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0:41BREAKING: Nationals Hiring Blake Butera as Manager
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12:52Outfield & Starting Pitcher Questions for 2026 Drafts!
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1:35Highlights: Nationals at Braves (9/22)
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0:40Highlights: Braves at Nationals Double Header GM1 (9/16)
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1:44Waiver Wire MUST ADDS! Sal Stewart Making Noise!
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8:20Waiver Wire MUST ADDS! Austin Hays Picking Things Back Up!
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0:31Yankees Set To Face White Sox Ahead Of Daunting Stretch
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0:43Yankees Continue To Stick With Anthony Volpe Despite Struggles
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1:28Highlights: Nationals at Yankees (8/27)
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1:20Giancarlo Stanton Homers, Drives In All 5 Runs
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1:31Highlights: Nationals at Yankees (8/26)
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1:54Highlights: Nationals at Yankees (8/25)
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0:25JUST IN: Tigers Acquire RHP Kyle Finnegan From Nationals
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0:40MLB Trade Deadline Update: Mackenzie Gore
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1:01MLB Trade Deadline Buying or Selling: Nationals
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10:24Redrafting the First Round for the Second Half!
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1:08Highlights: Red Sox light up Nationals on July 4th
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10:23Top 5 Prospects to Stash! Could Joe Boyle Replace Taj Bradley?
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9:59Latest Waiver Wire Adds! Lucas Giolito or Jose Soriano??
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8:08Young Hitters Performing & Mitchell Parker Legit?
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Top Nationals News
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Nationals' Gus Varland: Healthy for spring training
Varland (undisclosed) faced live hitters during Wednesday's full-squad workout.
Varland didn't pitch after July 28 last season while tending to an undisclosed injury, but he's seemingly back to full health for spring training. The Nationals added Varland to their 40-man roster via a waiver claim in January and will give him the chance to compete for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. Over parts of two big-league seasons across stops with the White Sox, Brewers and Dodgers, Varland owns a 4.82 ERA and 47:24 K:BB over 46.2 innings.
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Nationals' Bryce Montes de Oca: Looks healthy in camp
Montes de Oca (elbow) faced live hitters during Wednesday's full-squad workout.
Montes de Oca looks to be free of restrictions this spring after he missed the entire 2025 season while he was on the mend from his second career Tommy John surgery, which he underwent late in 2024. The 29-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals in January and is likely to open the season in the Triple-A Rochester bullpen.
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Nationals' Drew Smith: Fully healed from TJ surgery
Smith (elbow) completed a bullpen session Wednesday and said that he's under no restrictions during spring training, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Smith didn't pitch at any point in 2025 after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in July 2024, but he said that he made a complete recovery by the end of last season. After the Mets declined his team option for 2026 back in November, Smith sat on the open market for more than three months before landing a minor-league deal with Washington earlier this week. Though Smith isn't currently on the 40-man roster, a solid spring should put him in good position to break camp with the Nationals, given their lack of experienced relief arms. The 32-year-old owns a 3.06 ERA over 192 career big-league appearances, all of which came with the Mets.
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Nationals' Drew Smith: Catches on with Washington
Smith (elbow) agreed Monday with the Nationals on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Michelle Margaux of SNY.tv reports.
According to Margaux, Smith's deal will be worth $1.75 million if he makes the Opening Day roster and includes up to $1.25 million in performance-related bonuses. The 32-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2025 season while on the mend from July 2024 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace, but he could be at or near full health at this point. If Smith proves during spring training that he's regained his pre-surgery velocity and command, he could quickly earn a high-leverage role in an unsettled Washington bullpen. Over parts of six big-league seasons, Smith owns a 3.48 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 15.2 K-BB% over 191 appearances, all of which came with the Mets.
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Nationals' Cionel Perez: Joins Nationals as NRI
Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Saturday and received an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Perez was a liability in the Orioles' bullpen last season, logging an 8.31 ERA and 2.12 WHIP as well as a 21:18 K:BB over 21.2 innings before being outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk in late May. He entered 2025 with a 3.80 ERA during his big-league career, however, so he may still win a spot in Washington's Opening Day bullpen if he returns to form during Grapefruit League play.
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Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Cleared of concussion restrictions
Ruiz has been cleared of any concussion symptoms to begin spring training, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old was limited to only 68 games last season after being struck in the head by a foul ball in late June, but Ruiz's offensive numbers were lagging even prior to the concussion issues that cost him the final three months of 2025. He'll compete in camp with Harry Ford, acquired from the Mariners in the Jose Ferrer trade this offseason, for the top job behind the plate with the Nationals.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Hoping to be ready for Opening Day
Gray (elbow) is hoping to be part of the Nationals' Opening Day rotation, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The once-promising right-hander is now 28 years old and has barely pitched the last two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2024. Gray did make three brief rehab appearances in the minors late last season, and he had no setbacks this winter, so he heads into camp without any restrictions. "We obviously don't want to do anything that'll jeopardize his long-term health here," Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Tuesday. "But he was pretty darn close to being fully built up at the end of last year, and then you had the full offseason to get into good shape. So we expect him to build up like any other starting pitcher competing for a job." Gray posted a 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 143:80 K:BB over 159 innings in 2023, and his return would bolster a rotation that has only one experienced arm in Miles Mikolas, who was signed to a one-year deal Wednesday.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Getting long look at first base
Garcia will split his time between second base and first base during spring training, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The Nationals don't have a clear starter at first base, and Garcia's defense at the keystone has been below average the last two seasons. However, the 25-year-old has been a passable offensive contributor during that time, posting a combined .267/.304/.428 slash line in 2023-24 with 34 homers and 36 steals in 279 games, and he should be in the starting lineup at one of those two positions on Opening Day. Andres Chaparro and prospect Abimelec Ortiz, acquired from Texas in the MacKenzie Gore trade, would appear to be the other main competitors for Washington's first base job.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Placed on 60-day IL
The Nationals placed Herz (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The move clears a spot on Washington's 40-man roster for Miles Mikolas, who signed a one-year deal with the club Wednesday. It's unclear how close Herz is to beginning a throwing program after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, but he's likely to be sidelined for at least most of the season's first half.
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Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Latches on with Nationals
The Nationals signed Mikolas to a one-year contract Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal reports.
Mikolas held a 4.84 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 100:37 K:BB across 156.1 innings covering 31 starts for the Cardinals in 2025. The veteran right-hander has a pedestrian 4.51 ERA over the last four seasons, but he's made 30-plus starts every year during that stretch, so the 37-year-old gives an unproven Nationals rotation some experience and durability.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Sent to 60-day injured list
The Nationals placed Williams (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Andre Granillo, who was acquired via trade from the Cardinals. Williams underwent an internal brace surgery on his right elbow last July and will sidelined for at least the first two months of the season while he continues his rehab.
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Nationals' Andre Granillo: Shipped to Nationals
The Nationals acquired Granillo from the Cardinals on Tuesday in exchange for George Soriano, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Granillo broke into the big leagues in 2025 with a 4.71 ERA and 18:7 K:BB over 21 innings. The 25-year-old has a career 31.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors but has also walked batters at a 12.7 percent clip. Granillo will compete for a spot in the Nationals' bullpen but does have minor-league options remaining.
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Nationals' Riley Cornelio: Could make Opening Day roster
Cornelio will be in the mix for a spot on the 26-man roster this spring, either in the bullpen or at the back of the rotation, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The Nationals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025 began the campaign at High-A Wilmington and finished the year with eight starts for Triple-A Rochester, posting a 38:13 K:BB in 35.1 innings. Cornelio saw a big spike in his fastball velocity last season, touching 97-98 mph but having difficulty sustaining that heat deeper into games, and his slider has flashed plus. The 25-year-old right-hander got added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, and he could follow the same path that Brad Lord did in 2025, beginning the season in short relief before getting stretched out for a rotation or swingman role. Given the Nats' muddled closer picture, Cornelio could also work his way into a high-leverage role if his fastball plays up in shorter bursts and his slider becomes more consistent.
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Nationals' George Soriano: Goes back to waiver wire
The Nationals designated Soriano for assignment Thursday.
He's clearing out to make room on the 40-man roster for Ken Waldichuk, who was claimed off waivers. Soriano was a waiver claim himself just last week and could be on the move again. The right-handed reliever has put up a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB covering 118 innings at the big-league level.
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Nationals' Ken Waldichuk: Scooped on waivers by Nationals
The Nationals claimed Waldichuk off waivers from the Rays on Thursday.
It's the fourth organization Waldichuk has been in this offseason. The left-hander struggled in 2025 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, posting an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP across 51.0 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas. However, Waldichuk boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors, so he could become useful rotation depth for the Nationals as he further distances himself from surgery.
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Nationals' Konnor Pilkington: Outrighted to Triple-A
The Nationals outrighted Pilkington to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
Pilkington has the ability to elect free agency rather than accepting the outright assignment, though it's unclear what his plans are. The lefty posted a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings with the Nationals last season.
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Nationals' Harry Ford: Could win starting job
Ford is expected to compete with Keibert Ruiz for the starting catcher spot heading into the 2026 season, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Ford was acquired by the Nationals from the Mariners in an offseason deal, and he's immediately been identified as one of his new club's top young prospects. The 22-year-old struggled to see time behind Cal Raleigh in Seattle, logging six at-bats in eight games in 2025, but that's set to change in Washington. Ruiz is coming off a tough season in which he didn't see the field after suffering a concussion in July, so if Ford can stay healthy, he appears likely to break camp with the big-league squad and could even overtake Ruiz for the starting job.
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Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Competing for starting spot
Ruiz (concussion) will compete with Harry Ford for the starting catcher job heading into the 2026 season, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Camerato states that it's not clear whether Ruiz is back at 100 percent after missing significant time a season ago due to a concussion, but the team should have more information on his status once he reports to spring training. Ruiz has had a firm handle on the starting catching gig over the last four seasons with Washington, but he'll be challenged by one of the Nationals' recently acquired prospects in Ford.
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Nationals' Tsung-Che Cheng: DFA'd again
The Nationals designated Cheng for assignment Friday.
Cheng has already been in four different organizations this offseason and could make it a fifth as he heads back to waivers. The 24-year-old infielder slashed .209/.307/.271 at Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates organization last season and went hitless in seven plate appearances during a cup of coffee in the majors.
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Nationals' George Soriano: Scooped up by Nationals
The Nationals claimed Soriano off waivers from Atlanta on Friday.
Soriano is on the move again, as this will be his fourth organization of the offseason. The righty has put up a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB covering 118 innings at the big-league level. He does not have minor-league options remaining, so the Nationals would have to pass him through waivers in order to send him to Triple-A Rochester.
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Team Statistical Rankings
| Avg | R | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
.242 (21st) |
687 (20th) |
161 (24th) |
5.35 (29th) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| D. Herz P Davidjohn Herz P | Elbow |
| T. Williams SP Trevor Williams SP | Elbow |
| C. Henry RP Cole Henry RP | Back |
| D. Millas C Drew Millas C | Finger |
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