been nothing but consistent throughout his entire big league career, posting an ERA under 3 every year since 2022 and an ERA over 4 only once since 2017, resulting in a career ERA of 3.35. One of the key reasons for his success is his ability to limit barrels, whether it be by keeping hard contact to a minimum or keeping the ball on the ground.

Coulombe does not throw hard, ranking 6th percentile in fastball velocity in 2025, but it doesn’t matter because his primary pitch is actually his cutter, which he throws 40% of the time to great success, posting a 36.4% whiff rate and .291 xwOBA with the pitch in 2025. Outside of the cutter, he relies on a multitude of pitches to rack up outs, with sinkers against lefties and sweepers against righties being his other go-to pitches.

RHP Scott Barlow

While the results lagged behind the peripherals in 2025 for Barlow, posting a 4.21 ERA and 4.70 FIP in 68.1 IP, there are reasons to believe he can be more effective and potentially even break out in 2026, the type of pitchers the Nationals should be all over right now in free agency.

One thing Barlow did extremely well in 2025 was limit hard contact, posting a 96th percentile average exit velocity and 99th percentile hard hit rate. He also did a strong job of keeping the ball on the ground, with a 60th percentile groundball rate, resulting in a 66th percentile barrel rate. He also generated plenty of swing-and-misses in 2025, with an 87th percentile whiff rate and 67th percentile strikeout rate overall.

So if Barlow was both limiting hard contact and getting swing-and-misses in 2025, why weren’t his results better? The issue that plagued Barlow was walks, and he gave up a lot of them, with his 14.9% walk rate ranking in the bottom 1st percentile among relievers in 2025. Hitters had a hard time doing damage off Barlow’s stuff, but as long as they worked the count enough, odds were, Barlow was going to beat himself for them.

While the walk issue might be enough to scare contenders away from the 33-year-old Barlow, the reason the Nats should be taking a shot on him is that it was an outlier year for him in terms of that issue, as it was a 2% jump in walk rate from 2024 to 2025. With proper coaching, there is the potential of Barlow getting the walks back under control, which could make him an extremely effective piece out of the pen for Butera to use.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...-bullpen-help-here-are-best-remaining-options

 

[Washington Nationals]

Dylan Crews is the Washington Nationals player I can’t quit

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park on September 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are some players that just look the part. Dylan Crews firmly falls into that category. Despite not producing in his first year and change in the MLB, I still have a lot of faith in him. Some of that may be irrational, but Crews just looks like he should be a really good player.

His time at LSU was absolutely legendary. Crews is one of the best college baseball players of the 21st century. He hit .426 in his last year of college before being picked second overall in 2023. I have a hard time believing the player who did that could turn into a bust.

2023 Dylan Crews:

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

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

— Reech (@Reech___) January 16, 2026

Crews, who turns 24 this month, is at a key point in his career. So far, he has not come close to living up to expectations. However, he is still young enough to turn things around. Crews needs to start showing something for fans to continue to believe in his star upside. He looks the part, but he also needs to produce.

His pedigree and tools will give him plenty of chances, but eventually he has to stop sucking. Crews has shown flashes of power, contact skills, speed and defense, but he has not put it all together.

2026 Hitter Breakout Pick – Dylan Crews!

-> Strong Power + Speed Combo
-> Just has to stay healthy and stop sucking! pic.twitter.com/YPy7aRlOY4

— Jon Anderson (@JonPgh) December 23, 2025

This new development team is also giving me another excuse to believe in Crews. One of Dylan Crews’ biggest problems is that he puts the ball on the ground too much. His GB rate was 56% in his cup of coffee in 2024 and 50.2% last year. It is tough to do damage when you aren’t consistently elevating the ball. Crews is not ever going to be a pulled flyball guy, but hopefully the new regime can turn some of those ground balls into line drives.

It would be silly to give up on Dylan Crews

Especially now since the Nationals have completely revamped their coaching staff, he has new tools to enhance his game this offseason

He’s going to take it to another level in 2026, mark my wordspic.twitter.com/Tz4NXZ5pNt https://t.co/YVGmGh2Y6J

— Kev (@klwoodjr) December 23, 2025

I think the best version of Dylan Crews as a hitter is a line drive oriented guy. That is what I think Crews is at his core. Selling out for power just does not feel like it comes naturally to him. He should lean into being a gap to gap guy who has the power to punish mistakes.

Honestly, Crews should try to emulate Ryan Zimmerman as a hitter. Zimmerman always tried to pepper that right-center gap with doubles and homers. However, he was able to turn on those inside pitches. While pulling the ball in the air is optimal, it is not for everyone. It just does not feel like that is Crews’ game, and it does not have to be.

Brady House is the type of player who I think needs to be able to pull the ball in the air. He does not have great offensive tools outside of power, so he needs to maximize that power. Crews does have solid contact ability and a decent approach, even if it has not totally translated to the MLB yet.

Even if it is irrational, I have a ton of confidence that Crews will be a solid starter. My biggest question is if he still has that star potential. I still think it is in there, but it is a less likely outcome now compared to when he was drafted. While I am still very bullish about Crews, you can’t deny reality either.

Can we expect Dylan Crews to breakout in 2026??#nationals #washingondc #mlb #baseball #washingtonnationals #maryland pic.twitter.com/hRx1F0xsrR

— Locked On Nationals Podcast (@LO_Nationals) January 15, 2026

He may have hit .208 with a .632 OPS last year, but there is still so much more in the tank for Crews. I think he can be a .255 hitter with a .750 OPS next season. At his peak, Crews has the talent to be a .270ish hitter with an .820ish OPS. With his defense in the outfield, that is All-Star level.

Dylan Crews may never be the Andrew McCutchen type MVP candidate we thought he would be when he was drafted. However, I cannot give up on him yet, not even close. Watching him move on the field just feels right. He looks like he should be really good. That may be totally unscientific, but some guys just have an it-factor. Dylan Crews has it, and it is why I cannot quit him.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/88703/dylan-crews-washington-nationals-player-cant-quit

 

[Washington Nationals]

What will be the biggest positional battles for the Washington Nationals at Spring Training?

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 30: Robert Hassell III #57 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Tampa Bay Rays at Nationals Park on August 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Spring Training will be a massive opportunity for so many players on this roster. With a new regime coming in, everyone will be evaluated and spots will be up for grabs. There are going to be camp competitions all over this roster. I wanted to break down some of the competitions to watch.

We did a deep dive on the catcher battle yesterday, so we will avoid that. However, there are so many more competitions to discuss. There are open spots up and down this roster. From the bullpen, to first base, to bench spots, roster spots are up for grabs.

First Base Job Up For Grabs:

The most wide open competition of the spring could be for the first base job. Unless the Nats sign Rhys Hoskins or Paul Goldschmidt, there will be a true competition. There are four or five contenders that all could realistically win the job. In the end, I think there will be a platoon, but there are a number of candidates.

There are five players who I think are in the mix here. Abimelec Ortiz, Matt Mervis, Warming Bernabel, Andres Chaparro and Yohandy Morales will all get chances. Mervis and Bernabel signed minor league deals with Spring Training invites, but have MLB experience. Chaparro also has MLB experience and has mashed in AAA. However, none of these guys have been great in the MLB.

My favorite of the group is Abimelec Ortiz. The Nats acquired him from the Rangers in the MacKenzie Gore deal. While he has not made his MLB debut yet, he was fantastic in AAA last year. Ortiz has big time power, but also has the angles to consistently pull the ball in the air for home runs.

Abimelec Ortiz | 1B/OF | 23 yo

Ortiz, the only prospect with a chance to debut in 2026, likely will, and may very well play lots of 1B in DC this year.

556 PA in AA, AAA (2025):
.257/.356/.479 | 25 HR | 89 RBI
4/6 SB | 53 XBH | 22-K% | 12-BB%

53 XBHs.pic.twitter.com/MJrhBU8G70

— Nats Of The Future (@NatsOfTheFuture) January 23, 2026

Morales may have even more raw power than Ortiz, but his angles are not as good. He hits the ball on the ground much more than you would like from a power hitter. Morales also struck at a 30% clip in AAA last year. While he has the most upside of the group, he is still raw. However, with a big spring, Morales has a chance to win the job.

This is a true competition though. There are not any clear favorites right now. Unless the Nats sign a 1B in free agency, this will be a fight that won’t be decided until the very end of Spring Training. May the best man win.

A Look at the Outfield Situation

The outfield is the strength of this Nationals team. They have stars like James Wood, but also plenty of depth. As of right now, Wood, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews and Jacob Young seem like locks to make the team. However, I think the Nats are going to carry a fifth outfielder.

If they decide to do that, there will be plenty of candidates. Christian Franklin, Robert Hassell, Joey Wiemer and Andrew Pinckney are all in play for that role. A lot of times teams only carry four outfielders, but the Nats have so many guys in the outfield. They will also be rotating a lot of these players in the DH position.

Robert Hassell III is the most high profile of these names. He was one of the prizes of the Juan Soto trade in 2022, but has not developed as expected. Hassell finally showed some promise in AAA last year, but really struggled in the MLB.

In an event the other day, Blake Butera said that Hassell added 25 pounds of bulk this offseason. While he clearly had room to fill out, 25 pounds feels like a lot to me. Nats fans are going to be skeptical about this after the Jacob Young situation last year. Adding that much mass as an athletic outfielder has negatives.

Blake Butera said @robert_hassell3 put on 25 pounds of bulk. pic.twitter.com/rHL8jX5E6O

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) January 31, 2026

However, Hassell clearly thought he needed to add more power. Based on his MLB production, he clearly needed to change something. While he is the highest profile name, I do not think he is the favorite.

My favorite player of the group is Christian Franklin. The Nats acquired him at the deadline in part of the Michael Soroka trade. He had a nice year in AAA last year and should be MLB ready at 26. Franklin is a well-rounded player who can do a bit of everything. I really like the idea of him as a platoon bat who specializes against left handed pitching.

Joey Wiemer is also a name to watch. Paul Toboni picked him up off of waivers this offseason. He is a tremendous athlete with big power, but is not a great hitter. He will get a shot to make the roster. Andrew Pinckney has a similar profile to Wiemer. He is a non-roster invite, so he will be on the outside looking in. Franklin is my favorite, but this is an open competition.

What is up With the Bullpen

The Nationals bullpen is painfully short on proven commodities. Despite the ‘pen being a clear need, Toboni has not signed any veterans to reinforce the group. Instead, he is relying on waiver claims and internal development.

Last year, Mike Rizzo tried the veteran route, and it failed miserably. So, I suppose Toboni’s lower profile strategy deserves a shot. The Nats have a few young, interesting relief arms like Cole Henry, Clayton Beeter, PJ Poulin and Griff McGarry, who should make the team.

However, there are so many spots up for grabs. Jackson Rutledge, Orlando Ribalta and Julian Fernandez have big league experience, but they have not been great. Can Toboni unlock anything in those three? I think Rutledge has a good slider he should throw more and Ribalta looks very good when he is on. They have been very inconsistent though.

Then there are the waiver claims. Just this offseason, Toboni has claimed Paxton Schultz, Gus Varland, Richard Lovelady and George Soriano. Some of these guys are bound to contribute in some way. They could also be DFA’d at any moment based on how Toboni uses the wire.

My favorite of the waiver wire pick ups is Paxton Schultz. He showed some really nice things as a swing man for the Blue Jays last year. His MLB debut was memorable, striking out 8 in 4.1 innings. He has a good chance of being a solid, versatile piece for the Nats.

What a debut

8 strikeouts by Paxton Schultz TIES the @MLB record for the MOST in a debut by a reliever! #lightsupletsgo pic.twitter.com/NvjMMuZCDN

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 20, 2025

The other guys I do not have as much faith in. Gus Varland was solid in 2024, but had an injury riddled season last year. Lovelady gets ground balls, but has mostly struggled at the MLB level. George Soriano has good stuff, but had a brutal 2025. Maybe one of these guys can find a new level with the Nats. Regardless, there are a lot of options in the bullpen, but none of them are proven.

Other Competitions to Watch:

These three camp battles are the ones I am most fascinated about, but there are more. The rotation has a lot of uncertainty as well. There have been rumblings that the Nats could sign another starter, but that has not happened yet.

Right now, Cade Cavalli, Foster Griffin, Jake Irvin, Brad Lord and Josiah Gray seem fairly likely to be the starting five. However, Mitchell Parker and Andrew Alvarez will also be in the mix. Luis Perales could even get a shot if he has a phenomenal spring.

There will also be a competition for the bench spot on the infield. Nasim Nunez is the favorite to win that battle. However, Jose Tena and Orelvis Martinez will also be vying for that spot.

This Nats team is so unsettled, and I don’t necessarily think that is a bad thing. Paul Toboni is treating this like an evaluation year. Spring Training will be the first data point in that evaluation. I think there are going to be a lot of roster moves throughout the season and a lot of these players will be getting chances. If guys aren’t performing, they will be at risk of being replaced.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...tles-for-washington-nationals-spring-training

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals in the middle of the pack in farm system rankings

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 05: Seaver King #5 of the Scottsdale Scorpions bats during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Baseball America released their farm system rankings, and they are not the only outlet to do so in the past week or so. ESPN and The Athletic have also put out their rankings. The general consensus is that the Nats farm system is in the middle of the pack, though that feeling is not universal.

BA is the lowest of the three outlets on the Nats farm, ranking them 16th. The Nats have been in this range for them over the past few years. Last year, the Nats were 14th and in 2024 they were 15th. The system was at its strongest in 2023, ranking 7th. This makes sense, given that it was right after the Juan Soto trade.

NEW FARM SYSTEM RANKINGS

The @Pirates have baseball's best system entering 2026.

See how every org ranks: https://t.co/VPAOelUvbr pic.twitter.com/FUwpa32qnj

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 4, 2026

The reason the Nats system is lower is because of graduations and some regression. At this time last year, Dylan Crews was still prospect eligible. He was regarded as a top 10 prospect in the game. Brady House, Cade Cavalli and Daylen Lile all graduated as well.

The Nats 2024 draft class also struggled in their first taste of professional action. Seaver King and Luke Dickerson were very disappointing in 2025. Caleb Lomavita was fine, but did not exceed expectations either. With none of those guys emerging as top 100 caliber prospects, the Nats were unable to replace the guys they graduated from within.

Paul Toboni saved the Nats from being ranked deep into the 20’s with his moves. BA noted that the Nats acquired half of their top 20 prospects within the last year. The additions of Harry Ford, Gavin Fien, Luis Perales and others have made the Nats system deeper than ever.

The biggest reason why they are not higher is the lack of a true blue chip prospect. Eli Willits is the closest thing the Nats have, but BA has him ranked at 30th overall. He is not a top 10 prospect in the game like the Nats have had with Wood and Crews. Prospects like Travis Sykora, Jarlin Susana, Harry Ford and Gavin Fien are all very good, but also come with plenty of risk.

Keith Law of The Athletic really sees the promise in these guys. That is why he has the Nats system ranked as the 6th best, by far the highest I have seen. He noted that the Nats have done an impressive job restocking their system under Paul Toboni and in the 2025 draft.

The #Nationals have the 6th best farm system as ranked by Keith Law of The Athletic. The #Nats are ranked by him in his Second Tier. https://t.co/1g6rOrWKCB

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) January 29, 2026

However, he also notes the risk in a lot of these players. Law said that a lot of the talent the Nats have picked up is underperforming talent, based on where they were drafted or when they emerged as prospects.

I am not sure I agree with the underperforming part, but I do think a lot of the top guys have questions. Susana, Sykora, Perales and Alejandro Rosario have injury concerns. Harry Ford has some defensive issues and young infielders like Eli Willits and Gavin Fien are years away. There is no Konnor Griffin or Kevin McGonigle in the Nats system.

In the past, the Nats system has been very top heavy. They had a couple blue chip prospects, but not a ton else beyond that. Now the Nationals system’s strength is its depth. The question now is whether some of these promising pieces become top prospects.

Kiley McDaniel over at ESPN is one of my favorite prospect evaluators going back to his days at Fangraphs. He has the Nats system ranked as the 14th best. Last year, McDaniel had the Nats at 12. That was on the back of the top end guys like Dylan Crews. This year, the strength comes from the depth.

and here's my ranking of each farm system 1 through 30 with dollar values so you can see how quickly your team can rise https://t.co/TIUtsK5MOk

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 29, 2026

According to his write-up, the Nats acquired four of his top 200 prospects this winter. He pointed out Landon Harmon as a prospect to watch. I like that shoutout a lot. Harmon is quite similar to what Travis Sykora was coming out of high school a couple years ago. Both are 6’6 righties with upper 90’s heaters.

Sykora had a more filled out frame, but Harmon’s fastball might be even better. Harmon’s heater has good shape, while Sykora’s was more velocity dependent. However, Harmon’s secondary pitches are not as advanced as Sykora’s were.

At this time next year, I would be pretty surprised if the Nats did not have a consensus top 10 system in baseball. We wrote about what the system could look like at the end of the year, and Paul was very optimistic.

There are so many breakout candidates in this system. The reason the Nats system is not top 10 right now is that not a ton of these guys have done it yet. Once the Nats youngsters prove themselves, they will rise in the ranks. Even if the ranking is lower, the Nats farm is as healthy as it has been in a long time under Paul Toboni. Finally, the Nationals prospect pool has depth.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...on-nationals-middle-pack-farm-system-rankings

 

[Washington Nationals]

Will Harry Ford be the Washington Nationals starting catcher on Opening Day?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 11: Harry Ford #5 of the Seattle Mariners smiles after the game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 7-6 in 12 innings. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nationals are going to have a number of position battles this spring. Not many spots on the pitching staff are secure, and it is anyone’s guess as to who the first baseman will be. However, the camp battle that intrigues me the most comes at the catching position.

Keibert Ruiz has been the full time starter since 2022, and has a contract that runs through the 2030 season. However, the last two seasons have been disastrous for Ruiz. His combined OPS since the start of 2024 is only .610, which is an issue for a bat first catcher. With the trade for top catching prospect Harry Ford, Ruiz is fighting an uphill battle to be the starting catcher.

It is telling that the first major transaction Paul Toboni made in DC was trading for a catcher. When speaking to fans yesterday, Toboni said there are no limits on Ford. He said the trade was a unique opportunity for the Nats that was only possible due to the fact the Mariners have such an elite catcher.

“Candidly, I think one of the only reasons we were able to make that trade is because the Mariners probably have the best catchers in all of baseball with Cal Raleigh.” Toboni added that there will be “no limits” on Harry Ford this season, and the work with him has begun. pic.twitter.com/DjNldacPYQ

— Ryan Shenker (@RyanShenker) January 31, 2026

While Toboni has said all the right things about Ruiz, his actions tell me that he is high on Ford and has questions about Keibert Ruiz. If the organization had things their way, I think they would want Ford to win the job. That does not mean the job will be handed to the youngster though.

Ford is going to have to earn the job. While he has made his MLB debut, he is not proven enough to have a job handed to him. The Nats are committed to both players, so this will be a real competition. Ownership is committed financially to Ruiz and the new front office is committed to Ford because they are the ones who traded for him.

One interesting twist in this competition is the World Baseball Classic. Harry Ford will be playing for Great Britain during the event. It is a great honor for Ford, who has British parents, but it also could cost him in this competition. This could be a major opportunity for Ruiz or even Drew Millas to impress the new staff while Ford is away.

Harry Ford will play for Great Britain in the WBC once again pic.twitter.com/1r6EXtqoSS

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) January 5, 2026

Great Britain play their first exhibition on March 3rd, and their last group phase game is on March 9th. That means Ford will be gone for at least a week of Spring Training. Britain is in a group with the US, Brazil, Italy and Mexico. The top two teams in the group will advance. America will be a shoe in, but the second spot will be up for grabs. With Ford and Jazz Chisholm on the team, Britain has a chance to advance. If they do, Ford will be out even longer.

Despite this, I still think Ford should be considered the favorite to be the starting catcher. He has already proven he can do it at AAA. Last season, Ford hit .283 with an .868 OPS at the highest level of the minors. If the Mariners did not have Cal Raleigh, Ford would probably have more MLB experience by now.

Harry Ford had a very great past season for the Seattle Mariners organization. He spent most of the year playing in Triple-A for Tacoma where he was the PCL Top MLB Prospect and got called up to the majors in September. The top prospect was traded to the Washington Nationals this… pic.twitter.com/0PFNaCj4eS

— Milb Central (@milb_central) January 30, 2026

The Nats are a young team with low expectations. That is the perfect spot for a player like Harry Ford. He will get the chance to learn on the job and get MLB reps. Unless he struggles mightily this spring, I have a hard time believing he will not be on the roster.

Another thing to consider is how the playing time will be split. Davey Martinez really rode his starting catchers hard, especially Keibert Ruiz. The new regime is probably going to be more open to playing two catchers. It would not be surprising if we see Ford catch 60% of the games and Ruiz catch 40% of them. That timeshare will be important for Ruiz in particular, who has suffered the wear and tear of being an everyday catcher.

The Nats also have depth options behind these two. Drew Millas has never been given an extended run of playing time, but has always looked good in his chances. He is also the best defender of the group. Despite being DFA’d, Riley Adams remains in the organization and has plenty of big league experience. He also has some interesting power upside that has not quite been realized yet.

With the addition of Ford, the Nats catching situation should be much better than it was last year. To be blunt, the production the Nats got behind the plate was abysmal. Toboni saw those numbers and knew he could not roll with the status quo. He added a young hot shot in Ford, while keeping the door open for the catchers on the team last year.

Developing catchers has become a real art, and it is something the Nats have not been good at in recent years. Hopefully the new regime can improve the Nats catchers, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

If I had to bet, I think Harry Ford will be the Nats starting catcher. However, he is not going to be playing every day like Keibert Ruiz was under Davey Martinez. That will keep him fresh and give Ruiz one last opportunity to try to live up to his contract and potential. This is the happiest I have been about the Nats catching situation in quite some time.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-starting-catcher-opening-day

 

[Washington Nationals]

Why are the Washington Nationals hiring so many people from Driveline?

There is one place we have talked about a lot in passing when discussing the Washington Nationals coaching hires. That place is Driveline Baseball. So many of the Nats new coaches have ties to the famed baseball lab. I wanted to do a deeper dive on Driveline and talk about why so many Nats coaches are coming from there.

In short, Driveline is an incubator for some of the brightest young baseball minds out there. Paul Toboni clearly wanted to build a staff full of bright young minds, so Driveline is a great place to look. ESPN actually did a great profile on Driveline last week which was a great read. It dug into how Driveline is trying to change the game for hitters.

I spent two days in Arizona last week with 22-year-old White Sox catcher Edgar Quero as he went through Driveline’s hitting program for the first time.

What it entailed, and what it says about the state of the game …https://t.co/9jVwRKcCZD

— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) January 30, 2026

Driveline Baseball emerged as the place to go for players who wanted to improve their game. It was founded by Kyle Boddy back in 2007, but did not really emerge as the place to be until about a decade later. As the Moneyball era evolved into the Statcast era, Driveline was the place to be, especially for pitchers.

It was where pitchers went if they wanted to increase velocity or learn new pitches. Driveline’s state of the art cameras and high level instructors help players learn more about their bodies. If they have a mechanical flaw that costs them velocity, Driveline will fix it. If they need to overhaul their arsenal, Driveline will show them new pitch grips. A good example of the ladder is Luis Severino, who totally overhauled his arsenal which helped him get a big contract.

New Nationals pitching coach Simon Mathews actually worked at Driveline for a bit. He was also involved in another similar pitching lab. After doing that, he found his way into pro ball. He was a rehab specialist for the Reds before becoming their assistant pitching coach last year. After a year of being an assistant, he took the pitching coach job with the Nats.

Mathews is far from the only Nats coach to have Driveline connections. Minor League pitching coach Luke Dziados also came from Driveline. However, the Nats went even more Driveline heavy on the hitting side. While Driveline started as mostly a pitching lab, they have been changing the game for hitting development lately as documented in the ESPN story.

With that in mind, the Nats took two of Driveline’s top hitting minds. The first guy I want to discuss is Travis Fitta, who is now an assistant hitting coach in AAA. Earlier this offseason, before he was hired by the Nats, Fitta was working with Jacob Young. Driveline put out a really cool video of their session together.

"That was so unbelievably insane. But that's like such a good athletic movement."⁠
⁠
Washington Nationals center fielder Jacob Young joins Hitting Coordinator Travis Fitta in this swing design.
Full video on YouTube pic.twitter.com/6uLnluCQgS

— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) November 12, 2025

Fitta’s main emphasis was trying to translate the athleticism Young has on the field to his hitting. The way he talks about hitting is so impressive and high level. It is so scientific which really interests me. Young seems to be leaving a lot of meat on the bone from a biomechanics standpoint, and Fitta was trying to fix that. His specialty is optimizing these players’ swings.

I think this will be very helpful for Nats in the MLB and in the minors. One guy that stands out to me that Fitta will be working with is Yohandy Morales. The former second round pick has so much raw power, but his swing is not optimized. He hardly ever pulls the ball and hits it on the ground a lot. This tells me that Morales is not on time consistently due to his swing. Hopefully Fitta can change that.

At the MLB level, Andrew Aydt was added as an assistant hitting coach. Aydt was the assistant director of hitting at Driveline and helped players like Ivan Herrera take the next steps in their development. Now, he will get the chance to work with the likes of James Wood, Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile every day.

Some Nationals coaching news: Washington is planning to hire Andrew Aydt as its assistant hitting coach, per sources.

Aydt serves as the assistant director of hitting for Driveline Baseball.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) November 21, 2025

After looking at Driveline, and the kind of people they attract, it is easy to see why Paul Toboni is poaching their employees. They are full of young people who are at the cutting edge of baseball. That certainly fits the Toboni ethos of creating a player development monster.

Toboni wants the Nats to be a place to be for young, up and coming minds. It is only natural then that he is poaching from Driveline, which is currently the place to be for those people. The Nationals will be all in on things like adding pitches or making data backed swing changes. That should really excite you if you are a Nats fan.

For players that want to improve their game, Driveline is the place to go. You can only go to Driveline in the offseason though. Toboni is bringing Driveline into the organization so players can improve their games in season. The Drivelineification of the Washington Nationals is very exciting and will be something to watch this season in the MLB and on the farm.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-hiring-many-people-driveline

 

[Washington Nationals]

3 Takeaways From My Top 30 Washington Nationals Prospects List

Yesterday, I released my preseason top 30 Washington Nationals prospects, which you can find here. The driving focus of my rankings was a combination of prospects’ performances so far in their careers, their underlying numbers for those performances, and the tools they have, which could lead to future success. Here are the 3 biggest takeaways from my list that you should know about.

#1: The Nationals’ farm system is the deepest it’s been in a long time

For the last few years, the Nationals’ farm system has had plenty of top-end talent, with names such as Dylan Crews and James Wood, but lacked the depth that rebuilding teams should be accumulating. Thanks in large part to the 2025 draft, where the Nationals selected Eli Willits first overall and acquired even more talent in the later rounds with the savings from the pick, 1-for-1 deals this offseason such as Jose A. Ferrer for Harry Ford and Jake Bennett for Luis Perales, and the big MacKenzie Gore trade this offseason, the Nationals farm system has depth it hasn’t had perhaps ever, with prospects ranked in the 10 to 20 range who could be plus big leaguers one day.

An important part of building depth in the Nats’ farm system is not only acquiring players in trades, but acquiring the right kind of prospects in those deals. Mike DeBartolo and Paul Toboni have done an excellent job acquiring prospects in deals that have the tools required to succeed at the big league level, such as power potential in hitters and strikeout stuff in pitchers.

Pitchers like Griff McGarry and Eriq Swan, who take up spots at the backend of my top 30, are valuable not because they’re excellent now in the minor leagues, but because they have the stuff and projection to be good MLB players one day. Once you have enough of these high-risk type prospects, over time, a few of them will break out and give you great major league talents.

#2: The MacKenzie Gore trade was a shot of adrenaline for the farm system

Speaking of the MacKenzie Gore trade, the deal is unique because not only did the Nats acquire 5 prospects in the deal, but all 5 prospects have tools that make them more than just throw-ins, with all 5 ranking in my top 15 Nats prospects, and 3 within the top 10.

Fien and Fitz-Gerald could wind up as top 100 prospects by the end of 2026, Rosario was a top 10 pitching prospect in the sport before his injury and could wind up being a steal if he returns fully healthy, and Cabrera and Ortiz have the tools to be solid regulars one day. All in all, while the headlines may say the Nats received 0 top 100 prospects in return for Gore’s services, the truth is they received a package with a high chance of producing 2 or more impactful big leaguers one day.

#3: Marconi German is a name to watch in 2026

The prospect in my top 30 Nationals prospects you are least likely to recognize is Marconi German, a 17-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop, and while my ranking may seem rather high for a player who’s only played in the Dominican Summer League in his career, I have complete faith this ranking will be justified once the 2026 season gets underway.

German was one of the best hitters in the DSL in 2025 while also being one of the younger ones, posting a 159 wRC+ and hitting 8 home runs in 53 games. He showed great plate discipline, posting a 1.02 BB/K ratio, and punished pitchers when he got his pitch, with a .513 slugging percentage. He also has great speed, with 33 stolen bases in those 53 games.

German’s first major test will come in 2026 when he heads stateside to play in the complex league. If he continues to hit well there, he’ll likely get a chance in Low A, his first taste of affiliated minor league play. I’m excited to see how German progresses in 2026, as I believe he has the tools to be a very good shortstop or second baseman in the big leagues one day.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...om-top-30-washington-nationals-prospects-list

 

[Washington Nationals]

Looking at the Washington Nationals ties to the upcoming World Baseball Classic

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 13: Harry Ford #1 of Team Great Britain is is given a crown and robe after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during Game 5 of Pool C between Team Colombia and Team Great Britain at Chase Field on Monday, March 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Last night, the World Baseball Classic rosters were released. Seeing that got me really fired up, especially considering how much fun the last one was. There are current and former Nationals players and coaches littered across the rosters. I wanted to take a look at some of the Nats ties to this amazing event.

The Nats current roster is not exactly littered with participants. Only two players will be leaving big league camp to play in the event. Harry Ford will be playing for Great Britain and Matt Mervis will suit up for Team Israel. Both players participated at the last WBC as well, so they are not new to this.

C Harry Ford (Great Britain) and 1B Matt Mervis (Israel) are the only Nationals players in big league camp this spring who will be participating in the World Baseball Classic.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) February 6, 2026

While both players are born in the US, they have ties to the countries they are representing. Ford has British parents and has represented the country for a while now. Mervis is representing Israel because of his Jewish faith.

It is interesting timing for them though. Both Mervis and Ford will be leaving camp while competing for a roster spot. Mervis is part of a wide open first base competition. As a left handed bat, his main competition is likely to be Abimelec Ortiz. Mervis leaving camp could provide an opportunity for Ortiz to lock down a job. The same thing goes for Keibert Ruiz, who will get a chance to show what he has without Ford around.

Harry Ford is one of the biggest names on the Britain roster. He will co-captain the team along with Yankees star Jazz Chisholm. Ford was one of the breakout stars of the last competition. The event elevated his stock as a prospect, with Ford swinging a hot bat. He hit a key home run against Colombia, which was his signature moment.

HARRY FORD GOES YARD

: WBC on FS2 pic.twitter.com/e8sGn4VPoj

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 13, 2023

However, these current players are not the only people with Nationals ties participating at the event. There are plenty of former Nats who are in the competition. Team USA has a couple of them, with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Other big stars like Juan Soto will be playing at the event as well.

There are also some lesser known former Nats at the WBC. Cult hero Joey Meneses will be representing Mexico and Erasmo Ramirez will be with Nicaragua. Some of the coaches also have ties to the Nats as well. A pair of 2019 Nationals will be coaching at the event. Gerardo Parra will be the first base coach for Venezuela and Yan Gomes will be the catching coach for Brazil. Here is a list of all the former and current Nats at the WBC.

Current and former #Nats players (farmhands included) participating in the WBC.

The last slide is coaches: pic.twitter.com/bYKOlWC8Ai

— Hashim Horne (@_SoundTheHorne) February 6, 2026

There are a lot of forgotten Nats on that list! The WBC is such a special event that I had so much fun watching in 2023. Hopefully this WBC is just as exciting as the last one. However, I am rooting for America to come out on top this time.

Who is your favorite former or current Nat at the event and who are some guys that you totally forgot about that are participating? Let me know down below. Also, who do you guys think will win the WBC this year? Can Japan repeat, or will Team USA or the Dominican Republic be too strong? The WBC starts in about a month and the final is on March 17th in Miami.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...onals-ties-to-upcoming-world-baseball-classic

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals claim former top prospect Ken Waldichuk off waivers

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ken Waldichuk #64 of the Oakland Athletics reacts after the third out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 29, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Paul Toboni and Ani Kilambi have been doing work on the waiver wire lately. They are churning through players on the fringes of the 40-man roster. Today, they claimed Ken Waldichuk from the Rays and DFA’d George Soriano in the process. Soriano was only claimed last week, but the Nats still decided to move on.

Washington Nationals claim LHP Ken Waldichuk.

Waldichuk ranks eighth in all of Minor League Baseball (min. 275.0 IP) with 13.02 strikeouts per 9.0 innings since the start of the 2019 season.

Read more: https://t.co/dBsuIMyBPV

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) February 5, 2026

On the surface, Waldichuk is a weird claim. He posted an ERA over 8 in the minor leagues last year as a 27 year old. However, there is more than what meets the eye here. Waldichuk is a former top 100 prospect with some pedigree. He was part of the trade that sent Frankie Montas to the Yankees in 2022.

At the time of that trade, Waldichuk was a big deal. He pitched in the Futures Game for the Yankees and was a strikeout machine in the minors. For his career, Waldichuk’s K/9 in the minors is 13.02. Despite low to mid 90’s velocity, Waldichuk’s fastball has always played up.

Yankees top pitching prospect Ken Waldichuk gets the save in the Futures Game! pic.twitter.com/RZajHJD3QR

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 17, 2022

In 2022, he got a cup of coffee in the MLB with the A’s, before spending all of 2023 in their rotation. He has 175.2 career innings with a 5.28 ERA and 165 strikeouts. Things did not work out very well for him in the MLB, but he was still a young pitcher.

However, he had to undergo Tommy John Surgery, missing all of 2024. When he came back in 2025, he did not look like the same guy. The Minor League ERA of 8.17 makes that pretty clear. His velocity was down about 2 ticks and his control was not there.

Despite that, Waldichuk was still getting strikeouts. He fanned 68 batters in 54 minor league innings last year. The fact he was still getting strikeouts makes him sort of interesting. A lot of pitchers struggle in their first year back from Tommy John before looking better as they get further removed from surgery.

There are some signs that this could be the case for Waldichuk. In bullpen’s this offseason, his fastball averaged 93.9 MPH. This season, he only averaged 91.6 MPH on his heater. If the Nats can get Waldichuk to sit 94 consistently, they could have something here.

Whoever picks up @Ken_Waldichuk is getting an absolute steal.

Hardest avg and top FB velocity since pre TJ (and it was a bullpen).

Shapes are coming together. Big year ahead for him as he returns to his former self @TreadHQ https://t.co/KkDaJxhtBZ pic.twitter.com/Ql0bblWB5s

— Turner Givens (@TurnerGivens) February 3, 2026

Despite being a starter for his whole career, I think the Nats should transition Waldichuk to the bullpen. He has proven he is not a very effective starter at this point. Waldichuk throws his fastball a lot and I think letting it rip in shorter spurts could help him. A lot of his profile just feels like a failed starter who could thrive in the bullpen.

Even if the velocity is back, Waldichuk will still need to improve his control. Walks were a concern before the surgery, and the control was very bad last year. This is another reason why I think a move to the bullpen makes sense.

As we have seen, there is a chance Waldichuk is not on the team next week. Just ask guys like George Soriano and Micky Gasper. However, I think he is an interesting enough reclamation project for Toboni to want to see what he has in Spring Training. If he does not look good this spring, you can always DFA him again.

The Nats have made a lot of additions on the waiver wire lately, but this one is more intriguing than some of the others. Waldichuk has a pretty high ceiling and has more pedigree than your average waiver claim.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...aim-former-top-prospect-ken-waldichuk-waivers

 

[Washington Nationals]

What would a successful season look like in 2026 for the Washington Nationals?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a home run during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Olivia Vega/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Washington Nationals are highly unlikely to make the playoffs in 2026. Paul Toboni knows that and so do Nationals fans. Even finishing above .500 feels like a pipe dream. However, that does not mean the Nats season is destined for failure. We are just going to have to look at things beyond the win/loss record. Here are some things that would make the Nats 2026 season a success.

Continued Growth of the Young Core of Position Players:

Despite the failure of the previous regime’s rebuild, the Nationals still have a group of promising young position players at the MLB level. The development of players like James Wood, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews, Brady House and CJ Abrams will be crucial. If those players develop, this Nats season can be a success even if the team struggles to reach 75 games.

James Wood is the most important piece of this young core and his growth is paramount to the success of this team moving forward. In the first half, Wood looked like a potential MVP contender. He posted a .915 OPS with 24 homers. However, Wood really tailed off down the stretch due to out of control strikeout rates.

Wood has so much natural talent and he has the ceiling of a 40 home run, 20 stolen base guy. He is the only player on this team with top 10 player in baseball upside. Hopefully, this new staff can help him make adjustments and help him stay locked in for a full season.

Superstar Spotlight: James Wood ️

The Capitol's Kaiju:

Age: 23 – 6' 7" | 234 lbs (The size of an NFL defensive end)

• 80-Grade raw power with "freakish" speed for his size.
• Advanced barrel control and a coordinated "short" swing despite his long levers.

2025 MLB… pic.twitter.com/fIwkCDO8Da

— oBAWanKenobi (@wOBAWanKenobi) February 1, 2026

He is not the only young position player this staff will need to develop though. Dylan Crews and Brady House showed they have a long way to go with their MLB performances last year. The talent is still there for both, especially Crews. It is critical for the health of the rebuild that at least one of those guys takes a big step next year.

There is also new catcher Harry Ford. Toboni’s first big move as Nats POBO was to acquire him in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer. We know Ferrer has big upside and a lot of team control. That means the Nats are going to have to turn Ford into a quality starting catcher to make this trade a win.

Given his production and pedigree, Ford has a good chance of becoming that. However, this new coaching staff will need to help him, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If Ford becomes a starting catcher, this trade is an easy win for the Nats. Overall, the Nats have a lot of position players that could break out. For this season to be a success, a few of them need to take major steps in the right direction.

Find Breakout Stars on the Mound:

The Nationals pitching staff has very few name brands, especially after trading away MacKenzie Gore. Given the names on the roster, it would be tough to project the Nats pitching staff to be even average. I would expect some blowup outings this year. However, the season could still be a success if a few Nats arms really break out.

My breakout candidate on the staff is Cade Cavalli. He has tremendous stuff and finally has a full, healthy offseason. There are a lot of smart people that really like what Cavalli has to offer. His fastball is in the upper 90’s and he has a filthy curveball to go with it. Cavalli’s changeup also shows major promise as well.

Cade Cavalli, Bound to Breakout:

A Thread pic.twitter.com/LqzynzjSxs

— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) August 17, 2025

New pitching coach Simon Mathews will have a lot to work with here. However, Cavalli is far from a finished product. He gets hit harder than a guy with his stuff should. That comes down to his command within the zone. Cavalli was throwing strikes, but too many pitches were in the middle of the plate.

Sequencing is one thing a lot of Nats pitchers could improve. Last season, Nats pitchers were throwing way too many fastballs. We saw what happened when Kyle Finnegan cut his fastball usage after his trade to the Tigers. I would expect the Nats fastball usage to come way down this season.

Too many Nats pitchers were throwing their average heaters far too often. This applies to the likes of Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and relievers such as Jackson Rutledge. I think all of these pitchers will be leaning more on their secondary stuff this year.

Speaking of relievers, Paul Toboni is betting on internal improvement and his ability to find hidden gems. There is no clear closer right now, though my prediction would be that Clayton Beeter gets the 9th inning. Given his love for the waiver wire, I could really see Toboni churning through bullpen arms until he finds the right combination.

Clayton Beeter slams the door for his 1st career save 13.2 straight scoreless, 20 Ks, just 2 hits allowed since joining the Nats. 96+ heat, filthy slider. The kid’s nasty. #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/JtgcqKPGN7

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) September 15, 2025

Even when the Nats were good, Mike Rizzo struggled to build bullpens. I have more faith in Toboni to find the right mix in the ‘pen. The Red Sox had a really good bullpen last year despite not having many big names besides Aroldis Chapman.

Whether it is Paxton Schultz, or Jackson Rutledge, or Cole Henry, I expect a couple of these under the radar bullpen arms to surprise us. I have no idea which ones will though. The pitching will likely struggle this year, but hopefully the Nats can find a few hidden gems in the rubble.

Development on the Farm:

While the MLB team will have the most eyeballs, some of the most important Nationals developments of 2026 will be taking place on the farm. Paul Toboni’s stated mission is to build a scouting and player development monster. A lot of that process will be taking place in the minors.

Toboni has already improved the Nats farm system with his trades, but that is only the first step of his process. He has placed a huge emphasis on improving players and building organizational depth. We will get a chance to see that in action on the farm.

Right now, the Nats farm is considered to be in the middle of the pack by most. However, I believe the Nats will have a top 10, if not top 5 farm by the end of the year. While some of that will be due to future trades and the draft, the main improvement will come from internal development.

The Nationals farm system is good right now but has a chance to be special this time next year. Our guy @PaulCubbage23 examined what the Nats system could look like in a year https://t.co/chHn954Zyv

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) January 30, 2026

The Nats have so many breakout candidates on the farm right now. It feels like at least a couple of them have to explode this year. There is finally a proper infrastructure around these talented players and a real focus on their development.

There may not be a ton of winning at the MLB level, but I think we will see a lot of wins on the farm. Paul Toboni is building this thing from the ground up. That means we will see success at the minor league levels before the MLB. While minor league records do not mean a ton, do not be surprised if these Nats farm teams win more games. It would be a good sign of improved depth in the system.

A lot of the Nats talent is at the lower levels right now. The Fred Nats in particular should be a lot of fun to watch. Following these guys from Low-A to the big leagues is very exciting. Hopefully, the guys we see on the Fred Nats right now are playing playoff games for the Nationals in 5 years.

What Does Success Look Like:

For 2026, winning a lot of games is not what will make the Nats season a success. Sure, it would be awesome if this team shocked the world and made the playoffs, but that is unlikely. There are also other ways to measure success for this team.

I get that it is tiring to have to measure success through development rather than wins, but that is the reality of the situation. The Nats are not built to win now. Hopefully this team can win more games than last year, but even if they win 65-70 games, the season can be successful if the right players take the right steps and the farm system is in a healthy position. The hope is that these moral victories will turn into actual victories in the future.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...eason-look-like-2026-for-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Which Washington Nationals player would be the best in the NFL?

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Elijah Green #21 of the Washington Nationals bats during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

With the Super Bowl tonight, I got to thinking. Which Washington Nationals players could be NFL players? There are a lot of really good athletes on this team, so I had plenty of options. However, I settled on four players. Three of them are currently in the organization, while one is no longer with the Nats.

The four players are Elijah Green, Trea Turner, CJ Abrams and Joey Wiemer. All of them are absolutely freakish athletes that would fit in on an NFL field. All of them have positions on the field that would suit them as well. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Elijah Green has struggled due to hit tool issues in pro ball, but the former top 5 pick might be the freakiest athlete of the four. He is 6’3 225 pounds with an elite blend of power and speed. Football is also in his blood, with his dad Eric being a pro bowl Tight End back in the day.

When you look at him running, you can just picture him being a big safety or a sideline to sideline linebacker. Green is just a freakish mover for his size. There is actually a player in the Super Bowl with a similar combination of size and speed. That is Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori.

20 year old @Nationals prospect Elijah Green running some sprints preparing for the season. pic.twitter.com/TknEzi2ZvO

— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) January 23, 2024

Green and Emmanwori have very similar measurables. They are both 6’3, but Emmanwori is 5 pounds lighter at 220 pounds. Emmanwori has been a key part of the Seahawks defense as a rookie. He has been a highly versatile defensive back who specializes playing in the slot. Green has the same sort of movement skills. Given his struggles in pro ball, this could honestly be something to consider.

The only former Nat I put on the list is Trea Turner. You just could not make a list of potential NFL players with Nationals connections without him. Even at 32 years old, Turner is still one of the fastest players in the league. He is also incredibly smooth and fluid as an athlete.

Trea Turner’s Sprint Speed and where that ranks in MLB:

2025- 30.3 (1st in MLB)
2024- 29.6 (21st in MLB)
2023- 30.3 (4th in MLB)
2022- 30.3 (4th in MLB)
2021- 30.6 (1st in MLB)
2020- 29.9 (4th in MLB)
2019- 30.3 (2nd in MLB)
2018- 30.1 (6th in MLB)
2017- 30.3 (5th in MLB)
2016-… pic.twitter.com/rJo5EY2v9A

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) January 2, 2026

All of those things would make him a great wide receiver. At 6’1 185 pounds, he would probably have to bulk up a bit though. However, if he put on another 10 pounds, his measurables would be similar to Seahawks star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN is listed at 6’0 197 pounds. Turner is 6’1 185 pounds, so not too far off.

I actually think Turner is a bit faster than JSN. However, Smith-Njigba’s route running is what makes him special. Obviously, Turner would not be that level of route runner, but his speed and overall movement skills would make him a good receiver.

To stop elite receivers like JSN, you need lockdown cornerbacks. This is where I think CJ Abrams could thrive. A lot of the best corners are on the leaner side like Abrams. They rely on their speed and ability to turn and run. Abrams certainly has that ability to run, as we see on the basepaths.

enjoyed this closer look at CJ Abrams

ugly start on a bad team made it hard for him to really pop but a 22-year-old SS w/ 18 HR/47 SB (& only caught 4 times!) should've been a bigger deal

clearly more adjustments needed but the physical tools are still freaky

big '24 in store https://t.co/QCTu8Rme07 pic.twitter.com/iZHlghcMBC

— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) January 31, 2024

At 6’0 191 pounds, he also just looks like a cornerback. He is a very similar size to former Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who is 6’0 185 pounds. Both also have dynamic movement skills and speed.

You can just picture Abrams running with receivers and matching them step for step. While he is not on the list, Jacob Young also has the natural athleticism to be one of the rare white cornerbacks. Cooper DeJean showed us it could be done. Maybe in another life, Young could have followed that career path.

Finally, the last player I am going to talk about is not as well-known and is new to the Nationals. The Nats claimed Joey Wiemer off of waivers earlier this winter. They did so because of his defense, athleticism and power. He does not have great hitting ability, but he is a tremendous athlete. Wiemer can make highlight reel plays in the outfield.

Joey said 'not today'.

Vote Wiemer for All-Star: https://t.co/QW3CNiAUAT pic.twitter.com/TGZrgfIRbj

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 7, 2023

At 6’4 226 pounds, Wiemer is an impressive physical specimen. With that size, he could play linebacker in the NFL. Fred Warner, the best linebacker in football, is a similar size at 6’3 230 pounds. Wiemer’s size and speed would make him a formidable backer in the league. He probably has the frame to add about 10 pounds if he really wanted to play football as well.

There are a lot of really high level athletes who have played in the Nats organization. Many of them would not look out of place on an NFL field if that was what they decided to pursue instead of baseball. Maybe we could have seen CJ Abrams trying to guard Trea Turner in another life.

I am very excited to watch the Super Bowl and watch these amazing athletes. Who do you guys think will win tonight? Also, do you think I left off any Nationals players who could have been NFL stars if they played football? Let me know in the comments.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...hington-nationals-player-would-be-best-in-nfl

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals need to make additions as Spring Training approaches

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 9: Rhys Hoskins #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks back to the dugout after breaking his bat and fouling out during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 9, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Pitchers and catchers report to camp tomorrow, and the Washington Nationals roster still feels painfully incomplete. Even for a team that does not have serious playoff aspirations, there are still holes that need to be filled. The team lacks veteran leaders and proven commodities. Hopefully new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni can do something to fix that as the offseason winds down.

For his part, Toboni has acknowledged that the team needs more additions. In interviews from the past couple of weeks, Toboni said that the team is not set heading to West Palm Beach and that the team is actively looking for pitching help. However, no deals have materialized since then, besides waiver wire action.

From two weeks ago, a compilation from 2 interviews that Paul Toboni gave:

"By no means do we feel we're set going into West Palm."

"We're actively looking in that [pitching] market, and I think there's a chance we can sign a player here in the next week or two. But we will… pic.twitter.com/OAE86MOtge

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) February 5, 2026

Hopefully Toboni sticks to his word because he is right that the team is not complete. In fact, they are far from it. The Nats have as many holes as Swiss Cheese right now. There are question marks at first base, DH, the rotation and in the bullpen. You can have internal competitions at some of those spots, but it would be unsettling to do it at all of those positions.

The Nats are not going to be a good team this year, but fans still want to see a respectable product on the field. Right now, it does not seem like there is a serious effort to do that. The only free agent signing Paul Toboni has made is the $5.5 million addition of Foster Griffin, who has spent the last three years in Japan.

The Nats have not signed a player to a big league contract that actually played in the big leagues last year. Even in a rebuilding year, that is unacceptable. It is something Toboni needs to fix, for the sake of the fans if nothing else.

Most of the high profile free agents are off the board, but that is okay because the Nats were never fishing in that pool. However, there are still some solid free agents available that could be in the Nats price range. Some names to watch could be Rhys Hoskins and former Nats draft pick Lucas Giolito.

Now only eight of the @TheAthleticMLB's top 50 free agents remain unsigned, including none of the top 20.

21. Zac Gallen
30. Lucas Giolito
31. Chris Bassitt
37. Zack Littell
38. Marcell Ozuna
41. Max Scherzer
43. Rhys Hoskins
50. Michael Kopechhttps://t.co/a6wfQyi7RK

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 6, 2026

The Nats need reliability at first base and in the rotation. Giolito and Hoskins are veteran presences who can provide that. While the underlying numbers suggest Giolito’s 3.41 ERA from last year is not sustainable, he should still be able to provide league average production which the Nats desperately need in their rotation.

Other starters they could turn to for that include Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt and Zack Littell. Zac Gallen is also on the market, but Toboni is likely to stay away from him due to his price tag and the qualifying offer attached to him. Toboni does not seem like he is in the business of giving away draft picks.

Another area that could use a boost is the bullpen. The Nats had the worst bullpen in all of baseball last year and it got worse on paper over the offseason. Toboni traded away Jose A. Ferrer, the Nats most promising reliever. It was a deal I liked, but it still weakens the bullpen. The Nats are projected to have the worst bullpen in baseball again in 2026.

Fangraphs RP DC Rankings (Bottom 5)
26th: Athletics (1.3 fWAR)
27th: DBacks (1.2 fWAR)
28th: Rockies (1.1 fWAR)
29th: Giants (1.1 fWAR)
30th: Nats (0.4 fWAR)
Bullpens shouldn’t be the main focus of a rebuilding team, but they cannot go into 2026 without any new additions https://t.co/9TP84FDuFK

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) February 2, 2026

The free agent options are slim, but there are still some names available. Michael Kopech could be an interesting flier to take. He has injury issues, but also possesses huge upside. If the Nats wanted a safer option, veteran lefties Danny Coulombe or Jalen Beeks could be options.

I am not expecting any massive additions, but are a couple stabilizing additions too much to ask for? With this pitching staff, the Nats are really running the risk of bottoming out and losing 100+ games. Even in a rebuild, that is not something you want to do, especially with a draft lottery in place.

A few veterans would help the young guys develop and keep the fans engaged. Speaking of the fans, how about an addition of Max Scherzer? I know that would fire me up and he would be such a great leader for this young team. Both the Nats and Scherzer have reasons to not be interested in each other, but it would be a ton of fun.

Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow and the Nats roster just feels so unfinished. Can you really roll out there with this rotation, Abimelec Ortiz or Matt Mervis at first base, and this no name bullpen? It just feels like you would be asking for trouble. I guess we are going to find out based on what Paul Toboni does in the coming days and weeks.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...eed-make-additions-spring-training-approaches

 

[Washington Nationals]

Fangraphs’ ZiPS Doesn’t Like The 2026 Nationals Much. Does That Matter?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals takes a swing during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox at the Nationals Park on September 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Following a disappointing 2025 season where the Nationals went 66-96, Fangraphs doesn’t expect the results to be much improved entering the 2026 season, with their ZiPS projection system placing them at an estimated 63-99 record this season. While this number won’t bring much joy to Nats fans about how this season is going to look, it’s important to look at this number in context and understand how accurate these projections really are.

First off, it’s important to understand what ZiPS is and why it’s worth looking at when evaluating a roster as a whole. ZiPS uses player aging curves, along with all sorts of Statcast data and injury history, to project how every player on a team will perform in an upcoming season.

Once that has been compiled, they project the playing time of all these players on a club, and then run roughly 10,000 simulations of the season to find the most likely scenario for a ballclub. While it shouldn’t be taken as gospel, as there are so many external factors that go into a team’s season, it can offer a useful guide for how clubs should be viewed entering a season.

I’ve compared ZiPS projected record for the Nats from 2025 to 2015 (excluding 2020) to their actual records in those years, and a few things stand out. For starters, the only years I’d say the projection system was way, way off were in 2021 and 2022, years where the Nationals roster was changing vastly from beginning to end of the year.

ZiPS still had faith in the Nationals’ big three of Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin to hold down the rotation in 2021, and thought the big bats of Juan Soto and Trea Turner, with the addition of Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber to the lineup, would be enough to keep the Nationals at least relevant that season. The 2021 Nats had a wide range of outcomes, and, unfortunately, they ultimately ended on the bad side of that outcome range, finishing 18 wins under their projection with 65.

In 2022, it’s hard to say quite why ZiPS thought the Nats would be at least a watchable group, but it also couldn’t have projected for the midseason loss of Juan Soto or the atrocious performance of Nelson Cruz after nothing but years of raking. ZiPS also anticipated a rebound in success from Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg to pitch at least a portion of that year, 2 things that we now know did not happen at all. 2022 was ZiPS’ biggest miss in modern times when it comes to projecting the Nationals’ record, with the actual 2022 Nats finishing a whopping 21 wins under their projection.

Outside of those 2 years, ZiPS has been rather on the money with its Nationals record predictions, finishing within 10 games 7 of 8 years, and within 5 games in 4 of those 8. It’s done particularly on the money on the Nats club of the past 3 seasons, undershooting slightly on the 2023 and 2024 Nats win totals, before overshooting a little bit on the 2025 Nats.

So what does all of this mean for the 2026 Nationals? It means it could be another long season full of growing pains, but it’s also worth considering the external variable that could affect this projection. For starters, there is an entirely new front office and coaching staff in place from years past, meaning new voices for the players to hear from and potentially help find another gear of success in them.

There are also plenty of youngsters on the ballclub, such as Brady House and Harry Ford, who could break out at anytime, something the model struggles to account for as compared to veterans that it has lots of success to back up its projections.

Overall, while these models and projection systems can be fun to look at and attempt to decipher during the offseason, all bets are off once it’s time to playball, as the 2026 Nationals could come out swinging and make these numbers all look silly. Still, based on the historical trend of these projections, it would be unwise to dismiss them completely.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...s-doesnt-like-2026-nationals-does-that-matter

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals bosses Paul Toboni and Blake Butera meet with the media before Spring Training

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 17: Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni (R) introduces Washington Nationals Manager Blake Butera (L) during a press conference at Nationals Park on November 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Butera became the eighth manager in Nationals team history and the youngest manager in Major League Baseball since 1972. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Earlier today, the Nationals held a virtual press conference with Paul Toboni and Blake Butera before pitchers and catchers officially report tomorrow. I was actually able to participate in the presser, and asked a question to Blake Butera. Unfortunately, time ran out before I could ask my question to Toboni, but there is always next time. For the full presser, here is the link.

Manager Blake Butera (12:00) and President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni (12:20) will meet the media this afternoon. Tune in to the link below to watch live:https://t.co/0yrrYYrxrn

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) February 10, 2026

It was a lot of fun to be a part of this, and I was truly honored. We have come a long way as a site in the past year or so, and hopefully this is the first of many press conferences for us.

Toboni actually shouted out the Washington Post Nats team which was recently laid off. I thought that was a cool touch. He seemed genuinely shocked and horrified by the decision. I feel the same way about it too. It was a very classy move from him and something I appreciated.

On to the questions themselves, I asked Butera about which player he thinks will surprise people this season. If you want to watch along, my question is at the 11:30 mark. Butera said that Robert Hassell III is the player that could surprise people.

Got to ask Blake a question about who could surprise this spring. He shouted out Robert Hassell III. Hopefully I can get a chance to ask something to Paul next time https://t.co/0PF4tWlkv7

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) February 10, 2026

He told me that when discussing the Nats deep group of outfielders, “Sometimes people forget about Robert Hassell”. Butera noted that Hassell was motivated to get bigger and stronger this offseason. He told me that he was impressed with how hard Hassell worked this offseason. As one of the players that got down to Florida early, Butera got to see Hassell put in that work.

Hassell’s focus on getting bigger and stronger this offseason has already become a storyline heading into camp. At a fan event a couple weeks ago, Butera said that Hassell put on 25 pounds of bulk this offseason. That is a big change and will be something to follow as we head into the season.

Blake Butera said @robert_hassell3 put on 25 pounds of bulk. pic.twitter.com/rHL8jX5E6O

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) January 31, 2026

We saw Jacob Young put on muscle last offseason and it did not have the desired effects. Hopefully, Hassell’s added weight helps his game. When you looked at him last year, it was pretty clear that he had room to add weight. However, 25 pounds in one winter is a big transformation. I am curious to see how he carries that weight and if he can maintain his athleticism.

As for the press conference as a whole, there was not any groundbreaking news, but it was still interesting. Toboni and Butera got to talk about their process which I found neat. Butera discussed some of his first impressions about the players and how he is settling into the job.

Toboni talked about his process oriented vision. One part I found interesting was when Toboni said he and the staff will be challenging players on their weaknesses. The example he used was chase rate. If a player is chasing too much, they will show them the specific numbers until they get better.

This was a cool event for me and a big step for the site as a whole. I am grateful to the Nats for letting me be a part of this. We will be heading down to West Palm Beach for a week in March, so hopefully we get more opportunities to talk with Blake and Paul soon.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...lake-butera-meet-media-before-spring-training

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals acquire Andre Granillo for recently DFA’d George Soriano

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 16: Andre Granillo #65 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees at Busch Stadium on August 16, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With one day before pitchers and catchers report to camp, Paul Toboni made a move. He traded the recently DFA’d George Soriano for Cardinals reliever Andre Granillo. This is just an exchange of two players on the fringes of 40 man rosters, but it is one the Nats did well in. Granillo has some interesting traits as a slider heavy reliever.

Nationals acquire right-handed pitcher Andre Granillo https://t.co/julmvXgGHg

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) February 10, 2026

This is an interesting trade because the Cardinals could have waited to claim Soriano, but wanted to jump the line. They probably gave Toboni the choice of a few players on the edge of the 40 man roster and gave him a choice. Granillo might have been the one the Cardinals DFA’d if they decided to just claim Soriano.

Granillo is a 25 year old reliever who has some intriguing qualities. His primary pitch is his slider, which he just spams. In the MLB, he threw the pitch 65% of the time in his 14 outings. At the AAA level, he threw it 55% of the time. Despite the heavy usage, the pitch was still dominant.

MLB hitters only batted .245 against the pitch with an expected batting average of .188. Granillo also got whiffs at nearly a 35% clip. The slider was even more dominant in the minors with a .139 expected batting average and a 47.5% whiff rate. Here is a look at the pitch.

Nats trade George Soriano to the Cardinals for Andre Granillo pic.twitter.com/wM0mCpLx2n

— Kev (@klwoodjr) February 10, 2026

While Granillo is very slider heavy, his fastball has enough life for hitters to respect it. He averaged 94.6 MPH on the pitch, but his fastball shape is not very good. It can be used as a pitch to keep hitters off guard though.

Granillo had a 4.71 ERA in 14 outings at the MLB level, but he showed some promising flashes. He only struck out 19.8% of hitters, but his whiff rate was excellent at 31.5%. Granillo also limited hard contact well with an average exit velocity of 86.7 MPH and a hard hit rate of just 27.7%. These are some things for the 25 year old to build on.

While the results in the MLB were mixed, he was dominant in AAA. He posted a 1.29 ERA in 42 innings with 58 strikeouts. Getting a pitcher that is that productive, who is still pretty young is a major win for Toboni.

Andre Granillo at Triple A in 2025
-42 IP, all in relief
-1.29 ERA
-2.42 FIP
-27.3 K-BB%
-91st percentile xwOBA
-92nd percentile whiff rate
-94th percentile strikeout rate
Acquired for a guy picked up off waivers a few days ago? That’ll play. https://t.co/ds8S6QgLXY

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) February 10, 2026

I am also interested to see what Toboni can do with Granillo. He might try to diversify Granillo’s pitch mix. There is an intriguing changeup that Granillo threw that could be used as a third pitch more frequently. He also experimented with a sinker, which could be a good idea given his lack of ground balls and sub-optimal fastball shape.

It feels like Toboni may have fleeced his former boss Chaim Bloom here. Granillo is not likely to ever be a closer, but he looks like a solid medium leverage option who is young and has options.

The corresponding move to this was sending Trevor Williams to the 60-day IL. This is unsurprising given that Williams is coming back from elbow surgery. It also underscores the Nats need for starting pitching.

The Nats will be able to open up at least one more 40-man spot with DJ Herz likely to start the year on the 60-day IL. Hopefully that spot can go to a starting pitcher. Picking up Granillo is a nice move, but the Nats still need more pitching.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...tionals-acquire-andre-granillo-george-soriano