Offseason Outlook: Washington Nationals

The Nationals overhauled many aspects of the organization in 2026. Changes in the front office and coaching staff produced the best season since the 2019 campaign, which ended in a World Series victory. Washington remained in the playoff race through July. The club sold at the trade deadline but should have plenty of opportunities to add this offseason. Guaranteed Contracts Cade Cavalli, RHP: $47MM through 2030 (includes $25MM club option for 2031 with $2MM buyout) Keibert Ruiz, C: $30MM through 2030 (includes club options for 2031 and 2032) Option Decisions None Additional Commitments Owe $80MM in deferred salaries to Stephen Strasburg between 2028-30 Owe $30MM in deferred salaries to Max Scherzer through 2028 ($15MM annually) Owe $4MM in deferred salaries to Kyle Finnegan through 2028 ($2MM annually) 2027 financial commitments: $13MM (including $4MM signing bonus owed to Cavalli in November) Total future commitments (not counting deferrals): $77MM Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) Josiah Gray (5.075): $1.6MM CJ Abrams (4.130): $10.2MM Richard Lovelady (4.052): $1.7MM Jake Bird (3.169): $1.3MM Jake Irvin (3.152): $3.4MM Ken Waldichuk (3.150): $1MM Jacob Young (3.037): $2.3MM Mitchell Parker (2.167): $1.1MM Non-tender candidates: Lovelady, Bird, Waldichuk, Parker Free Agents None There won’t be a banner hung for a 77-win season, but the first year under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and manager Blake Butera was an unquestioned success. The team played .500 ball for four months and remained on the edge of playoff contention until August. Butera, a former Rays executive, brought a Tampa Bay-style approach to the lineup and rotation. Heavy platooning and frequent openers/bulk relievers helped the first-time skipper get the most out of a group lacking elite talent. Toboni immediately put his imprint on the roster with shrewd moves that could pay off for years to come. The inexpensive Foster Griffin signing produced one of the more out-of-nowhere All-Star campaigns in recent years. Toboni cashed in Griffin for four prospects at the deadline. The new POBO also struck gold with Curtis Mead, a late March DFA pickup who blossomed into a middle-of-the-order contributor. Toboni, the former Red Sox exec, flipped Mead to Boston for lefty Connelly Early. The main team-building question for 2027 will be how much the organization is willing to spend this winter. After years of weighing down the payroll, the actual term of Stephen Strasburg’s contract is finally off the books. Strasburg’s ill-fated deal accounted for more than a third of the team’s payroll last season. The Nationals do still owe Strasburg his $80MM in deferred salaries, which’ll be paid out between 2028-30. They’re also on the hook for $15MM in deferral payments to Max Scherzer this July 1 and next. The most expensive 2026 salary for a Nationals player who wasn’t retired was Trevor Williams, making $7MM. He spent most of the year rehabbing an elbow injury and was cut after eight appearances. Our Payroll Tracker has Washington at $57,313,443 for 2027, which ranks dead last by a mile (not counting the deferrals). You could fit a whole qualifying offer between the Nats and the next-closest team (the Marlins at about $82MM). Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco. Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony. Remove ads and support our writers. Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker View Comments (1)