Welcome to the latest edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. |
An offseason priority of the Nationals has been adding to their pitching depth on the Major League and Minor League level. President of baseball operations Paul Toboni said the Nats “want to be active in all areas” of player acquisition, and they have done so already in a variety of transactions.
From free agency to Minor League signings to the Rule 5 Draft, get to know these five pitchers who recently joined the Nationals' system and will look to make an impact this season across levels.
LHP Foster Griffin
Age: 30 Major League experience: Seven games across two seasons (2020, ‘22) How acquired: Agreed to one-year contract, pending physical as of Wednesday
Griffin is Toboni’s first free-agent acquisition. With this deal, Griffin will contend for a spot in the Nats' starting rotation. He is returning to the Major Leagues following three seasons pitching for the Yomiuri Giants (Nippon Professional Baseball). From 2023-25, Griffin went 18-10 with a 2.57 ERA across 315 2/3 innings. Last season, he was 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA and a 0.949 WHIP, earning an NPB All-Star selection. In brief big league stints with the Royals and Blue Jays, Griffin is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in eight innings. He last appeared in the Majors on Sept. 22, 2022. |
RHP Griff McGarry (No. 30 prospect) Age: 26 Major League experience: N/A How acquired: Rule 5 Draft from the Phillies' organization
The Phillies' 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, McGarry ranked fourth among all Minor League pitchers with 13.34 strikeouts per nine innings (minimum 80 innings pitched). He went 2-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts between Single-A Clearwater, Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. McGarry limited his opponents to a .180 batting average, but he also issued 5.3 walks per nine innings. McGarry, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 Draft, was added to the Nationals' 40-man roster. |
RHP Luis Perales (No. 5 prospect) Age: 22 Major League experience: N/A How acquired: Trade with Red Sox in exchange for southpaw prospect Jake Bennett
In a swap of pitching prospects, Toboni acquired Perales from Boston. Perales has a Major League ETA of 2027, per MLB Pipeline. Toboni was familiar with Perales from his tenure with the Red Sox -- Perales signed with Boston out of Venezuela in July 2019. Perales underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024 -- and he made his comeback toward the end of the ‘25 Minor League season, making three appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. This fall, he started six games for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, going 0-2 with a 10.32 ERA, a 31.7% strikeout rate and an 18.3% walk rate. |
RHP Eddy Yean Age: 24 Major League experience: N/A How acquired: Signed to a Minor League contract, non-roster invite to Major League Spring Training
Yean is making his return to the Nationals' organization after he originally signed with Washington in 2017 as an international free agent. In 2020, the Nats traded him and right-hander Wil Crowe to the Pirates in exchange for Josh Bell. Yean pitched all of last season with Triple-A Indianapolis, going 8-5 with a 3.06 ERA across 70 2/3 innings in 50 appearances (four starts, seven saves). This offseason, he is pitching for Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League. |
RHP Tyler Baum Age: 27 Major League experience: N/A How acquired: Signed to a Minor League contract, non-roster invite to Major League Spring Training
Baum had worked his way up the Athletics' Minor League system since he was selected by the organization as a second-round pick in the 2019 Draft. Last season, Baum went 1-4 with a 5.50 ERA in 36 games (including one start) between Rookie-level, Double-A and Triple-A. In two seasons of Triple-A action, Baum is 0-4 with a 10.13 ERA in 21 1/3 innings (21 relief appearances).
The Nationals have also acquired the following pitchers this offseason:
• RHPs Euri Montero, Erick Mejia, Johan Otanez, Amin Ramirez: Signed to Minor League contract • RHPs Dylan Tebrake, Sandy Gaston, Brady Hill, Cesar Rojas, Eiker Huizi: Selected in Rule 5 Draft, Triple-A phase • RHP Isaac Lyon: Traded from Mariners in Harry Ford-Jose A. Ferrer deal |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
What’s better than a holiday party? How about a surprise visit from James Wood.
Last week, Wood and his family made a special surprise appearance at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy annual holiday party. The Woods joined the kids for arts and crafts, holiday cookie tasting and games.
Each child also received a holiday gift. The Mintz law firm supported the party with a monetary donation. |
RACING PRESIDENTS TAKE THE STAGE |
From Nationals Park to the Warner Theatre, the Racing Presidents appeared in "The Nutcracker" with The Washington Ballet. George, Tom, Teddy and Abe proved to be very graceful on their feet. |
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