The Nationals hoped the 2025 season would represent a step forward in their rebuild, but the opposite took place. The results were discouraging enough that ownership fired not only manager Davey Martinez but longtime president/general manager Mike Rizzo, who'd run the team's baseball operations for nearly two decades. A new front office regime will try to turn things around for a club that won more games in 2024 (71) than in 2025 (66).
Guaranteed Contracts
- Keibert Ruiz, C: $35MM through 2030 (contract contains club options for 2031-32; neither has a buyout)
- Trevor Williams, RHP: $7MM through 2026
- Shinnosuke Ogasawara, LHP: $2MM through 2026
Other Financial Commitments
- $35MM in dead money owed to RHP Stephen Strasburg
Total 2026 commitments: $49MM
Total long-term commitments: $79MM through 2030
Option Decisions
- None
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; salary projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz):
- Jorge Alfaro (5.160): $1MM
- Luis Garcia Jr. (4.142): $7MM
- Josiah Gray (4.075): $1.35MM
- Mason Thompson (4.022): $1MM
- MacKenzie Gore (4.000): $4.7MM
- Riley Adams (3.171): $1.5MM
- CJ Abrams (3.130): $5.6MM
- Jake Irvin (2.152): $3.3MM
- Cade Cavalli (2.141): $1.3MM
Non-tender candidates: Alfaro, Garcia, Thompson, Adams
Free Agents
The Nationals' summer ousting of Rizzo kicked off an executive search while longtime Rizzo lieutenant Mike DeBartolo ran baseball operations through the trade deadline and the end of the season. Washington spoke with executives from multiple clubs and ultimately settled on Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni to head up the organization. Because he was in the running to be promoted to Red Sox general manager under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, Toboni was hired with the title president of baseball operations. The Nats could hire a GM to work underneath him at some point, but it wasn't framed as an immediate priority at Toboni's introductory press conference.
Changes in the front office have already begun. The Nats will retain DeBartolo in a yet-to-be-announced role, but assistant GMs Eddie Longosz and Mark Scialabba are set to depart the organization amid further changes in the scouting department. Even if Toboni doesn't immediately add a general manager, it seems likely that he'll bring on some new hires to take over some of the AGM and scouting responsibilities (particularly if DeBartolo is moved to a role other than assistant general manager).
The Nats will also need to hire a new skipper. Interim manager Miguel Cairo is a candidate in the team's ongoing search, Toboni indicated this week, but the Nationals are also in the process of interviewing candidates from outside the organization. Washington is one of an incredible seven teams looking for a new manager and one of an even more remarkable nine clubs that will have a different manager on Opening Day 2026 than on Opening Day 2025.
Of course, beyond the broader changes at the highest levels of the organization, fans are more concerned with what the offseason will look like under the new regime. Toboni naturally didn't delve into specifics at his introduction. He spoke in general terms, repeatedly mentioning the desire to build a "scouting and player development monster" that eventually stands as the envy of the industry.
Even more pressing, however, is what the future holds for some of the organization's key young players. While emerging outfielders like James Wood and Daylen Lile are controlled for another five-plus seasons, many of the team's other most important contributors are already halfway -- or more -- through their original level of club control. That'll put Toboni in an interesting spot this winter as he looks to determine whether some of his core players are building blocks or whether they're best used as trade currency to further stock a farm system that, even after picking No. 1 overall in July and trading several players at the 2025 deadline, ranked 21st in the majors at Baseball America and 23rd at MLB.com.
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Why not try Lyle at 1st base?
5’10 ? Could go Luis Garcia Jr. at 1st. I’d try James Wood
Teams now first hire a POBO; and the first thing many do afterwards, is to hire a GM to take the fall for the POBO’s poor choices.
$49 million for ’26 and the Reds only have $37 in obligations?
I’m not trying to sound ignorant here because I understand his stuff is sick, but Gore has a lifetime 4.19 ERA in not sure I understand the obsession.
I don’t see the Nats non-tendering Garcia or Adams.
There’s a solid core developing here. It will be interesting to see who they hire as manager
Clock is ticking on core. First guys will be FA before they get competitive.
The Nats have a decent cadre of young players. Believe Wood and Crews will be stars. If he can stay healthy, albeit a big if for all pitchers, Gore is a keeper.
Ruiz is overpaid, but for a catcher, where the offensive bar is set low, he’s not bad. Big issue for him is improving his defense and game calling.
I think they could get a decent return for Harris and then trade for or sign a 2B/MI type who is better defensively.
A .500 season isn’t beyond the realm of possibility in 2026.
Ruiz was sure smart taking that contract extension when offered. He would be a non-tender candidate if not locked in.
.500 is very out of the realm of possibility, in my opinion.
Who is Harris?
If you’re going to note Strasburg’s dead money, why not mention Scherzer’s $15M of deferred money?
@txostamt Probably because the deferrals were already funded at time of deferral as required by the CBA. It costs Nats nothing next year. That $ was invested at time of deferral to accrue to its value at time of payment.
Exactly. Amazing that more fans don’t realize this
Jake Irvin is a guaranteed tender? I guess if you want an innings sponge but he’s really not very good. $3.3MM isn’t much but I can’t imagine he’s tendered another deal after this one.