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The Nationals are in an offseason of significant change. The team appointed Paul Toboni as president of baseball operations last week to shape the roster, staff and front office for the 2026 season and beyond. Here are five questions facing the Nats, who finished the season 66-96. 1. Who will the Nationals hire as manager?
The Nationals are in their first managerial search since hiring Dave Martinez in 2017. There have been openings and candidates across baseball this offseason, ranging in levels of experience.
The Giants, Angels, Braves, Rockies, Twins and Orioles are joining the Nats this winter in the pursuit of a manager. They parted ways with Bob Melvin, Ron Washington/Ray Montgomery (interim), Brian Snitker, Bud Black, Rocco Baldelli and Brandon Hyde, respectively. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is returning to Queens, but the team parted ways with the hitting coaches, bench coach and third-base coach. The Rangers signed former Marlins skipper Skip Schumaker to a four-year deal last Friday. |
“I think it's one variable to consider, but it's definitely not everything,” Toboni said of Major League managerial experience. “There have been plenty of managers or head coaches across sports that have had success in their first time in the job. There have also been managers and head coaches across sports that have failed the first time, and then they get a second chance and they do really well. So it’s something to consider, by no means is it the end-all.” 2. How will the Nationals sort out the crowded outfield?
The Nats ended the season with five promising young outfielders in the big leagues. The club will have to evaluate how and where to find playing time for James Wood (23), Dylan Crews (23), Jacob Young (26), Daylen Lile (22) and Robert Hassell III (24). An intriguing development this season was the emergence of Lile, who was named September NL Player and Rookie of the Month. The Nats tabbed him as designated hitter for 15 games to keep his bat in the lineup as Young delivered Gold Glove-caliber defense. |
The Nationals also have No. 30 prospect Andrew Pinckney on the horizon. Pinckney, 24, played the entire season with Triple-A Rochester and earned the “Nationals Way” Minor League Award. 3. How will the Nats address the catcher position?
Starting catcher Keibert Ruiz did not appear in a game with the Nationals after July 5 because of concussions. He was removed from a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg in early September when symptoms returned. Ruiz, 27, and the Nats face uncertainty of his availability. Ruiz signed an eight-year, $50 million contract in Spring Training 2023, and he had embraced a heavy workload of games played. Riley Adams took over as the starting catcher in Ruiz’s absence. He is arbitration-eligible this offseason. The Nats signed Jorge Alfaro to a one-year deal in September after backup catcher Drew Millas was placed on the IL for the remainder of the season. |
Catchers entering free agency this winter include J.T. Realmuto, Salvador Perez (club option), Victor Caratini, Danny Jansen (mutual option), Austin Hedges, Christian Vázquez, James McCann, Elias Díaz (mutual option), Tomás Nido, Austin Barnes, Gary Sánchez, Mitch Garver (mutual option), Luke Maile, Tom Murphy (club option), Jacob Stallings and Martín Maldonado. 4. How many veterans will the Nationals add to a young roster?
In recent years, the Nats have signed veterans to one-year deals and flipped the expiring contracts at the Trade Deadline to acquire developing pieces. Could the Nationals add vets to longer-term deals? Toboni noted the value of experienced leaders on the Red Sox, and he described desired veteran characteristics as energetic, humble, dependable and competitive.
“I've seen it in Boston this year,” Toboni said. “We brought in [Alex] Bregman, and Alex had some intangibles that I know they're talked about in the media. But once you experience [them] firsthand, you're like, ‘This is it, and this can have a tremendous influence on younger players.’ I think about Roman [Anthony] and Marcelo [Meyer] and all those young players in Boston -- they have all benefited from it. It’s a really, really important thing.” |
5. Who will be the starting first baseman?
The Nationals started five players at first base this season: Nathaniel Lowe (113 starts), Josh Bell (32), Andrés Chaparro (14), Luis García Jr. (2) and Paul DeJong (1). Of that group, Lowe was designated for assignment in August; Bell and DeJong are free agents; and while the Nationals got looks at García at first base late in the season, he still is the starting second baseman as of now. |
Unlike third base, where the Nats had developed Brady House, they do not have an answer for first base next season in the Minor Leagues.
Players who will hit the free-agent market this offseason include Pete Alonso (can opt out), Josh Naylor, Ryan O'Hearn, Carlos Santana, Luis Arraez, Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins (mutual option), Justin Turner (mutual option), Donovan Solano, Dominic Smith, Ty France, LaMonte Wade Jr., Rowdy Tellez and Wilmer Flores. |
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