Welcome to the offseason 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. |
In the offseason, there is a lot of looking back on 2026 and looking ahead to ‘27. As I scoured over the Nationals roster of pitchers, three players jumped out to me as I considered their roles for next season -- all of which could be very different. Here are three pitchers who I am intrigued by their usage and production next season. LHP Will Dion 2026 (with Nationals): 3-2, 3.00 ERA, 1 save, 30 innings Acquired from the Guardians in the Foster Griffin trade, Dion immediately fit into the Nationals bullpen. The Nats tabbed the rookie Dion, a former starter in the Minor Leagues, for a multi-inning relief role. He pitched two-plus frames in nine of his 15 appearances with the Nationals, and he held opponents to a .178 batting average. Dion did not let any of his 12 inherited runners score. On Aug. 15, Dion threw 4 1/3 no-hit innings with seven strikeouts at Citi Field. |
RHP Orlando Ribalta 2026: 1-2, 3.77 ERA, 2 saves, 43 innings Ribalta, 28, impressed with a breakout season and became a late-inning go-to for the Nationals. Cool under pressure, he rendered opponents 0-for-11 with five strikeouts with the bases loaded. He held left-handed batters to a .132 batting average, and he ranked in the 87th percentile in fastball velocity (96.9 mph). Ribalta pitched a career-high innings in spite of beginning the season in Triple-A Rochester and spending most of September on the injured list (right forearm inflammation). |
RHP Josiah Gray 2026: 0.00 ERA, 1 save, 4 innings Gray, a 2023 All-Star and the Nationals’ 2024 Opening Day starter, returned in late September from missing nearly three seasons because of injuries. In order to come back by the end of this past season, Gray pitched out of the bullpen instead of the starting rotation. He made three relief appearances and earned his first career save. Gray, who has an arsenal of seven pitches, threw five. His four-seamer averaged 92.3 mph (compared to 93.6 mph in 2023, his last full season). Health remains a top priority as the Nationals approach getting Gray stretched out this winter. Gray is arbitration-eligible. |
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