Thursday, November 13

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.

Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni headed to the 2025 GM Meetings in Las Vegas just over a month into his new role. He already has jumped into shaping the front office, hiring a manager, and working in tandem to begin filling out the coaching staff. 

“It’s been exciting, it’s been a lot,” Toboni said. “It’s been probably six weeks or so, but it feels like it’s been six months or so just because I feel like we’ve gotten a decent amount done in a short period of time. Hopefully, that can continue over the course of the next couple of months.”

From building the staff to building a roster, Toboni spoke on several areas of the team to address ahead of the 2026 season. (MLB.com Athletics reporter Martín Gallegos delivered the assist attending Toboni’s media session at the GM Meetings.)

Roster needs

The Nationals’ most glaring hole on the roster is first base, which was manned for the majority of this past season by Josh Bell (free agent) and Nathaniel Lowe (DFA’d in August). They also will have to evaluate the health of starting catcher Keibert Ruiz, who battled concussions and did not appear in a Major League game after July 5. 

“I wouldn’t say there’s like a hierarchical order,” said Toboni. “I will say that we’re going to be really open-minded. I don’t think you can ever have enough pitching. We’ll be open-minded at the first-base position, potentially at the catching position. We’re going to see how it plays out and what opportunities present themselves.”

Rule 5 Draft protection

The deadline to protect players from being selected in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft is Tuesday. Notable eligible prospects include left-hander Jake Bennett (No. 10), outfielder Christian Franklin (No. 12), right-hander Tyler Stuart (No. 28) and Nats Minor League Pitcher of the Year, right-hander Riley Cornelio.

“When we think through who we’re going to protect or not, I think the big piece of it is like, ‘Hey, what are the odds that we think a certain player is going to not only get selected, but then stick on a team’s roster the duration of the season?’” Toboni explained. “A lot of that plays into account. 

“Then also, just the talent at the bottom of our roster and whether we think there is a pick worth making and what kind of upgrade it would be for us. Those are all important considerations.”

Coaching staff additions

The Nationals named Michael Johns, 50, as bench coach and Simon Mathews, 30, as pitching coach for 33-year-old manager Blake Butera’s staff. 

Johns will share nearly 20 years of experience with Butera, who is in his first Major League role. They both came from the Rays’ organization. 

“I think he’s a great leader,” Toboni said of Johns. “He has a gifted way of holding players accountable and carries himself with integrity, and he really likes to work. When I say integrity, he’s dependable.

“The other piece is, I think he’s going to do a really good job complementing Blake. Blake and he have a really trustworthy relationship with each other. I think that’s important, not only because MJ is going to have Blake’s back, but actually a little bit of the opposite, too. He’s going to feel really comfortable challenging Blake. I think that’s a really healthy thing.

“Also, I think it highlights Blake’s humility that he’s really craving that. I think they’re going to complement each other really well, and I’m excited about how the relationship forms over time.”

Nationals slugger James Wood grew up collecting baseball cards. Now, at only 23 years old, he is the cover athlete of the 2025 Topps Chrome Update Series. 

I spoke with Wood about the exclusive honor, his memories of card collecting and the example he hopes to set in this role. Click here to read the wide-ranging Q&A.

Nationals Park is being transformed into a holiday destination from Nov. 28-Dec. 30.

Winter Wonderfest will feature a 100-foot tubing slide, polar lights pavilion, winter train ride, LED seesaws, nine-hole putt-putt course, snowball throwing challenge, snowflake studio featuring local artists and the Après Chalet (ages 21 and over).

Theme nights are scheduled to include College Night (Dec. 4), Pride Night (Dec. 11), Embassy Night (Dec. 18) and Local Heroes’ Night (Dec. 19).

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