There is a reason they play the games. Everyone has opinions — and most stink. Facts are facts, and all we want are the facts, ma’am. On Sunday evening, we will have the facts. The final standings. The Washington Nationals, as some said in March, would test the team’s worst record set in 2022 with 107 losses. Others felt this could be a 2011 (80 wins) or better “if everything goes right.” That 2011 team improved +11 wins from their previous season. This 2026 team improved by ___ wins.
Guess what?!? This season will be a lot closer to 2011 when that team won 80 games with Jayson Werth leading them. We thought this 2026 team needed that type of leadership, and maybe they did. But they did really well with who they had on the positional roster.
Yes, hindsight will torment you that a better bullpen and a better back of the starting rotation were the real reasons why this 2026 team didn’t fully over-achieve. As President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, said on the radio yesterday, his regret was the blown saves. As he said, if just half of those blown saves that turned into losses (24) were wins, the Nats could be in contention today. Fact is, that didn’t happen.
What you were seeing in Spring Training turned out to be close to what this team really was. Now you want to see what they really can be in the future. And how do you get better? You improve your strengths, and fix your weaknesses.
Let’s look at some improvements, change, and ideas.
1. Let it be known that CJ Abrams is not available for trade
You build around CJ Abrams and go for it in 2027. Take all the drama out of the offseason — and let everyone know that you won’t be fielding calls on trade offers for Abrams. That will send a clear message to the team and potential free agents as to the intentions on winning.
Secondary to all of that and our article earlier in the week, see if you can extend the contract of Abrams. This was also covered yesterday by Toboni on his radio show on 106.7 The Fan.
2. Improve the improvables
Let’s face it, there is no true perfection in a game of failures. Whoever fails the least, wins. There has never been a perfect record in baseball, and despite the Los Angeles Dodgers trying to spend there way to perfection, winning in baseball is far from a sure thing.
The Washington Nationals now have to fix what is fixable and make some tweaks. They are young enough as a team to be on an upswing of progression with many of the current players. The key will be to add from the outside some new players who can improve this team going forward.
If you go into 2027 with Cade Cavalli and Andrew Alvarez as starters, that will leave three open spots with numerous names to compete for the other spots like Connelly Early, Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, DJ Herz, and Jackson Kent to name the obvious. But the team should be looking outside for help for a true T.o.R. (top of the rotation) starting pitcher and maybe two.
The bullpen really needs a set closer. The ‘closer by committee’ model the team used this year had 15 relievers earn saves which is two shy of an MLB record, but probably not one you want. Last night, Aroldis Chapman earned his 35ᵗʰ save of the season. That is more saves than the Top-9 save leaders for the Nats had combined! Chapman has had 10 seasons now of 30-or-more saves. Will Toboni think outside-of-the-box and consider top farm pitcher, Jarlin Susana, to fill that role for the Nats? No, we wouldn’t expect Susana to be the closer right away, but work up to that role.
On the position side of the roster, maybe the only hole is finding their next Luis Garcia Jr. with a big lefty bat to play first base or come off of the bench. If Seaver King can prove to be a capable shortstop along with Nasim Nunez, this team’s positional roster could be set with little or no change.
3. Spending and the CBA
We had a fascinating discussion about the spending floor proposal from MLB that might force the Nationals to spend $58 million more this offseason after the Cavalli extension. The CBA right now is an unknown. And the hope was that Toboni would get around $50 million to spend this offseason regardless of a new CBA. The good news is that a more restrictive CBA could force the Nats to spend more. He just used a chunk of that to extend Cavalli.
Again, the budget will circle back around to improving the roster with the easily identifiable holes. The CBA could force the Nats to spend more and that could result in more contract extensions. Improving the roster and having enough money to make those improvements could be the game changer.
4. Talent Acquisition
This is the big one after you have identified where you must improve and give each tranche a dollar figure, you must acquire the right players. This was one of the criticisms of Toboni in the last offseason that he made some questionable trades and free agent signings. Really, it was a mixed bag of results. The best front offices just make fewer mistakes.
To achieve the right level of success, this is where Toboni and his staff have to do better. You not only have to find a good fit for the clubhouse chemistry, but also players who achieve at peak performance.
5. 2027 Postseason Goals
All expectations should be to compete for a postseason in 2027. No more talk of rebuilds. This team got to this point, sooner than expected. Now plan for meaningful baseball in October.
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