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. |
BOSTON -- The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline is one month away on Aug. 3. In recent years, the Nationals have been sellers, overhauling the team with blockbuster trades to rebuild their foundation. This season is different, though. The Nationals have a new front office, a new coaching staff and a new level of success. They have exceeded preseason projections and are playing .500 baseball, competing in the mix of NL Wild Card contention. Paul Toboni is in his first year as the Nationals' president of baseball operations. During his return to Boston, where he rose through the front office ranks with the Red Sox, he looked ahead to the upcoming Trade Deadline. |
On Trade Deadline outlook “We were pretty careful about not setting expectations too high or too low coming into this, just kind of see how it went with every passing day,” Toboni said this week. “I've been pretty vocal about it: We just want to get the best out of our roster. That, in conjunction with the fact that we're just still more than a month away, I don't know what we're going to be thinking a month from now. So the same mindset remains. We're just going to keep going over the course the next month and change, and then see where we're at and we'll go from there.” On CJ Abrams This winter, shortstop CJ Abrams was at the center of trade buzz -- especially after the Nationals moved left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers. But Abrams is having another All-Star-caliber season. Not only is he the leading vote-getter among NL shortstops, he is a leader on the Nationals. “I think we saw a lot of the things that the whole industry sees,” Toboni said. “He's just an incredible athlete; he puts his bat on the ball, he's got an advanced feel to hit, all these things. I think what he's done a really good job of this year -- that he's been good at in the past, but not necessarily to this degree -- is his ability to get on base and take his walks. But then also when he's letting it loose in the zone, damaging balls. So, not to say he's exceeded our expectations. I think we had pretty high expectations for him. But it's just been really fun to see him deliver on these goals that he's had, because it's made him a really good player over the course of the first half.” |
On Foster Griffin In the past, the most glaring options of trade candidates were players on expiring contracts. This season, that includes breakout southpaw Foster Griffin. The 30-year-old is one of baseball’s top pitchers in his return to the Majors after three years reestablishing himself in Japan. When asked if there is a possibility Griffin could be part of the Nationals’ long-term plans, Toboni said, “Honestly, I think the answer is yes, and that goes for everyone on this club. We’re obviously not at the point where we have to make a decision on that, but Foster's been awesome for us. I couldn't say enough great things about him, and he's going to thrive wherever he is in the future. So, we'll see what comes as we get toward the end of the year and go from there.” |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
BASEBALL ROOTS, BOSTON TIES |
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Blake Butera’s father, Barry, was a 14th-round Draft pick by the Red Sox in 1977 out of Tulane. Barry went on to play in Boston’s organization until 1980, reaching Triple-A. When Butera was born in 1992, his father’s experiences with the Red Sox were passed down. Butera grew up immersed in stories of baseball legends and Hall of Famers. Butera, who was hired as a Major League manager at age 33, recounted recently: “My dad had Ted Williams as the hitting coach and Joe Morgan as his manager. He still talks to Joe Morgan [who is now 95] today. Wade Boggs was his roommate for two years. “All those little fine details, in terms of gameplay and being able to win and winning on the margins, all those things he learned a long time ago. Then, he was teaching me about this when I'm like 5, 6 years old. So when I get to high school and the amount of information that I know already versus everybody else, I just kind of sit back and I'm very lucky and thankful. “It would be totally different if I didn't grow up in a household that had that much baseball experience.” |
GARCÍA’S HOME RUN SPREE EARNS HONORS |
Luis García Jr. earned National League Player of the Week honors for his performance from June 22-28. He batted .526 with two doubles, six home runs, nine RBIs, eight runs scored and three walks. García capped off the week by recording three hits, two home runs and five RBIs on Sunday at Baltimore. García is only the fourth player since the beginning of the 2022 season to belt six home runs in a six-game stretch. He joined Kyle Schwarber (May 9-15, 2026), Eugenio Suárez (July 12-21, 2025) and Aaron Judge (Aug. 20-25, 2024). |
OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD FIRST PITCH |
As part of Fourth of July festivities, the Nationals will host the renowned Artemis II crew to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday. Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander; Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot; Christina Koch, Artemis II Mission Specialist; and Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Mission Specialist, completed NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years during a 10-day mission in April. |
CATCH WOOD IN THE 'DOUG OUT' |
For Fourth of July, the latest edition of MLB Clubhouse’s the “Doug Out” features the Nationals and slugger James Wood. Click here to watch the episode, which is created for young baseball fans. |
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• Friday: Postgame fireworks • Saturday: Patriotic Series -- Independence Day • Sunday: Nationals patriotic shirt giveaway (first 20,000 fans) |
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