Frustration of the Washington Nationals fans with the state of the team’s pitching is palpable, and you can’t fault the fanbase for feeling that way. After a promising start that took the baseball world by surprise — and made the team odds-on favorite on PowerPlay sports book to make the playoffs (at one point in time in 2026), there came the cold shower of reality. The Nationals started stringing together avoidable losses and fell so precipitously that their postseason hopes are now all but dead.
There is a consensus that subpar pitching is the reason for this slide in the standings, and the numbers bear it out. Nationals are ranked 24th in MLB this season in pitching efficiency and last in blown saves, and they clearly need an overhaul if they hope to put together a starting rotation worth keeping long term.
Take Inventory of the Talent Under Contract
While the current pitching room is certainly not up to the task, the Nationals already have their ace on the roster. Cade Cavalli was a bright spot during the season and he cemented his credentials as one of the top starters in the entire league, even entering the back of the Cy Young Award conversation.
It might also be sensible to give another chance to Jake Irvin and Jackson Kent for next season under this new coaching and offseason plans. Finally, a group of prospects from the developmental pipeline might be ready for a call up to the big leagues; this group includes the uber-talented right-handers Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora.
Find a Reasonable Acquisiton for a Reliable No. 2
It’s becoming obvious that Washington needs a dependable arm to slot behind Cavalli and a trade or free agent signing might be the only viable path to finding it. If the team wants an instant infusion at the top of the rotation to complement its potent hitting lineup, they will need to open up their wallets in free agency of give up a package of highly regarded prospects for a rock-solid complementary 1A starting pitcher.
The caveat is that the team will be dealing from a position of weakness and must avoid betting the entire farm on a rental with just a year or two remaining on his contract. Unless the trade can bring in a long term starter, Nationals should resist the urge to make a splash just to silence the critics. But again, free agency costs you no prospects — just big cash.
Sign Free Agents with Room to Grow
So yes, free agency is another route that absolutely needs to be explored, even if pickings might be slim. High-end pitchers hitting the open market command astronomical salaries. Tarik Skubal may break the bank when free agency opens.
Washington should stay away from overpriced veterans and try to shop in the middle of the market, ideally aiming for a player with unfulfilled potential or a former breakout pitcher whose standing has gone down due to a poor season or an injury. While it might be necessary to overpay to secure a bona fide starter, it’s absolutely essential to avoid shelling out big bucks based on name recognition alone.
Stop Using Washed Up Veterans
Finally, what Nationals shouldn’t do is just as important as any of the above. A team that experienced a season collapse due to pitching deficiencies will be under pressure to improve immediately. That could lead the management to seek a quick fix in the form of an aging star on the downslope of a productive career. Such a player could help win a few games next year, but will also block development of younger pitchers and eat up salary that could be used more effectively elsewhere.
It’s better to let a younger roster live though its natural ups and downs than to hand the reigns to someone who’s almost guaranteed to be out of the league in the short-term. Go quality over quantity and create some continuity going forward.
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